Beefier T Case

(ANNOUNCER)>> FOR REAL OFF ROAD PERFORMANCE OUR BUDGET TOYOTA NEEDS NEW GEARS. TODAY ON XTREME OFF ROAD WE REBUILD THE TCASE FOR MAXIMUM TORQUE. WE'LL HELP A FELLOW WHEELER UPGRADE TO EFI, AND WE'LL CONVERT OUR CRAWLER HAULER TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.

(IAN)>> NOW WE'VE GOT A PILE OF WORK TO ACCOMPLISH TODAY IN THE XTREME OFF ROAD SHOP. THAT'S WHY I'VE ALREADY GONE AHEAD AND STARTED PULLING

THE DRIVESHAFT OUT OF OUR DIRT CHEAP FUN WHEELER. NOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD A HARDCORE OFF ROADER WITH AS LITTLE MONEY INVESTED AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE A TOYOTA MINI TRUCK AS THE BASE FOR THIS PROJECT. IF WE'D GONE OUT AND BOUGHT A USED JEEP, WE'D PROBABLY SPEND $3,000 TO $4,000 DOLLARS JUST ON THE VEHICLE WITH NO UPGRADES. OUR PLAN IS TO SPEND LESS THAN $5,000 DOLLARS ON THIS WHOLE TRUCK AND WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START WITH RIGHT AROUND $1,000 DOLLARS INVESTED SO FAR. NOW ONE OF THE REASONS THE TOYOTA MINI TRUCK IS SO POPULAR IS BECAUSE THERE'S TONS OF AFTERMARKET SUPPORT. AND THE FIRST PROJECT THAT WE'RE GONNA TACKLE TODAY IS RIGHT HERE, A SET OF LOW RANGE GEARS FOR THE TRANSFER CASE. A VERY POPULAR UPGRADE FOR THE TOYOTA. THIS WILL UPGRADE OUR LOW RANGE RATIO INSIDE THE

TRANSFER CASE TO FOUR POINT SEVEN TO ONE, WHICH IS A DEEPER RATIO THAN THE TRUCK COMES FROM THE FACTORY. JUST GIVES US MORE TORQUE WHEN WE'RE OFF ROAD, AND THAT IS PERFECT FOR ROCK CRAWLING.

THE KIT COMES WITH AN EXCELLENT SET OF INSTRUCTIONS SHOWING YOU STEP BY STEP HOW TO TEAR THE TRANSFER CASE DOWN. JUST KEEP EVERYTHING ORGANIZED ON A NEAT CLEAN BENCH.

OUR TRAIL GEAR OFF ROAD KIT COMES WITH THREE NEW GEARS FOR OUR TRANSFER CASE. A NEW INPUT GEAR, A NEW IDLER GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND A NEW LOW SPEED GEAR THAT WE'LL INSTALL

ONTO THE MAIN SHAFT. NOW THE REASON THAT THIS SWAP IS SO EASY IN A TOYOTA CASE IS BECAUSE IT IS A SECONDARY REDUCTION HOUSING AT THE FRONT THAT GIVES US THE LOW RANGE. AND YOU CAN SEE BY COMPARING THE TWO GEARS SIDE BY SIDE THAT OUR NEW GEARS ARE A DIFFERENT SIZE THAN THE FACTORY ONES. AND THAT IS WHAT CHANGES THE RATIO INSIDE THAT CASE. WHEN YOU'RE GOING AS DEEP AS WE ARE DOWN TO THE FOUR POINT SEVEN, YOU DO NEED TO CLEARANCE THE INSIDE OF THIS REDUCTION HOUSING THOUGH BECAUSE THE GEARS ARE DIFFERENT SIZES. TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN GRINDING THE HOUSING. THE WALLS OF IT ARE VERY THIN.

MAKE MULTIPLE TEST FITS WITH THE GEAR UNTIL IT NO LONGER DRAGS ON THE CASE, AND THEN ALL THE METAL

SHAVINGS ARE CLEANED OUT. THE NEW LOW SPEED GEAR IS THEN INSTALLED ONTO THE MAIN SHAFT AND THE INTERMEDIATE HOUSING IS ASSEMBLED.

THE SHIFT FORKS ALSO NEED TO BE CLEARANCED TO FIT AROUND THE LARGER GEAR.

AND THE REDUCTION HOUSING IS PUT ON AND THE CASE IS REASSEMBLED.

NOW THE GEARS INSIDE THE CASE ARE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT COMING IN RIGHT AROUND $500 BUCKS. NOW THAT PUTS OUR TOTAL MONEY SPENT PRETTY CLOSE TO $2,000 DOLLARS, WHICH ISN'T BAD. WE HAVEN'T CROSSED OVER THE HALF WAY POINT. WE HAVE A FULLY REBUILT ENGINE, NEW SUSPENSION BOTH FRONT AND REAR, AND NOW WE HAVE LOW RATIO GEARS IN OUR CASE. WE ARE GETTING REAL CLOSE TO HAVING A WHEELABLE RIG FOR LESS THAN $5,000.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UPGRADING TO EFI CAN BE QUICK AND EASY. WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW. PLUS CASTOR IS THE KEY TO GREAT DRIVABILITY.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NEED HELP SOLVING A PROBLEM WITH YOUR PROJECT? HERE'S DRIVEWAY RESCUE.

(IAN)>> ERIC SENT US AN EMAIL, HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE TUNING THE CARBURETOR ON HIS VEIGHT SWAP TOYOTA. HE WANTS AN ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, BUT TACKLING THE SWAP SEEMED A LITTLE BIT DAUNTING. WELL WE'RE HERE TO HELP. HOW ARE YOU DOING ERIC?

(ERIC)>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

(IAN)>> I'M DOING WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

(ERIC)>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

(IAN)>> SO THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SPOT YOU'VE GOT HERE MAN.

(ERIC)>> THANK YOU.

(IAN)>> YOU GO WHEELING VERY OFTEN?

(ERIC)>> AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

(IAN)>> NOW WE'RE OUT HERE IN THE FALL, SO A BIT COLD BUT YOU'VE GOT A TOYOTA THAT NEEDS WORKING ON AND IT'S IN THE SHOP, AND IT'S HEATED RIGHT.

(ERIC)>> YES!

(IAN)>> THEN LETS GO IN THERE.

SO THIS IS IT HUH ERIC?

(ERIC)>> THIS IS IT.

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR TRUCK.

(ERIC)>> IT'S AN '89, IT'S GOT A SMALL BLOCK 350, TURBO 350 TRANSMISSION.

(IAN)>> YOU STARTED WITH A FRAME AND SECTIONED THIS ONE TOGETHER?

(ERIC)>> YEAH IT'S AN '87 BACK HALF. WE SECTIONED IT, PUT '85 FRONT HALF UNDER IT TO GET THE STRAIGHT AXLE.

(IAN)>> WELL I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS JUST THE

FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT A CARBURETOR ON AN OFF RIG, AND THAT'S JUST NEVER THE BEST SCENARIO. I THINK THE SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM IS GONNA BE AN EFI SETUP. SO IF YOU GO AHEAD AND PULL THAT CARBURETOR OFF, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET OUT WHAT'S GONNA REPLACE IT.

THE PROBLEM WITH OLD SCHOOL SMALL BLOCKS LIKE YOU HAD IS THEY NEVER REALLY CAME FUEL INJECTED FROM THE FACTORY UNLESS WE GO BACK IN THE '80'S AND YOU GET LIKE A CAMARO OR A CORVETTE. SO ADAPTING THAT TYPE OF SYSTEM IS JUST NOT GONNA WORK. SO THE BEST OPTION IS TO GET AN AFTERMARKET KIT LIKE THIS. NOW THIS IS THE NEW HOLLEY TERMINATOR SETUP.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR TRUCKS LIKE YOURS. SO TAKE A FOUR BARREL CARBURETOR OFF. WE'LL PUT THIS NEW THROTTLE BODY IN PLACE. IT'S GOT AN ALL NEW ECU TO MAKE IT RUN. AND THE ONLY SENSOR WE HAVE TO ADD TO YOUR ENGINE IS THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR. BUT THE NICEST THING ABOUT THIS IS YOU SAID YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE TUNING THAT CARBURETOR RIGHT?

(ERIC)>> CORRECT YES.

(IAN)>> THERE'S NO TUNING INVOLVED IN THIS.

IT'S WIDE BAND OTWO. SO IT'S GOT AN OTWO SENSOR THAT GOES IN THE EXHAUST, AND THIS'LL MEASURE HOW MUCH OXYGEN IS IN THE EXHAUST AND IT WILL JUST TUNE THE COMPUTER AS YOU DRIVE THE TRUCK. SO YOU DON'T NEED A LAPTOP, YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT A

BUNCH OF FUEL PARAMETERS IN THERE AND DRIVE IT A BUNCH OF TIMES. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ANSWER FIVE OR SIX QUESTIONS, START

THE TRUCK, TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE, AND IT WILL LEARN HOW YOU DRIVE, THE TYPE OF FUEL YOU'VE GOT, YOUR FUEL PRESSURE, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. IT'LL MAKE THE MOTOR RUN RIGHT RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.

WE'LL MOUNT THE ECU ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE INNER FENDER AND RUN THE MAIN POWER AND GROUND DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY.

THE BUNG FOR THE OTWO SENSOR IS ADDED TO THE TAIL PIPE JUST DOWN STREAM FROM THE HEADER. THE HARNESS IS PLUG AND PLAY WITH ONLY THE ECU, THROTTLE BODY, AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR CONNECTORS TO BE PLUGGED IN. ALRIGHT, THERE'S JUST A FEW LOOSE WIRES WE HAVE TO HOOK UP. THERE'S A BATTERY POWER, A FEED FOR YOUR FUEL PUMP, A GROUND, AND THEN THIS YELLOW WIRE IS GOING TO GO ONTO THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF YOUR TACH SO THE ECU

HAS A RPM SIGNAL. THAT WAY WE ADJUST THE INJECTORS FOR THE RPM OF THE ENGINE. NOW YOU DO NEED TO UPGRADE YOUR FUEL SYSTEM BECAUSE BEFORE YOU HAD JUST A MECHANICAL PUMP ON HERE.

SO WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT A MATCHING FUEL SYSTEM FOR THE EFI KIT, AND IT'S GOT THIS SUPER STOCK HOSE AND THIS

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. SO THE FUEL WILL COME UP FROM THE PUMP THAT WE MOUNTED IN THE BACK ON THIS LINE INTO THE FRONT OF THE THROTTLE BODY, FEED AROUND TO THE BACK, BACK INTO THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, AND THEN IT WILL RETURN BACK DOWN TO THE TANK, AND THEN YOU CAN ADJUST YOUR FUEL PRESSURE RIGHT HERE ON THE FIREWALL. AND THAT WAY YOU CAN JUST HAVE A GOOD STEADY FUEL PRESSURE FLOW.

THAT JUST GIVES YOU OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

WITH THE FINAL CONNECTIONS MADE, THE COOLANT IS REFILLED, AND THE HAND HELD IS PLUGGED INTO THE CAN BUS CONNECTOR. AFTER ANSWERING FIVE SIMPLE QUESTIONS THE TUNE IS UPLOADED INTO THE ECU AND THE TRUCK IS READY TO START.

[ truck firing up ]

(IAN)>> LET IT IDLE. WHAT IT'S GONNA DO IS IT'S GONNA LEARN ITS IDLE AND THEN IT'LL JUST WORK THROUGH ITS AIR/FUEL RATIO RIGHT NOW. EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT IT'S GONNA CHANGE A LITTLE BIT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S WIDE BAND OTWO, IT'S GONNA ADJUST FOR EVERYTHING. WITH EVERYTHING FINISHED UP HOW DOES ERIC FEEL ABOUT TACKLING AN EFI SWAP LIKE THIS AGAIN?

(ERIC)>> IT TAKES ALL THE UNCERTAINTY OUT OF THE JOB, AND IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN TACKLING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, WE SAY SO LONG TO OUR STOCK REAR AXLE FOR A DEPENDABLE, UPGRADABLE JUNKYARD HOUSING.

(IAN)>> MY VERY FIRST JOB AS A MECHANIC WAS AT A HEAVY TRUCK SHOP BACK IN THE '80'S, AND I ALWAYS LOVED THE FLAT NOSE MACK TRUCKS.

JUST THOUGHT THEY LOOKED COOL. THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M A FAN OF THOSE DAKAR RALLY SUPPORT TRUCKS, CAUSE THEY'RE USUALLY ALL BUILT OUT OF THESE EUROPEAN FLAT NOSE STYLE DIESELS. AND PROBABLY THE SAME REASON WHY I JUST FEEL IN LOVE WITH THIS TRUCK WHEN I FIRST SAW IT. EVEN THOUGH WE GAVE ALMOST NO MONEY FOR IT, LESS THAN $1,000 BUCKS. JUST TO HAVE A GOOD BLANK SLATE FOR US TO BUILD OUR

ULTIMATE TOW RIG OUT OF. NOW THIS THING IS PRETTY COOL. IT'S GOT A NICE, BIG BEEFY FRAME THAT'LL EASILY CARRY THE LOAD OF A BUGGY ON THE BACK BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY USED TO BE A TOW TRUCK. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IS OUR THEME TRUCKS, THE DAKAR AND RALLY SUPPORT TRUCKS, THEY'RE ALL FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE RACED IN THE DESERT, AND THIS TRUCK IS NOT FOUR WHEEL DRIVE YET.

THE NEW FRONT AXLE FOR OUR TRUCK I GOT FROM A LOCAL JUNKYARD. NOW IT'S A TAKE OUT AXLE FROM A 2000 FORD F-350. NOW BECAUSE IT CAME OUT OF THAT ONE TON TRUCK, IT'LL BE GOOD AND STRONG UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF OUR TOW RIG. NOW I DID CHOOSE THIS AXLE FOR A COUPLE OF OTHER REASONS. THE FIRST IS THAT IT WAS A DUAL REAR WHEEL TRUCK. SO IT HAS THESE ADAPTERS IN THE FRONT TO RUN THE DEEP

DISH POSITIVE OFF SET WHEELS ON THE FRONT TO MATCH UP WITH THE OFF SET OF OUR CAB. IT'S A MODERN STYLE AXLE, WHICH MEANS IT HAS LOCK OUT HUBS IN THE FRONT AND UNIBEARINGS, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO UNLOCK IT FOR NICE HIGHWAY DRIVING, TWIST THOSE HUBS WHEN WE WANT THAT TRUE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTION. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE F-350 WAS A LEAF SPRUNG TRUCK JUST LIKE THE FRONT OF OUR ISUZU. THAT MEANS IT HAS PROVISIONS IN PLACE FOR A SET OF LEAF SPRINGS, WHICH WILL MAKE THIS SWAP A LOT EASIER. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS AND SEE IF THESE PADS LINE UP WITH THE ONES ON OUR TRUCK. SOMETIMES YOU GET LUCKY ON A PROJECT AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T. OUR LEAF SPRINGS ARE THREE INCHES CLOSER TOGETHER THAN THE PADS ON OUR AXLE. NOW THERE'S NO WAY TO MOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE PAD IN BECAUSE THE HOUSING'S IN THE WAY. SO THE BEST CHOICE HERE IS TO START FROM SCRATCH AND CUT ALL THE STOCK LEAF SPRING MOUNTS OFF THE TRUCK.

NOW I'M GONNA LET YOU GUYS IN ON A LITTLE SECRET. I ALREADY KNEW THAT THAT SUPER DUTY AXLE WOULD NOT LINE UP WITH THE ISUZU LEAF SPRINGS. THAT'S WHY I ALREADY HAD ALL THESE PARTS READY TO GO HERE IN THE SHOP. NOW THIS IS A COMPLETE SUSPENSION LIFT FOR A 2000 F-350 FROM ROUGH COUNTRY. IT COMES WITH TWO NEW FRONT LEAVES, TWO NEW REAR LEAVES, SHOCKS FOR ALL FOUR CORNERS, AND ALL THE UBOLTS AND BRACKETS NEEDED TO BOLT IT INTO A FACTORY STRUCK. BUT WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A FACTORY TRUCK, THIS IS A CUSTOM SUSPENSION INSTALL. SO WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME BRACKETS TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR OUR TRUCK. NOW BARNES FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SPECIALIZES IN THESE COMPLETE BRACKET KITS, AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT FROM THEM. IT'S CALLED A SOLID AXLE SWAP KIT AND IT COME WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE GONNA NEED TO INSTALL LEAF SPRINGS ONTO OUR FRAME. IT COMES WITH NEW FRONT MOUNTS, SWING SHACKLE MOUNTS, BUSHINGS, ALL THE SPRING PLATES, AND EVEN THE SHOCK MOUNTS THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED. SO ALL WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS PUT OUR SUPER DUTY AXLE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF OUR TRUCK AND START THROWING SOME PARTS AT IT.

WITH THE NEW AXLE ON SOME STANDS UNDERNEATH THE FRAME, THE LEAF SPRINGS ARE BOLTED ONTO THE HOUSING USING NEW UBOLTS.

THE FRONT SPRING MOUNTS ARE CUT OFF, AND THE NEW BRACKETS ARE INSTALLED ONTO THE LEAF SPRINGS. THEN THE AXLE IS RAISED INTO PLACE. WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING CUSTOM SUSPENSION USING LEAF SPRINGS LIKE WE ARE, THERE'S A FEW THINGS YOU HAVE TO PAY

ATTENTION TO BECAUSE ONCE ALL THE MOUNTS ARE WELDED

IN THERE'S VERY LITTLE ADJUSTMENT YOU CAN DO. THE FIRST IS TO MAKE SURE THE AXLE'S GOOD AND SQUARE UNDERNEATH THE CHASSIS, AND IT'S ACTUALLY FAIRLY EASY TO CHECK. JUST PICK A COMMON POINT ON EITHER FRAME RAIL, LIKE THIS RIVET, AND MEASURE FROM IT TO THE CENTER OF THE HOLE ON YOUR FIXED SHACKLE MOUNT. IF IT'S THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES THEN THE AXLE IS PERFECTLY SQUARE. NOW THERE IS AN ALIGNMENT ANGLE AT PLAY WHILE YOU'RE PUTTING THE SUSPENSION TOGETHER, AND IT'S THE CASTOR ANGLE. IF YOU WERE TO DRAW AN IMAGINARY LINE THROUGH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT AND COMPARE IT TO TRUE VERTICAL, THAT ANGLE IS CASTOR, AND YOU WANT A GOOD AMOUNT OF POSITIVE CASTOR OR THE TOP OF THE AXLE LEANING BACK. THAT WILL GIVE THE TRUCK VERY GOOD ROAD MANNERS WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

AND I LIKE TO HAVE BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN DEGREES OF POSITIVE CASTOR. TO MEASURE IT YOU SIMPLY DROP AN ANGLE FINDER ON TOP OF THE INNER "C" AND READ IT. TO CHANGE IT YOU ADJUST THE LENGTH OF THE SWING SHACKLE IN THE SWING SHACKLE MOUNT. IF YOU MAKE IT LONGER, THE BACK OF THIS LEAF SPRING IS GONNA DROP DOWN, IT'S GONNA PITCH THE TOP OF THE AXLE BACK, AND IT'S GONNA GIVE YOU MORE POSITIVE CASTOR. NOW A MISCONCEPTION ON LEAF SPRINGS IS THEY HAVE TO BE PERFECTLY PARALLEL AND THEY DON'T. A LOT OF TIMES FROM THE FACTORY THEY RUN AT AN ANGLE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. WE'RE GONNA PITCH THE BACK OF OUR LEAF SPRINGS IN AND

WE'RE GONNA REUSE THE STOCK SWING SHACKLE MOUNT THAT CAME OFF OF THIS CHASSIS. NOW YEAH WE HAVE A BUNCH OF AFTERMARKET STUFF, BUT THIS

IS A READY MADE MOUNT AND IT WILL WORK IN OUR APPLICATION, IT'S PERFECT. WE WILL NEED TO RELOCATE THE BATTERY BOX AND THE FUEL TANK BUT THAT'S OKAY, WE WERE PLANNING ON MOVING THOSE ANYWAY. WITH OUR SHACKLES CLAMPED IN PLACE, WE ADD A GUSSET TO THE FRONT MOUNT FOR STRENGTH, AND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLE IS TACKED ONTO THE FRAME.

(IAN)>> NOW YES, THE REAR AXLE THAT WE TOOK OUT OF THIS TRUCK IS PRETTY BEEFY, BUT I WANT TO INSTALL A MATCHING SUPER DUTY REAR AXLE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

FIRST, BOLT PATTERN. OUR FRONT AXLE IS NOW EIGHT LUGS SO I WANT THE SAME

EIGHT ON 170 MILLIMETER BOLT PATTERN ON THE BACK. THE ISUZU'S GOT SOME GOOFY SIX LUG THING AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RIMS MATCH FRONT TO REAR. SECONDLY, TRACTION. I PLAN TO DITCH THE OPEN DIFFERENTIAL IN THIS AXLE AND REPLACE IT WITH A MECHANICAL LOCKER. I KNOW THERE ARE TONS OF LOCKER OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THIS AXLE BECAUSE IT'S VERY POPULAR. THE ISUZU, I'M NOT SURE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY MAKE A LOCKER FOR THAT AXLE. NOW CONSIDERING WE ONLY PAID $100 DOLLARS FOR THIS, IT IS THE PERFECT AXLE TO GO IN THE BACK OF OUR TRUCK. NOW THE SUSPENSION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE THE LEAVES OUT LIKE WE DID ON THE FRONT BECAUSE THESE REAR LEAVES ARE GOOD AND BEEFY, BASICALLY BUILT FOR A TOW TRUCK, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE BUILDING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY'RE NOT THE SAME HEIGHT AS OUR FRONT LEAVES. WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THAT. I HAD ROUGH COUNTRY SEND ME SOME OF THEIR LIFT BLOCKS AND UBOLT KITS. NOW THIS LIFT BLOCK SIMPLY SITS ON TOP OF THE AXLE

SPRING PERCH AND THE SPRING SITS ON TOP OF IT. THAT'LL GIVE US THE SAME RIDE HEIGHT FRONT AND REAR, AND THAT'S PERFECT. NOW LIFT BLOCKS DO GET A BAD WRAP SOMETIMES. GUYS SAY YOU SHOULDN'T USE THEM BUT MANUFACTURERS USE THEM ON THE BACK OF FULL SIZE ONE TON TRUCKS ALL THE TIME. SO IN THE CASE OF A TOW RIG LIKE THIS IT'S THE PERFECT SOLUTION. THE SPRING PERCHES WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE HOUSING TO LINE UP WITH OUR REAR LEAVES. AND WITH THE AXLE CENTERED UNDERNEATH THE FRAME, A NEW PERCH, LIFT BLOCK, AND NEW UBOLTS ARE INSTALLED. THE DAKAR RALLY SUPPORT TRUCKS THAT INSPIRED THIS BUILD, WELL THEY RUN ON 50 INCH TALL TIRES ON MILITARY STYLE DOUBLE BEAD LOCKS BECAUSE THEY'RE RACING. NOW THAT'S A LITTLE OVERKILL FOR A TOW RIG, BUT WE STILL WANTED A GOOD, AGGRESSIVE TIRE AND WHEEL PACKAGE. THAT'S WHY WE WENT WITH THE MICKEY THOMPSON BAJA MTZ RADIAL.

NOW THIS AGGRESSIVE TREAD DESIGN WILL NOT ONLY WORK GREAT OFF ROAD, BUT IT ALSO GIVES THE TRUCK A MEAN LOOK AND ITS RADIAL CONSTRUCTION WILL GIVE US EXCELLENT ROAD MANNERS. NOW WE CHOSE A 315 75 R/16, WHICH MEASURES JUST OVER 35 INCHES TALL, AND MOUNTED THEM UP TO THE NEW ULTRA WHEEL WORKS SERIES WHEEL LINE. NOW THESE ARE HEAVY DUTY ALUMINUM WHEELS DESIGNED FOR ONE TON AND LARGER TRUCKS. THIS UNIQUE THREE SPOKE DESIGN, THIS IS A COOL LOOK. AND BECAUSE THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR DUALLIES, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO EASILY HANDLE THE LOAD THAT WE PUT AT THE BACK OF OUR TRUCK. PLUS FLAT BLACK MACHINE FINISH, THAT JUST LOOKS MEAN.

WITH OUR TRUCK NOW FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, SITTING ON 35'S, WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO ONE WILD TOW RIG.