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Democracy in Action

What's the Plan, Stan???

Posted April 24 2009 02:39 PM by Jp Tech Editor 
Filed under: Custom Jeep Projects, Jeep Enthusiast Culture, Christian Hazel

 Alright, you've spoken. Most want me to keep up with the stock-type tech on my YJ for a while. No problemo.


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I was all set to raise hell with a 500hp LS engine, but if most of you want me to keep the banger and little tires for a while, then so be it. I'm all about democracy - up to a point.

So, whadya wanna see me do to my YJ? An AX-15-to-2.5L conversion? Gears and locker tech? Safety and interior widgets? I'd be all over a turbo except for the fact that my '89 is the TBI 4-cyl and not the MPI. I don't think I'll be able to get enough fuel into the engine to support the hairdryer.

Speak up with your project ideas 'cause the summer is upon us and when it's 110-degrees outside I'd rather be on the boat than dreaming up Jeep projects to sweat over in the garage. Make 'em good and I'll make it a story in Jp.
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Reader Comments:
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1. Since you asked...

I will let my stank-soaked idea out. Engine swap would be a Duetz 4L or Hatz diesel engine with the NV3500. If you could get the either diesel with the turbo that'd be cool since either would be a pig normally aspirated. I mean the 4B Cummins is a great candidate but you've already run a previous article/rig on that one and I think the whole air-cooled clatterbomb running on Carl's Jr. burger fat at Truckhaven would be most righteous, and tasty. Be assured that a Duetz rig will be emerging from my friends Ramona Imaginationland facility within the next 20 years.

AMCMasterTech    - Posted April 25 2009 06:09 AM

 
2. Yeah, I say keep this one on a realistic budget. If economic times were different I'd be all for throwin' tons of $$ at it. Fix the weak links as they break. I'll be able to relate...

pbbelly    - Posted April 25 2009 07:30 AM

 
3. Do an article on doing your own Bodywork. Yeah most Jeepers feel trail damage is a badge of honor( I do to some extent) but how to do your own roll on automotive paint would be cool.
Other then that maybe the generic how to put a Dana 44 in the rear a cage and lengthen it 20 or so inches( ties into the bodywork idea)

mb82    - Posted April 25 2009 09:01 AM

 
4. thats the hard part how do you do a tech write up on a jeep that everyone wants you to keep stock? how about keep stock alive, things you can do and steps you can take to be able to take your daily driver out, have some fun for the weekend (or longer) and still be able to drive it to work the next day with out leaving a trail of parts on the highway.

GonePostal1    - Posted April 25 2009 09:59 AM

 
5. You could do some really simple yet functional things, such as remove/inspect/strengthen the battery tray and hold-downs for trail use. Maybe use a harbor freight bead-blaster on it, then some POR-15 on the whole thing, then plop in a Optima with some of Randy's cable-end service and you have a very functional/money/time well-spent service, repair, and upgrade.

AMCMasterTech    - Posted April 25 2009 10:43 AM

 
6. Good points all, but most aren't what I'm about.

Diesel? - I like 'em, but I'm about power, not low end grunting at .5mph on a trail all day. Most of the guys harping for diesel swaps haven't lived in one on the trail. Breathing diesel fumes and listening to that clatter for hours on end gets a bit tiresome. I'll consider it, but if I ever did drop a diesel in this particular Jeep it wouldn't be there for good. The 4BT is just too unsophisticated and heavy. Feels like you're driving a paint shaker. Good thoughts on the Duetz or Hatz, but at 600-800lbs they're sort of big and heavy for their power output. Realistically I'd probably do a 2.8L from a junked Liberty or even something smaller and easier to wire up.

Bodywork? - This Jeep is completely rust-free and straight. Doesn't need anything and I hate bodywork. I'll all about armor and cutting rotten metal off, not bondo and paint. Sorry.

Liner - POR-15, Rhino, Line-X, etc are all fine for the bed of a pickup, but I really, really hate them on the inside of a Jeep tub. And spraying the outside should be a felony in my opinion. It just adds a ton of weight, makes it hard to weld or mount stuff, and is completely unnecessary to me. Rubber mat or plain paint that's all scuffed up - that's for me. I'll let Trasborg play with the liner. He's all about that stuff.

Don't mean to seem like I'm shooting down ideas like I'm holding a skeet shotgun. Keep 'em coming. Just don't want folks to continue with suggestions that just won't happen on this particular project vehicle.

Jp Tech Editor    - Posted April 25 2009 01:11 PM

 
7. I forget that I now live in *SMOG* California now, and di not even consider the ramifications of a diesel swap. I just completed mating a little one-lung Duetz to a Miller Legend and it has been a fine field welder. Just scrounged-up a very nice air-cooled Duetz 4 banger, as well as a 2 cyl Hatz (which is 03 CARB compliant, but too weak). Your correct about the power-to-weight ratio issue, as even the little Deutz with turbo could only be dialed to about 110 hp gross, and that's screaming bloody murder. Theres a couple of modern Perkins full-authority DI fours that have potential; can't recall the nomenclature but one I know of is in a Vermeer chipper that grosses about 135 gross hp...they are essentially plu-and-play power units that you supply switched ignition and fuel, and roll. All that said yer right...loud, stinks, driver fatigue. Still would be cool though to open that little red hood and see a Deutz sitting in basically the same footprint as the 2.5...minus the radiator!

AMCMasterTech    - Posted April 25 2009 02:15 PM

 
8. I would just wheel it. Focus on articles about wheeling the rig. When something breaks, because it will, or a necessity appears, like more lighting, a better charging system, lower gears, etc, then do it. That jeep would be a perfect rig to showcase the way it's supposed to be done, which is use the thing and then make mods and repairs as necessary, not the other way around. You could do great articles about negotiating different trails, obstacles, terrain, soil type, etc. using a rig that is only mildly different from stock.

jaytee    - Posted April 25 2009 03:43 PM

 
9. Ever get to a point where pretty much everything's been done already. I mean really, what can be done to it that hasn't already been done before? I'm with Hazel, I want power.... A 5.7 Hemi or a GM Gen3 5.3 or 6.0 motor with the appropriate tranny and Atlas is what I'd like to see personally. It'd be smog legal and bring huge smiles when blastin up the dunes or driving on the street. Can't beat that....

sduncan86    - Posted April 26 2009 04:59 PM

 
10. maybe do some budget minded body armor, skid plating and cage streghtening. just my 2 cents

chariotofmanliness    - Posted April 27 2009 07:07 AM

 
11. I like the idea of an AX-15 swap. What about adding a turbo and ditching the fuel injection for propane?

If you do go whole hog, please build this into a sand Jeep. Maybe 2WD? Maybe IFS? We have already seen trail riding/rock crawling builds a thousand times before.

DirtyHarry    - Posted April 27 2009 08:26 AM

 
12. "Cheap to Beat"

Build a street/trail machine that is bulletproof on the cheap. No red label Krawlers, long arm 4 links, hemi, etc. Keep the 4banger, armor smart (keeping weight in mind), junkyard axles, make it family friendly (keep the back seat) and make it trail reliable. What you **really** need in a street/trail Jeep and what you don't.

I got a better idea. You guys at JP aren't shy on your opinions on what you want in your Jeeps; take $1000 and make it as trail reliable as you can. Heck, if you had the huevos you could make it a competition between Cappa, Trasborg, and you. That would be entertaining in itself.

I like what you did with the aluminum rocker guards. Making a rig light will make it more wheelable without more horsepower/tires. That's smart.

Good luck.

lanesmat    - Posted April 27 2009 09:22 AM

 
13. We've all seen Jeeps that are built to the max. Just look at the Jeeps at Moab's Jeep Safari. You should keep the 4 banger it has and do the gears, tires, some kind of lift and a few engien mods to get a little more HP and call it done untill something breaks. We dont need to see a lot of money thrown into it. Just enough to get us to the trails and back. That's what jeepen should be all about. Thanks for letting me give my 2 cents wroth. PS... number 12's idea was a good one also.

TriCountyKeith    - Posted April 27 2009 10:59 AM

 
14. What about swapping to a more powerful "little" motor. Since you've already got the little GM bellhousing, something like an easy to find FWD GM 3.8, or ecotec w/boost. Maybe try some elcheapo homebuilt/modded adapters to get a granny tranny in it. Throw in some junkyard style waggy 44's and get 37's on it with no lift. Do it on a grocery sacker type budget.

wildwilly4x4    - Posted April 27 2009 09:23 PM

 
15. how bout recycled jeep ive been tryin to red neck a jeep for as long as possible and am runnin out of ideas things like sourced metal at scrap yards for armor and bars keep the lil tires and run it on the extreme trails like some of us have done before "the kind where people say dont do that you need at least 35's before you try that and show people its about wheelin not money any one with a deep pocket can build a rig it takes ingenuity to redneck one

bnrolld    - Posted April 27 2009 10:16 PM

 
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