This picture is reproduced from and with permission of
4x4 Performance magazine. (Nov. 1996, page 35)Now this is what I consider a Cool Jeep!
I don't know much about this Jeep, but it has some interesting things (all inferred from the picture):
- spring-over suspension
- 40" super swampers (can you say rock-crawling heaven?)
- Warn 8274 winch
This is the most interesting winch mount I have seen on a Jeep. I never liked the type that sit way up high, blocking most of the grill. Because the 8274 is so narrow, they were able to mount it between the frame rails (beside the steering box). Very nice.
How did I figure out it has 40" tires? A guy who knows the owner saw the picture on my page, and told me :-)
The Dream
So, what would I do if I had a much larger budget, and was going to build my ultimate Jeep?
Well, I would start by stripping my Jeep down to the frame, and doing a total frame-up rebuild. Dana 60 rear, reverse-cut Dana 60 front, 5.13:1 gears, Detroits front & rear. Spring-over, with stock Wrangler springs. Say, about 16" of droop and 8" of compression. Dual Rancho 9000's in the front, single in the rear.
Atlas transfer case, with 3.5:1 low range. NV4500 transmission, 6.34:1 first gear. That would give you about a 114:1 crawl ratio. Since I'd be putting 38.5 x 14.5 x 15 Super Swamper TSL SX steel-belted radials on 15 x 10 steel wheels, I'd need that much of a crawl ratio. Engine would be an aluminum block 350, with fuel injection. Dual Optimas, 160 amp alternator with a welder, on-board air, power steering, manual brakes (four-wheel disc), and braided stainless brake lines.
In order to fit the big tires, and keeping only a modest lift (the 6" or so from the spring-over), I'd need to cut the fenders big-time. The rear differential would be mounted about 2" back from the stock position, and the fenderwell opened up to the rear about 4", and up an additional 2" or so.
In the front, the diff. would again be mounted about 2-3" forward from the stock position, and the fenders would be "flatified". The axles would be about 4" wider than stock, and I'd use stock offset wheels. I'd fabricate and weld some moulded three inch steel fender flares, with an additional 2-3" of rubber flare sticking out past that. I'd keep my off-your-rocker rocker panels, and also get a pair of corner protectors. A two inch receiver in back, integrated into the rear bumper & frame.
A warn 8274 would be mounted on the front (like the Jeep above). I'd have a 28 gallon gas tank, plus two 6 gallon jerry cans on the back, plus a ten gallon auxiliary tank under the passenger seat, for a total of 50 gallons. Even at a modest ten miles per gallon, that would get me a range of 500 miles.
I'd mount a triangular five gallon stainless steel water tank in the crook of each roll-bar in the back, and protect them on the outside with some expanded steel mesh. I'd also mount another pair of six gallon water tanks behind the driver & passenger seat. The steel box in the back would also contain an emergency one gallon water container. That gives a total of 23 gallons of water, which should out-last the gas.
The spare tire would be mounted on top of the full cage, with a pair of 150 watt off-road lights pointing forward in the front corners, and another pair in the back corners pointing backwards. A completely redone dash, with white-face AutoMeter gauges throughout.
Of course, I'd have a ham/CB radio, satellite phone, and a GPS with me. Also, I'd carry a small solar panel I could use to charge the batteries if they died completely. A full assortment of tools, spare parts, and camping/survival gear, a few changes of clothes, and enough food to last a week or so.