Bilstein's Jeep Wrangler JK Giveaway Project

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY WE'RE BUILDING UP A JK WRANGLER BY UPGRADING THE SUSPENSION, ADDING BUMPERS, WINCH, LIGHTS, EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND TIRES AND WHEELS. IT'S ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS A TRAIL RIG YOU CAN DRIVE EVERYDAY. AND WE SAY YOU CAN DRIVE IT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE GIVING IT AWAY TO A LUCKY POWERBLOCK VIEWER. IT'S ALL TODAY HERE ON TRUCKS!

(KEVIN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCKS. WELL FOR YEARS YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN EMAILING US, WRITING US LETTERS, STOPPING US AT CAR SHOWS SAYING, HEY, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA WORK ON MY TRUCK? GUESS WHAT, THAT STARTS TODAY WITH THIS JEEP. AND YOU MIGHT BE SAYING TO YOURSELF RIGHT ABOUT NOW, THAT'S NOT MY JEEP. WELL HERE'S THE FUN PART, IT COULD BE, BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING

THIS AWAY IN A SWEEPSTAKES TO ONE OF YOU LUCKY VIEWERS. THIS IS A 2008 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED JK, AND OUR FRIENDS AT BILSTEIN DROPPED OFF THE JEEP AND A PALLET LOAD OF COOL PARTS TO THROW AT IT. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TODAY, SO STICK AROUND, IT'S GONNA GET FUN.

(RYAN)>> GET RID OF THESE LITTLE GUYS. OH, RUNAWAY TIRE!

MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE BRAKE LINE DROP BRACKETS ON THERE.

(KEVIN)>> SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE STARTING WITH. THESE ARE BILSTEIN'S 5,100 SERIES MONOTUBE SHOCKS. THESE ARE A GAS PRESSURIZED SHOCK. SO THE OIL WON'T CAVITATE, GIVING YOU FADE FREE PERFORMANCE. THEY'VE ALSO GOT OTHER FEATURES LIKE THESE HEAVY DUTY VULCANIZED BUSHINGS. BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT A SHOCK UPGRADE.

WE'RE ALSO GONNA LIFT THIS THING UP.

OUR BILSTEIN SHOCKS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS TWO AND A HALF INCH AEV LIFT SYSTEM, WITH BRACKETS THAT RETAIN THE FACTORY GEOMETRY, REAR TRACK BAR RELOCATION BRACKET, BUMP STOP KITS, REAR REPLACEMENT TRACK BAR, AND PROGRESSIVE RATE COIL SPRINGS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS. NOW THESE SHOCKS ARE CUSTOM VALVED TO WORK WITH THE AEV COIL SPRINGS. AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY WERE ALL TESTED TOGETHER ON THE CHRYSLER PROVING GROUNDS. SO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET COMPONENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO WORK TOGETHER.

(RYAN)>> THE KIT INCLUDES A NEW LOWER BUMP STOP PAD,

BUT THE LOWER SEAT NEEDS TO BE DRILLED OUT FIRST TO INSTALL IT. MAKE SURE TO INSTALL THE NEW BUMP STOPS AND THE COIL SPRING AT THE SAME TIME.

THE FACTORY SWAY BAR END LINKS AND HARDWARE ARE REUSED AND ATTACHED TO A RELOCATION BRACKET PROVIDED WITH THE KIT.

(KEVIN)>> ALONG WITH THE BILSTEIN SHOCKS WE'RE ADDING A NEW STEERING STABILIZER. NOW ALL COIL SPRUNG JEEPS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STEERING SHIMMY OR DEATH WOBBLE, AND A GOOD STEERING STABILIZER WILL HELP REDUCE THE CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING.

(RYAN)>> OUT BACK IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS THE FRONT SUSPENSION EXCEPT THE REAR TRACK BAR GETS REPLACED INSTEAD OF REUSING IT.

AS TO NOT OVER EXTEND THE BRAKE LINES DURING TEARDOWN, THEY ARE UNBOLTED FROM THE FRAME. AFTER REMOVING THE SHOCKS AND LETTING THE AXLE DROOP, WE CAN SAFELY REMOVE THE COIL SPRINGS.

NOW TO INSTALL THE LONGER REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WE NEEDED TO DISCONNECT THE REAR SWAY BAR. DON'T FORGET THE FACTORY RUBBER SWING ISOLATORS.

(KEVIN)>> NOW ALONG WITH THE NEW TRACK BAR THE REAR GETS A TRACK BAR RELOCATION BRACKET, WHICH ATTACHES WITH SUPPLIED UBOLTS. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO PART ACCOMMODATES FOR THE NEW LIFT HEIGHT AND CENTERS THE AXLE UNDER THE JEEP.

(RYAN)>> THERE WE GO.

(KEVIN)>> NOW WE'RE JUST SNUGGING THE HARDWARE DOWN FOR NOW AND WE'LL DO ALL THE FINAL TORQUING OF BOLTS WITH THE

WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE SUSPENSION.

(RYAN)>> BRAKE LINE RELOCATION BRACKETS MAKE SURE THE FLEX LINES DON'T GET STRETCHED.

CUSTOM VALVE BILSTEINS FINISH UP THE INSTALL.

(KEVIN)>> AFTER TRIMMING THE OE FENDER LINER TO THE EDGE OF THE SHEET METAL, IT GETS CLIPPED BACK INTO PLACE FOLLOWED BY THE MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR THE NEW FLAT STYLE FLARES. THE BRACKETS USE EXISTING HOLES IN THE FENDERS AND SUPPLIED STAINLESS STEEL HARDWARE.

THE FLAT STYLE FLARES HAVE DOT APPROVED MARKER LIGHTS THAT REQUIRE A SIMPLE SPLICE INTO THE FACTORY MARKER LIGHT WIRING. BY THE WAY, MAKE SURE TO CHECK THAT YOU'VE GOT THE CORRECT POLARITY FOR YOUR LIGHTS BEFORE FINAL INSTALLATION OF THE FLARE. NOW WITH THE EXTRA TIRE COVERAGE WE'LL NOT ONLY BE STREET LEGAL, BUT WE'LL KEEP THE SIDES OF THE JEEP CLEAN TOO. THERE IT IS!

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS, WHERE TODAY WE'RE WORKING ON OUR BILSTEIN JK GIVEAWAY PROJECT, LOADING IT UP WITH A BUNCH OF COOL PARTS SO IT LOOKS THAT MUCH

COOLER SITTING IN ONE OF YOUR DRIVEWAYS. AND SO FAR TODAY WE'VE ADDED OUR TWO AND A HALF INCH LIFT KIT, BILSTEIN SHOCKS OF COURSE, AND SOME BUSHWHACKER FLARES, AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY TO PUT THIS THING ON THE GROUND AND SEE WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE. NOW FOR RUBBER WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNING SOME DICK CEPEK CRUSHERS. NOW THIS IS A SET OF TIRES WE'VE NEVER RUN BEFORE. THEY'RE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE LOOKING AND PRETTY WILD LOOKING.

SO WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW THEY DO OUT ON THE STREET AND OF COURSE OUT ON THE TRAIL. AND WE'VE GOT THEM WRAPPED AROUND SOME ALUMINUM 17 BY NINE INCH DICK CEPEK WHEELS.

(KEVIN)>> WITH THE FLAT STYLE FLARES, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ATTITUDE ALONG WITH THE ALTITUDE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO BEING ROAD READY. NOW WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE STOCK BUMPERS.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE FACTORY BUMPER IS A PRETTY GOOD LOOKING PIECE. IT'S GOT INTEGRATED TOE HOOKS AND FOG LIGHTS, BUT IT'S MOSTLY PLASTIC. IT WON'T OFFER MUCH PROTECTION OUT ON THE TRAIL. ALL FREE!

(KEVIN)>> GOT IT?

(RYAN)>> YEP!

NOW THE BUMPER WE'RE REPLACING THE FLIMSY PLASTIC FACTORY PIECE WITH IS FROM WARN, AND IT'S ALL STEEL.

IT COMES POWDER COATED BLACK WITH HEAVY DUTY DRINGS AND IT'LL IMPROVE APPROACH ANGLE AND OFFER MORE PROTECTION FOR THE FRONT END.

AHH, GRACIOUS!

NOW THE REAR BUMPER IS ALSO FROM WARN AND HAS THE SAME BLACK POWDER COAT AND HEAVY DUTY DRINGS.

IT'LL ALSO HOLD OUR SPARE TIRE CAUSE PUTTING A HEAVY TIRE AND WHEEL ON THE FACTORY STAMPED STEEL OR SHEET METAL TAILGATE IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. THIS IS GONNA BE ONE SIDE AT TIME AIN'T IT?

(KEVIN)>> OH, YEAH!

(RYAN)>> PROBABLY SMARTEST.

NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THIS JEEP OUT OF THE SHOP WITHOUT SOME SORT OF SELF RECOVERY WINCH. SO WE'RE THROWING ON A 9,500 POUND WINCH FROM WARN ALONG WITH A WINCH GUARD. A LITTLE PROTECTION HERE.

(KEVIN)>> LOOK AT THAT, IT'S LIKE IT'S MADE TO GO TOGETHER.

(RYAN)>> WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, JUST LOOK AT IT! NOW IF YOU'RE SWITCHING YOUR WINCH OVER FROM STEEL CABLE TO SYNTHETIC ROPE, MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE FAIRLEAD FROM A ROLLING FAIRLEAD TO A HAWSE STYLE FAIRLEAD LIKE WE'RE USING. THE ROLLER FAIRLEAD CAN DAMAGE THE ROPE. NOW YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN US INSTALL A HAND FULL OF WINCHES HERE AT THE TRUCKS SHOP, BUT WE TYPICALLY USE THE STEEL CABLE THAT TRADITIONALLY COMES ON WINCHES, BUT THIS WARN

WINCH COMES WITH 100 FEET OF SYNTHETIC WINCH ROPE. IT'S GOT A 9,500 POUND CAPACITY TO MATCH THE WINCH, AND IT'S GOT A FEW BENEFITS OVER TOP OF THE STEEL CABLE. IT'S OBVIOUSLY MUCH, MUCH LIGHTER. SO LIGHT IN FACT IT FLOATS ON WATER. BUT THERE'S A FEW OTHER BENEFITS AS WELL. THIS WINCH ROPE WON'T STORE ENERGY LIKE A STEEL CABLE WOULD. IF THIS BREAKS UNDER TENSION, WELL IT SIMPLY FALLS TO THE GROUND. ALSO IT'S EASIER AND SAFER TO HANDLE. THERE'S NO WIRE BARBS STICKING OUT TO CATCH YOUR HANDS.

(KEVIN)>> WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS AND OUR JEEP BILSTEIN BUILD UP.

(RYAN)>> NOW THESE BUMPERS COME WITH PROVISIONS OR CUT OUTS SO YOU CAN REUSE YOUR FACTORY FOG LIGHTS IF YOU WANT TO.

BUT THEY'RE GONNA SEEM REALLY WEAK IN COMPARISON TO THESE KC 130 WATT LONG RANGE DRIVING LIGHTS THAT WE'RE GONNA INSTALL ON TOP OF THE BUMPER.

(KEVIN)>> NOW WARN IS THINKING AHEAD WHEN THEY DESIGN THESE BUMPERS. THEY KNOW THAT GUYS LIKE YOUR ARE GONNA WANNA MOUNT SOME AUXILIARY LIGHTS. SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE PREDRILLED HOLES THAT ARE ALREADY POWDER COATED SO THERE ARE NO RUSTING ISSUES. ANOTHER SET OF LIGHTS IS GOING TO GO CONVENIENTLY ON THE

WINDSHIELD FRAME WITH BRACKETS THAT ARE MADE FOR THIS JEEP, LOOK COOL, AND DON'T INTERFERE WITH YOUR FIELD OF VISION. NOW THE COOL THING ABOUT THE WAY THIS JEEP IS EQUIPPED IS IT ALREADY HAS FACTORY FOG LIGHTS AND A NICE LOOKING SWITCH ON THE DASH. SO ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS TIE INTO THAT SWITCH AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO REWIRE ANYTHING. NOW THE FACTORY CAST MAGNESIUM TIRE CARRY IS PROBABLY STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE ORIGINAL WHEEL AND TIRE COMBO, BUT NOT FOR

THE NEW AND HEAVIER 35'S. DON'T THROW THE BOLTS AWAY. THEY'RE GONNA SEAL UP THE HOLES IN THE SHEET METAL TAILGATE. OUR TIRE CARRIER IS A SWING AWAY DESIGN THAT PIVOTS ON A ONE AND A HALF INCH WELDED STEEL PIN ON

OUR ROCK CRAWLER BUMPER.

POLYURETHANE PADDING ON THE LATCH PREVENTS RATTLING, AND IT'S LOCKED INTO PLACE WITH A LANYARD AND A DETENT PIN SO YOU DON'T LOSE IT.

THIS CARRIER IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A WHEEL AND TIRE COMBO UP TO 37 INCHES IN DIAMETER, AND IT'S POWDER COATED BLACK FOR GREAT LOOKS AND LONGEVITY JUST LIKE OUR BUMPER.

WITH THE JEEP UP ON THE LIFT AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA INSTALL A MAGNAFLOW CATBACK EXHAUST, WHICH IS EASY TO INSTALL AND MOUNTS IN THE FACTORY LOCATION WITH THE HELP OF A LITTLE LUBE ON THE DOUGHNUT GASKETS.

THIS IS A FULLY STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT'S GONNA LAST A LONG TIME. IN FACT, IT'S GOT A LIFETIME WARRANTY, WHICH MEANS

IT'S GOING TO STAY LOOKING GOOD AS WELL. BUT LOOKS AREN'T THE ONLY FEATURE OF THIS EXHAUST SYSTEM. MAGNAFLOW CLAIMS AN EXTRA 10 HORSEPOWER AND 12 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE, WHICH FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE DRIVEN THESE

JEEPS, THAT'S REALLY GONNA COME IN HANDY, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE LARGER AND HEAVIER WHEELS AND TIRES.

(RYAN)>> SWEET!

(KEVIN)>> NOW THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT A STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM LOOKS GREAT SITTING UP UNDER HERE, BUT LIKE EVERY OTHER MAGNAFLOW PRODUCT THIS THING SOUNDS GOOD. [ engine revving ]

(KEVIN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. WELL WE'VE ALMOST MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PALLET FULL OF PARTS THE GUYS AT BILSTEIN SENT US TO THROW AT THIS '08

JK WRANGLER THAT ONE OF YOU LUCKY PEOPLE IS GONNA GET TO WIN IN A SWEEPSTAKES GIVEAWAY. BUT BEFORE WE TAKE IT OUT ON THE TRAIL, TEST OUT THE NEW SUSPENSION, THERE'S A COUPLE MORE DETAILS WE WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

(RYAN)>> ALRIGHT, HERE AT THE BACK OF THE JEEP KEVIN'S GOT THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER COMPLETELY INSTALLED, OUR 35 INCH SPARE MOUNTED UP, AND OUR THIRD BRAKE LIGHT RELOCATED SO WE'RE GOOD AND LEGAL.

NOW TYPICALLY WE COME IN HERE, LOCK THIS THING DOWN WITH SOME LUG NUTS, AND CALL IT A DAY, BUT THIS SPARE TIRE CARRIER HAS A LOAD CAPACITY OF 150 POUNDS.

SO WE THOUGHT WE'D TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND INSTALL A SYSTEM THAT'S GONNA ALLOW US TO CARRY A COUPLE OF EXTRA GALLONS OF FLUID OUT ON THE TRAIL. THIS IS DAYSTAR'S CAM CAN SYSTEM, AND IT'S UNIQUE, MODULAR DESIGN ALLOWS YOU TO PUT TWO CONTAINERS TOGETHER, LOCK THEM TOGETHER, AND HANG THEM OFF OF THE BACK OF THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER WITH THE SUPPLIED BRACKET.

THIS WILL NOT ONLY FREE UP CARGO SPACE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WILL STILL ALLOW YOU TO CARRY A COUPLE OF GALLONS OF EITHER FUEL OR WATER ALONG WITH YOU ON THE TRAIL. NOW THESE THREE THREADED STUDS NOT ONLY SECURE THE SPARE TIRE, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE A MOUNTING LOCATION FOR THE CAM CANS.

SLIDE OVER THE CENTER POST, ROLL ON THE LEFT, AND LOCK IN, DONE! ALRIGHT, WELL WE GOT THIS THING PRETTY WELL LOADED UP.

NEW TIRES AND WHEELS, FLARES, SHOCKS, SUSPENSION, LIGHTS,

WINCH, BUMPERS, YOU NAME IT, BUT WE HAVEN'T ADDED OUR HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY TUNER YET.

NOW THESE THINGS ARE GETTING PRETTY SOPHISTICATED, AND THEY'RE CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE THAN JUST INCREASING HORSEPOWER OR INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY. THEY'LL STILL DO THAT, BUT THEY'LL DO A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS AS WELL, AND WE WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THOSE

FEATURES OUT IN THE REAL WORLD.

(KEVIN)>> SO FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW ONE OF YOU GUYS CAN WIN THIS JEEP, LOG ON TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM. IN THE MEAN TIME, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE IT DOES WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO ON THE ROAD AND ON THE TRAIL. WE PROMISE NOT TO BEND IT.

(RYAN)>> WHO DOES?

HEY GUYS, IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW PLASMA CUTTER, WELL THIS SPECTRUM 625 EXTREME FROM MILLER IS DEFINITELY WORTH TAKING A LOOK AT. NOW THEY MUST HAVE CRAMMED A BUNCH OF TECHNOLOGY IN HERE CAUSE THIS LITTLE BOX IS CAPABLE OF CUTTING FIVEEIGHTHS THICK STEEL IF YOU'RE RUNNING IT ON 240 VOLT POWER.

BUT SINCE IT'S GOT THE MULTI VOLTAGE PLUG, YOU CAN SWITCH OVER TO HOUSEHOLD CURRENT AND STILL CUT THREEEIGHTHS THICK STEEL. AND WITH THE NEW XT 40 TORCH AND LEAD, WELL YOU'VE GOT A NICE, SOFT, FLEXIBLE LEAD THAT WON'T PUSH THE TORCH HEAD AROUND. NOW IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA USE YOUR PLASMA CUTTER EVERYDAY, WELL YOU CAN ALWAYS KEEP IT IN THE STORAGE BOX THAT IT COMES IN. AND SINCE IT'S SO LIGHT AND SMALL, IT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE PORTABLE.

(KEVIN)>> WELL HERE'S SOMETHING NEW FROM KIMBERLYCLARK. THESE ARE THEIR NEW PRO SHOP TOWELS, AND THEY ARE REALLY HANDY TO HAVE AROUND THE SHOP. THESE ARE SOLVENT RESISTANT, AND WITH THE NEW HYDRO KNIT TECHNOLOGY THEY'RE THREE TIMES STRONGER THAN THE PREVIOUS BLUE SCOTT SHOP TOWELS. PRO SHOP TOWELS ARE STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE TOUGHEST CLEAN UP JOBS BUT SOFT ENOUGH TO CLEAN THINGS LIKE GLASS. AND ONCE YOU'RE DONE WITH THEM, YOU CAN REUSE THEM WHEN THEY DRY OUT. SCOTT PRO SHOP TOWELS ARE AVAILABLE WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR AUTO PARTS.

(RYAN)>> NOW MOST OF US DRIVE A '96 OR NEWER OBD TWO EQUIPPED CAR OR TRUCK, AND THE ONBOARD COMPUTER HAS A TON OF INFORMATION IN IT. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION, WELL CHECK

OUT THE SCAN GAUGE TWO. THE SCAN GAUGE CAN DISPLAY UP TO FOUR GAUGES, AND

IT CAN READ AND CLEAR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. IT ALSO FUNCTIONS AS A TRIP COMPUTER AND WILL GIVE YOU THE DISTANCE, TIME, AND GALLONS UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF FUEL. YOU CAN ALSO MONITOR THINGS LIKE REAL TIME HORSEPOWER, INTAKE AIR TEMP, AND MANIFOLD AND BOOST PRESSURE. YOU CAN ALSO RECORD PERFORMANCE DATA. THINGS LIKE ZERO TO 60, EIGHTH MILE, OR QUARTER MILE TIMES. THE SCAN GAUGE TWO PLUGS RIGHT INTO THE OBD TWO PORT AND IT'S EASY TO SECURE IT TO THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE DASH SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE YOU CAN SEE THIS THING. GUYS THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCKS, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.