More Sgt. Savage Episodes

XOR - Xtreme Off-Road Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Dupli-Color
Paint, Trim, Enamel, Flat, Black, 11 oz., Aerosol, Each
Warn Industries
Winch, VR 10000, 12 V, Hawse Fairlead, Power In/Out, 3/8 in. x 100 ft. Synthetic Rope, 12 ft. Hand-Held Remote, Each
ARB 4x4 Accessories
ARB On-Board High Performance 12 Volt Air Compressor
ARB 4x4 Accessories
ARB Fridge Freezer 37 Qt (10800352)
Edwards Ironworkers
55 Ton Edwards Ironworkers with Hydraulic Accessory Pack option; 10 Ton Bender, 15 Ton Horizontal press,Tubing Roller and 40 Ton Shop Press.
ESAB
The Official Welding and Cutting Supplier of Xtreme Off Road, featuring the all-new Rebel 215 Multi-Process Welder
Firewire
50 Inch Off Road Light Bar
Firewire
Fire Cube is a 3" x 3" Square LED light pod with four 5w LEDs
Firewire
Firewire LEDs Off Road 4.5 Inch Round LED Off Road Light
Firewire
LED Mini Rock Light Kit
Firewire
3200 lumen series CREE LED Headlight conversion kit
Gen Right Off Road
Aluminum Tube Fender Boulder, TJ / LJ
PRP Seats
Enduro Recliner, PRP's original reclining suspension seat. Designed to replace your stock Jeep or truck bucket seats
Savvy Offroad
Savvy Aluminum Full Corner Armor Blanks for 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ
Savvy Offroad
Savvy Off Road Front Bumper TJ/LJ 97-06 Ultimate 1/4" Aluminum
Savvy Offroad
Savvy Off Road LED Lenses Only (Pair)
Savvy Offroad
Savvy TJ Rocker Base Only
Savvy Offroad
Savvy TJ Rock Step Steel Sliders
Shacklett Automotive Machine
Family-owned and operated machine shop repairs cylinder heads, engines and motors; performance work and dyno testing available.
Swag Off Road
YJ- TJ Drop Down Tailgate Conversion Kit
The Industrial Depot
Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies
TMR Customs
JEEP TJ/LJ Trail Series Roll Cage Kit

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> JOHN CURTIN IS A MARINE, AN AVID WHEELER, AND JUST AN ALL AROUND GOOD GUY. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS JOHN AND A CREW OF FELLOW WHEELERS HAVE BEEN BUSY IN OUR SHOP TURNING HIS TJ INTO A SERIOUS DUAL PURPOSE RIG. TODAY ON XTREME OFF ROAD JOHN'S JEEP IS CHRISTENED SERGEANT SAVAGE, AND WE GIVE JOHN THE KEYS TO HIS FULLY LOADED RIDE.

(IAN)>> SO FAR THE CREW HAS TORN DOWN JOHN'S TJ TO A BARE FRAME, REPLACED THE WEAK FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE WITH A MODIFIED FOUR LITER STRAIGHT SIX, AND FILLED THE CHASSIS WITH A THREE AND A HALF INCH RADIUS ARM SUSPENSION, HEAVY DUTY DANA 44 AXLES, HYDRAULIC ASSIST STEERING, AND A WICKED WHEEL AND TIRE COMBO. WITH THE ROLLING CHASSIS LOOKING GOOD IT'S TIME TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE TJ'S BODY.

OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE THROWING A PILE OF PARTS

AT THIS JEEP, STARTING WITH A FULL SET OF LIGHTS FROM FIREWIRE LED'S INCLUDING CUSTOM DESIGNED

LIGHT BAR BRACKETS, LED HEADLIGHTS, AND A 50 INCH LIGHT BAR CRANKING OUT 36,000

LUMENS OF BRIGHTNESS. THE LED HEADLIGHTS REUSE THE FACTORY MOUNTING HARDWARE, WHICH IS CAREFULLY REMOVED AND SET ASIDE.

(BRIAN)>> HERE'S THE NEW HOUSINGS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOT APPROVED WITH THE LED. IT'S GOT THE FAN AND HERE'S THE POWER BOX.

(IAN)>> DIELECTRIC GREASE IS APPLIED TO THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTION TO IMPROVE CONTINUITY AND THE NEW HEADLIGHTS DROP RIGHT IN.

THE LIGHT BAR BRACKETS FEATURE ADJUSTABLE MOUNTS TO INSURE THE LED BAR IS CENTERED PERFECTLY.

(BRIAN)>> THAT'S CENTER.

(JOHN)>> CENTERED?

(BRIAN)>> YEP!

(JOHN)>> OKAY.

(BRIAN)>> OKAY, WE CAN DO THE FOUR AND A HALF INCH

ROUND UP HERE, OR WE CAN DO THREE INCH CUBES. THESE ARE 5,000 LUMENS AND THOSE ARE 2,250 LUMENS.

(JOHN)>> OKAY, I THINK I'D GO WITH THESE UP HERE TO MATCH THAT TOP LIGHT BAR.

(BRIAN)>> OKAY, LOOKS GOOD.

(IAN)>> ALL OF JOHN'S LIGHTING IS INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLED USING ROCKER SWITCHES, WHICH MOUNT CLEANLY TO THE TJ'S DASH.

WE'RE CONVERTING THE TJ'S FACTORY SWING OUT TAILGATE TO A DROP DOWN SETUP USING SWAG OFF ROAD'S CONVERSION KIT. THE KIT USES THE FACTORY LATCH MECHANISM SO THE

TAILGATE REMAINS LOCKABLE. IT'S MADE FROM THREESIXTEENTHS ALUMINUM PLATE AND IS RATED TO HANDLE OVER 400 POUNDS.

TUBE FENDERS, ALRIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US MORE ROOM FOR THE TIRE AND WHEEL TO ARTICULATE, AND SO BETTER OFF ROAD PERFORMANCE BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER. BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY A TYPE OF BODY PROTECTION.

THIS OUTER PIECE IS AN ACTUAL PIECE OF TUBING, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED A TUBE FENDER. WHEN YOU'RE OUT WHEELING, YOU'RE GONNA DIG THE EDGE OF THIS FENDER INTO A ROCK, OR A TREE, OR A STUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE'S OFF CAMBER. NOW THAT'LL PROTECT THE BODY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

YOU CAN ACTUALLY DRAG THAT DOWN THE FENDER TO GET THE TIRE AND WHEEL INTO THE RIGHT POSITION. NOW THESE ONES FROM GEN RIGHT OFF ROAD WE'RE GONNA REPLACE JUST THE OUTER SKIN CAUSE THEY REUSED THE FACTORY INNER FENDER WELL. SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE'VE GOTTA CUT THE STOCK FENDER UP, BOLT THE INNER FENDER ONTO THE NEW FENDER, AND THEN BOLT IT ONTO THE JEEP.

(JOHN)>> THAT SOUNDS EASY ENOUGH.

(IAN)>> ALRIGHT, I MARK, YOU CUT, PLASMA CUTTER.

(JOHN)>> ALRIGHT, GOT IT.

(IAN)>> WITH THE FACTORY FENDERS REMOVED, THE INNER WHEEL WELLS ARE PAINTED WITH SOME DUPLICOLOR SATIN BLACK PAINT AND ARE READY FOR INSTALLATION. [ air ratchet spinning ]

(IAN)>> THE ARB AIR COMPRESSOR MOUNTS ON A FACTORY PLATE THAT SITS UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THEN FINALLY THE BODY CAN COME OFF THE LIFT. BRIAN INSTALLS THE ROCK LIGHTS UNDER THE JEEP. [ drill spinning ]

(IAN)>> AND THE SAVVY OFF ROAD ALUMINUM CORNERS BOLT TO THE TUB.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP WE DROP ON TOUGH LIGHT WEIGHT ALUMINUM BODY ARMOR AND GET THIS RIG READY TO ROLL.

(IAN)>> ERIK GODFREY IS ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THIS WEEK.

LAST YEAR ON XTREME OUR CREW, INCLUDING JOHN CURTIN, REBUILT ERIC'S CHEROKEE INTO

A LEGIT TRAIL RIG. WHEN ERIK HEARD THAT WE WERE WORKING ON JOHN'S RIG HE JUST HAD TO BE A PART OF THE BUILD.

(ERIK)>> IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO RECIPROCATE THE FAVOR BACK TO HIM AND HELP HIM OUT IN THE WAY THAT HE HELPED ME.

(JOHN)>> WHEN YOU MEET ANOTHER COMBAT VET, OR A VET IN GENERAL, YOU KIND OF HAVE THE SAME MINDSET FOR THE MOST PART. IT'S DEFINITELY NICE TO HAVE ANOTHER GUY AROUND THAT KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN A CERTAIN PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND IN THE WORLD. THANKS MAN!

(ERIK)>> ABSOLUTELY MAN, I WOULDN'T MISS IT.

(JOHN)>> I APPRECIATE IT.

(IAN)>> JOHN THOROUGHLY ENJOYED CUTTING INTO ERIK'S CHEROKEE AND NOW IT'S ERIK'S TURN. ERIK IF YOU REMEMBER FOR YOUR CHEROKEE, I HAD TO BUILD ALL THE ROCK SLIDERS, ALL THE TUBE FENDERS, EVERYTHING HERE BECAUSE NOBODY MAKES A KIT FOR A JEEP CHEROKEE.

(ERIK)>> GOT YA!

(IAN)>> NOW ON JOHN'S TJ WE'RE A LOT LUCKIER. THERE'S A BUNCH OF COMPANIES THAT MAKE A

WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ARMOR PACKAGES. NOW ALL OF JOHN'S ARMOR IS FROM SAVVY OFF ROAD. NOW SAVVY REALLY WAS THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS WHOLE ALUMINUM BODY ARMOR. REALLY KIND OF EMBRACED IT RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE, AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL CAUSE IT'S THICK MATERIAL BUT IT'S NICE AND LIGHT WEIGHT.

SO IT DOESN'T ADD A LOT OF WEIGHT TO THE JEEP, WHICH IS PERFECT SINCE WE'RE JUST LEAVING A FOUR LITER

UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. SAVE SOME WEIGHT WHEREVER WE CAN.

(ERIK)>> YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

(IAN)>> NOW THE COOL THING IS IS BECAUSE JEEPS ARE SO POPULAR YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A BUNCH

OF DIFFERENT REQUESTS. SO I HAD SAVVY SEND ME A SET OF REAR CORNER GUARDS, AND THEY DIDN'T CUT THE OPENING FOR THE FENDER BECAUSE I'VE STRETCHED THE WHEEL BASE BY FOUR INCHES. SO WE NEED TO FIND A NEW HOLE FOR THAT FENDER, AND I HAD THEM SEND THESE ROCKER GUARDS A LITTLE BIT LONG. SO WHEN WE CUT THAT OPENING IT'S JUST GONNA LOOK LIKE A FACTORY OPENING WE CUT INTO PLACE. SINCE WE'RE MOVING THESE THINGS AROUND A BUNCH WE

NEED TO CLEARANCE THIS ONE SLIDER A LITTLE BIT TO GET AROUND THE BODY MOUNT. IT'S SET UP FOR A FACTORY SET UP BUT WE'RE PUSHING IT BACK. SO YOU JUST TAKE THE PLASMA CUTTER AND JUST CUT BOTH OF THESE, BOTH SIDES OPEN. WE'LL CLEAN THEM UP AND THEN WE CAN START

INSTALLING THEM ON THE JEEP.

(ERIK)>> ALRIGHT WE CAN DO THAT.

(IAN)>> HOW'S THE CHEROKEE WORKING BY THE WAY?

(ERIK)>> IT'S GOOD WHEN I KEEP THE WHEELS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

(IAN)>> AND YOU'VE ROLLED IT ONE TIME?

(ERIK)>> ONE TIME, JUST ONCE.

(IAN)>> GOOD ROLL TOO, I SAW IT, AWESOME, CUT!

[ grinder spinning ]

(IAN)>> TO CUT OUR NEW REAR WHEEL WELL OPENING THE REAR FENDER MUST BE MOCKED INTO PLACE. THEN THE ALUMINUM CORNER IS MARKED AND CUT.

(JOHN)>> I LOVE DEMOLITION.

IT'S LIKE THE BEST THING EVER. I'D HAPPILY GET PAID HALF AS MUCH IF I WAS DESTROYING SOMETHING RATHER THAN BUILDING IT.

(IAN)>> WITH THE ROCK SLIDER IN POSITION, IT'S MARKED AND TRIMMED ON THE BAND SAW. THEN THE TUB IS DRILLED FOR THE NUTSERTS.

THE ROCK SLIDERS ARE A HYBRID DESIGN, COMBINING THE LIGHT WEIGHT OF ALUMINUM WITH THE DAMAGE RESISTANCE OF A STEEL RUB RAIL.

(GERALD)>> WE TOOK ALL OF THE BASE WEIGHT OUT OF IT. SO THE PART THAT ACTUALLY ATTACHES TO THE TUB IS ALUMINUM, 6061, SINGLE BEND, AND THEN WE ADDED A LIGHTER WEIGHT STEEL SLIDER. SO THAT THE WEIGHT IS REDUCED QUITE A BIT.

SO OUR SLIDERS ARE ONLY 30, 35 POUND VERSUS A STEEL SLIDER WOULD BE 60 TO 70 POUNDS.

(IAN)>> WITH THE HOOD IN PLACE THE BODY IS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

(JOHN)>> LOOKS LIKE SHE'S COMING TOGETHER.

(IAN)>> SO WITH A PILE OF WORK WE'VE

ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. WE TOOK A STOCK APPEARING JEEP TJ, ADDED ALUMINUM TUBE FENDERS, ALUMINUM ARMOR ALL THE WAY AROUND

THE BACK HALF OF THE RIG, SOME ROCK SLIDERS, TONS OF LIGHTING, AND A FEW CUSTOM ACCESSORIES. JOHN IS GONNA LOVE DRIVING THIS TJ.

(ERIK)>> IT'S GOT EVERYTHING THERE, THE

TUBE FENDERS DOWN TO THE SLIDERS. ANYTHING HE HITS IS JUST GONNA EITHER SLIDE ALONG OR SLIDE RIGHT OFF. IT'S GONNA DO EVERYTHING HE NEEDS IT TO DO.

(KENNETH)>> IT LOOKS AWESOME. YOU KNOW, HE'S REALLY GONNA ENJOY IT. IT'S JUST GONNA BE A REAL GOOD TIME FOR HIM AND I HOPE HE REALLY ENJOYS.

(BRIAN)>> I'D LOVE TO SEE HIM JUST TAKE THIS OFF

TRAIL AND GO AS HARD AS IT'LL GO. THE HARDER HE GOES, THE MORE FUN HE'S GONNA HAVE AND THE MORE JOY IT'S GONNA BRING TO EVERYBODY ELSE TO SEE HIM BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND NOT HOLD BACK.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT WE GO FROM STOCK TO READY ROCK IN JUST A FEW HOURS WITH A HEAVY DUTY READY TO WELD ROLL CAGE KIT.

(IAN)>> GERALD LEE FROM SAVVY OFF ROAD BROUGHT IN PLENTY OF PARTS FOR JOHN'S TJ, INCLUDING SOME LOW PROFILE LED TAIL LIGHTS FOR MAXIMUM RELIABILITY AND CLEARANCE ON THE TRAIL. THE HOUSINGS ARE MADE FROM BILLET ALUMINUM AND THE

WIRING SPLICES INTO THE FACTORY WIRING HARNESS.

HE ALSO BROUGHT HIS ALUMINUM FRONT BUMPER, INCLUDING A FAIRLEAD MOUNT FOR THE WARN WINCH.

(GERALD)>> WELL JOHN, SO NOW WE FINISHED THE SAVVY ALUMINUM FRONT BUMPER FOR THE TJ AND LJ. THIS IS A QUARTER INCH THICK ALUMINUM 6061. IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST ALUMINUM BUMPER

AVAILABLE FOR WHAT WE DO. I ACTUALLY DESIGNED THIS STUFF FOR ME. BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AT

THE TIME, I BUILT THIS BECAUSE I WANTED SOMETHING LIGHT AND STRONG FOR THE HAMMERS IS WHERE I GENERALLY WHEEL. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE FORM AND BUILD THESE ALL YEAR AND YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE BEST OF THE BEST AND I CAN'T WAIT TO INSTALL THIS ON YOUR JEEP.

(IAN)>> KEEPING WITH OUR LIGHTWEIGHT THEME, OUR WARN VR 10,000-S WINCH IS EQUIPPED WITH THEIR

SPYDURA WINCH ROPE, WHICH WILL HELP KEEP THINGS LIGHT BUT STILL PROVIDE US WITH ENOUGH STRENGTH FOR THE 10,000 POUND PULLING CAPACITY THIS WINCH HAS.

THE FACTORY JEEP TJ IS NOT DESIGNED FOR SERIOUS TRAIL RIDING. SO JOHN WILL REMOVE ALL THE STOCK PADDING AND THE UPPER DOOR BAR PIECES IN PREPARATION FOR A REAL CAGE. WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE JEEP ALL FINISHED UP WE CAN NOW TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE INSIDE OF THE TUB

BEFORE WE DROP IT BACK ON THE FRAME. NOW YOU'VE ALREADY GONE AHEAD AND STRIPPED OUT THE MAJORITY OF THE STOCK CAGE AND ALL THE INTERIOR, AND WE HAVE TO PUT SOME TYPE OF ROLL CAGE IN HERE TO

KEEP YOU SAFE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAIL. NOW I WANT TO KEEP THE FACTORY BPILLAR AND THESE REAR KICKERS BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA LET YOU REUSE A STOCK SOFT TOP AND IT'S GONNA LET YOU REUSE YOUR STOCK SEAT BELTS, WHICH IS IDEAL FOR THE TYPE OF

WHEELING YOU'RE GONNA DO. SO WHAT I GOT FOR YOU IS WHAT'S CALLED A TRAIL CAGE FROM TMR CUSTOMS. NOW WHAT IT'S GONNA DO IS IT'S GONNA KEY OFF THE FRONT SECTION OF THE TUB AND IT WILL ADD SOME TUBES TO THE DASH. IT'LL ADD A TOP BAR, ADD A NEW APILLAR, AND A COUPLE OF EXTRA KICKERS JUST TO STRENGTHEN UP FOR THE TWO PEOPLE IN THE FRONT OF THE JEEP. THEN WE'RE GONNA COME IN LATER, WE'RE GONNA ADD A

COUPLE OF EXTRA TUBES JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE AND CUSTOM EVEN THOUGH WE'RE REUSING PARTS OF THE FACTORY CAGE.

(JOHN)>> OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.

(IAN)>> SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BOLT THIS ALL INTO PLACE, WE'LL TACK IT TOGETHER, AND THEN START WELDING.

(JOHN)>> ALRIGHT.

[ drill spinning ]

(IAN)>> SEE HOW IT LINES UP WITH THE TUBE BEHIND IT? THAT CREATES WHAT'S CALLED A NODE. THAT MAKES IT STRONGER. IF YOU SLIDE THAT TUBE UP THE HOOP, IF YOU PUT THAT TUBE RIGHT THERE, WON'T WORK BECAUSE IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS THAT TUBE WILL PUSH THE CAGE. THE CAGE CAN ACTUALLY FAIL RIGHT AT THAT POINT, OR RIP RIGHT THROUGH. SO WHENEVER YOU HAVE TUBES COMING TOGETHER YOU'VE GOT TO LINE THEM UP PERFECTLY LIKE THAT. [ grinder spinning ]

(IAN)>> THE TMR CUSTOMS CAGE TRULY IS PLUG AND PLAY. SINCE ALL THE TUBING IS PRECUT, BENT, AND NOTCHED

ALL WE NEED TO DO IS PREP THE BODY AND THE TUBING AT ANY PLACE WE'LL BE WELDING.

[ grinder spinning ]

(IAN)>> SINCE I'M WORKING INSIDE JOHN'S JEEP I'M GONNA TIG WELD THIS CAGE TOGETHER. THAT WAY THERE'S NO SPATTER FROM THE WELD THAT COULD DAMAGE THE WINDSHIELD OR THE DASH. PLUS IT GIVES ME FULL CONTROL OVER THE MOLTEN PUDDLE. ONCE FULLY TACKED THE CAGE IS THEN REMOVED FROM THE JEEP TO PREP FOR FINAL WELDING.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT FINAL ASSEMBLY OF JOHN'S

DUAL PURPOSE TRAIL RIG.

(IAN)>> FOR JOHN'S JEEP THE GUYS AT PRP SEATS SENT HIM SOME RECLINING FULL SUSPENSION SEATS. PERFECT FOR A DAILY DRIVER WEEKEND WHEELER. THEY HAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF A SUSPENSION SEAT BUT MOUNT UP USING ALL OF THE STOCK HARDWARE STILL

GIVING THEM PERFECT FUNCTIONALITY IN A JEEP

THAT YOU'RE GONNA DRIVE ON THE STREET.

WHENEVER JOHN HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS JEEP, HE'S MENTIONED CAMPING, AND ONE ITEM THAT'S GONNA MAKE THAT A LOT EASIER FOR HIM IS THE ARB FRIDGE/FREEZER. IT'S GONNA MOUNT ONTO THE TUB BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT, BUT A FEW FACTORY BRACKETS HAVE TO GO. [ air chisel vibrating ]

(IAN)>> THE ARB FRIDGE MOUNTS INTO PLACE WITH THE INCLUDED CAM STRAP SECUREMENT SYSTEM. THAT HOLDS THE FRIDGE SECURELY WHEN WE'RE ON THE TRAIL BUT MAKES IT EASY TO REMOVE WHEN YOU'RE BACK AT THE HOUSE. TO FINISH WELD THE CAGE IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO DO WHEN IT'S BEEN REMOVED FROM THE JEEP. IT ALLOWS ME TO ROTATE THE CAGE AROUND ON THE FLOOR TO GET PROPER TORCH POSITION WHILE WELDING.

THEN ALL I HAVE TO DO IS CLEAN IT UP, GIVE IT A COAT OF DUPLICOLOR MACHINERY GRAY PAINT, AND IT'S READY TO DROP BACK INTO THE TUB.

WITH THE BODY UP ON THE LIFT, WE'LL ROLL THE CHASSIS UNDERNEATH IT, LOWER IT DOWN, AND BOLT IT UP. [ impact drill spinning ]

(IAN)>> THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF DROPPING IN THE GRILL AND HOOKING EVERYTHING UP.

WHEN JOHN'S TJ FIRST CAME INTO THE SHOP, IT WAS PRETTY WORN OUT. THERE WAS NO BODY PROTECTION AT ALL, AND THE WINCH ON THE FRONT WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED SOLID. THE FOUR CYLINDER STOCK ENGINE HAD A TON OF MILES ON IT AND WOULD NEVER BE THE FOUNDATION FOR A CAPABLE TRAIL RIG. BUT THE BODY ITSELF AND THE FRAME WERE IN GOOD SHAPE.

SO WE KNEW THIS JEEP COULD BE TURNED INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL. FROM THE NEW FOUR LITER STRAIGHT SIX PUSHING POWER THROUGH THE NEW AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND INTO THE ATLAS TRANSFER CASE TO THE METAL CLOAK SUSPENSION SETUP DESIGNED FOR DUAL PURPOSE PERFORMANCE, THIS IS ONE RIG DONE RIGHT. IT TOOK A CREW OF 14 VOLUNTEERS AND TWO MONTHS OF HARD WORK BUT JOHN'S WRANGLER IS FINALLY READY. FOR THE CREW, WORKING WITH JOHN HAS BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE.

(JESSE)>> HE'S GOT SUCH A POSITIVE GREAT ATTITUDE, GOOD OUTLOOK ON LIFE, REAL FRIENDLY, DOWN TO EARTH, I MEAN YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THE GUY. HE'S JUST AWESOME.

(IAN)>> FOR JOHN NOT ONLY DOES HE NOW HAVE A CAPABLE DAILY DRIVER, HE GOT TO SPEND TIME IN THE SHOP LEARNING ALL THE INNER WORKINGS OF HIS RIG. LIKE MOST GEARHEADS, HIS FASCINATION WITH AUTOMOBILES DATES BACK TO HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD.

(JOHN)>> THE FIRST THING I CAN REMEMBER WITH HAVING TO DO WITH A VEHICLE IS MY DAD AND I MAKING A MODEL ENGINE AND IT HAD A CLEAR BLOCK, AND YOU COULD SEE

ALL THE MOVING PARTS INSIDE. AND SO I THINK MY INITIAL INTEREST WAS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG KID. SEEING ALL THOSE THINGS AND YOU KNOW, WANTING TO

DIVE FARTHER INTO HOW EVERYTHING WORKED.

(IAN)>> AND NOW WE'VE JUST GOT ONE QUESTION. JOHN HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME SERGEANT SAVAGE FOR THIS JEEP?

(JOHN)>> SAVAGE WAS OUR PLATOON CALL SIGN WHEN WE

WERE IN AFGHANISTAN.

(IAN)>> SO WE'LL GET LIKE A WINDSHIELD BANNER, SERGEANT SAVAGE.

(JOHN)>> YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. OR MAYBE LIKE SOME SHERMAN STARS ON THE SIDE THAT THEY HAD ON THE TANKS.

(IAN)>> I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE BUILDING THIS JEEP JOHN?

(JOHN)>> I DON'T THINK I'LL BE DONE WORKING ON THIS. I THINK I'LL STILL CONTINUE TO KEEP DOING STUFF TO IT.
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