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Xtreme 4x4 Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Bushwacker
Fender Flares, Pocket Style, Front, Rear, Black, Dura-Flex Thermoplastic, Chevy, GMC, SUV, Pickup, Set of 4
Dupli-Color
Bed Coating, Bed Armor, 1-Gallon, Kit
Edelbrock
Headers, Shorty, Steel, Ceramic Coated, Chevy/GMC, SUV, 5.0/5.7L, Kit
Loctite
Sealant, PST Thread Sealant, 19 g each
Mallory Performance
Ignition Control Module; Off Road Ignition; No Chips Digital; For Any 12V 4/6/8 Cyl. Distributor
Advance Adapters
The VSS kit includes an adapter spacer, GM VSS sensor, modified reluctor ring, fastening hardware, and adapter instructions
ARB 4x4 Accessories
A complete Air Locker kit- replacement differential, activation switch, solenoid valve, air line and bulkhead fittings. Please note - not all units are supplied with replacement carrier bearings
Essentially Off-Road
Universal transfer case adapter. Call for applications.
G-2 Axle & Gear
G-2 Aliminum Differential Cover
G-2 Axle & Gear
G-2 Aluminum Differential Cover
G-2 Axle & Gear
G-2 Performance Ring and Pinion Set
G-2 Axle & Gear
G-2 Performance Ring and Pinion Set 8.8
LMC Truck
Steel cowl induction hood
Spectre Performance
Single Plenum Inline Filter, Chrome Tubes, Red Filter, Universal, Kit
Superior Axle and Gear
Super 88 eliminator kit 8.8, Ford Explorer (95-02)

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> FROM GROCERY HAULER TO ROCK CRAWLER, OUR DUAL PURPOSE BLAZER CONVERSION CONTINUES. WE'LL MAKE IT RUN STRONGER, SOUND MEANER, AND LOOK BETTER. PLUS OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER GETS A SERIOUS AXLE UPGRADE.

(IAN)>> I'M JUST PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THAT TRANSMISSION FOR A PROJECT THAT WE BROUGHT IN THE SHOP NOT TOO LONG AGO, THIS BAD BOY RIGHT HERE, A FULL SIZE BLAZER PROJECT. NOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ASKING US TO BUILD ONE OF THESE FOR YEARS, BUT THE FUNNY THING IS YOU WANTED IT BUILT MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. IT FIRST ARRIVED AT THE XTREME SHOP LIKE IT HAD JUST DROPPED OFF A COUPLE OF KIDS AT SOCCER PRACTICE WITH A MILD LIFT AND A SET OF 31 INCH TALL TIRES. THE FIRST JOB WAS TO DITCH THE FACTORY IFS IN ORDER TO SWAP IN A FORD HIGH PINION DANA 60 SITTING ON A SET OF LEAF SPRINGS. THAT SOLID AXLE SWAP CONVERTED OUR SOCCER MOM SPECIAL INTO A HEAVY DUTY HARDCORE LIFTED STREET TRUCK.

(CHRIS)>> BUT THIS IS XTREME 4X4, AND WHAT GOOD IS A TRUCK WITH 37 INCH TIRES THAT CAN'T BE TAKEN ON SOME SERIOUS TRAILS. SO THE BLAZER WENT UNDER THE KNIFE AGAIN TO BE TRANSFORMED FROM A LIFTED STREET TRUCK TO A DUAL PURPOSE DAILY DRIVER WEEKEND WHEELER.

(IAN)>> NOW TODAY WE HAVE THIS TRUCK BACK IN THE SHOP TO FINISH IT UP. WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF MOST OF THE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, BODY PROTECTION ALL THE WAY AROUND, MORE POWER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND OFF ROAD PERFORMANCE TYPE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ONCE WE GET THIS TRANSMISSION BACK UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND UPGRADE THE TRANSFER CASE TO FINISH OUT OUR DRIVETRAIN. THEN WE'LL DEAL WITH SOME ODDS AND ENDS, THROW AN EXHAUST ON IT, A NEW INTAKE, AND SOME COSMETIC GOODIES TO GET THIS TRUCK READY FOR THE DIRT.

NEWER TRUCKS LIKE OUR BLAZER LEFT THE FACTORY WITH WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS A LIGHT WEIGHT TRANSFER CASE, USUALLY SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEW PROCESS 241 THAT CAME OUT OF OUR TRUCK. IT IS AN ALL ALUMINUM TRANSFER CASE THAT USES PLANETARY GEARS TO GIVE IT THE REDUCTION AND A CHAIN TO DELIVER POWER DOWN TO THE FRONT WHEELS. NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG, THESE TRANSFER CASES ARE GREAT FOR LIGHT WEIGHT RIGS, SOMETHING LIKE A JEEP. BUT WHEN YOU'RE WHEELING A FULL SIZE TRUCK, YOU'RE USUALLY GONNA FIND THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS TRANSFER CASE PRETTY FAST. THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO SWAP IT OUT TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AN OLDER TRANSFER CASE. THIS IS A NEW PROCESS 205. IT'S WHAT USED TO BE INSTALLED IN TRUCKS WHEN TRUCKS WERE TRUCKS. IT'S A CAST IRON CASE THAT HAS GEARS INSIDE THAT ARE IN CONSTANT MESH TO BOTH GIVE YOU THE LOW RANGE RATIO AS WELL AS THE OUTPUT TO THE FRONT AXLE. NOW YOU CAN'T JUST BOLT THE 205 UP BEHIND THIS FOURL-60. IT WAS NEVER THERE AS AN OPTION. SO YOU NEED AN ADAPTER. WHAT WE HAVE IS A NEW ADAPTER FROM A ESSENTIALLY OFF ROAD. THIS'LL BOLT UP TO THE BACK OF OUR 700 AND IT'S WHAT THEY CALL THEIR INFINITELY CLOCKABLE ADAPTERS. IT ALLOWS YOU TO SET THE TRANSFER CASE AT WHATEVER DROP YOU WANT. NOW THE SPLINES ARE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE FOURL-60 AND THE 205, SO WE'LL HAVE TO RUN A SMALL SPUD SHAFT TO ADAPT THEM TOGETHER. WITH THE SPUD SHAFT SPLINED ONTO THE TRANSMISSION'S OUTPUT SHAFT, THE ADAPTER BOLTS UP DIRECTLY TO THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION. WITH THE 205 SPLINED INTO THE ADAPTER, THE DROP COULD BE ADJUSTED USING AN UNDER LIFT JACK. THEN WE'LL TIGHTEN THE ADAPTER RING ON, TACK IT IN PLACE, AND MEASURE FOR A TRANSFER CASE CROSS MEMBER.

(CHRIS)>> THE EDELBROCK TOP END KIT THAT WE INSTALLED ON THIS TRUCK CAME WITH A SET OF 50 STATE LEGAL HEADERS. INSTEAD OF CONNECTING IT TO THE OLD EXHAUST, WE'RE GONNA REPLACE IT FROM THE DOWN PIPE BACK WITH PARTS FROM MAGNAFLOW. THE EDELBROCK DOWN PIPE BOLTS TO THE HEADERS, AND IS FOLLOWED WITH THE MAGNAFLOW HIGH FLOW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THESE CONVERTERS ARE NOT ONLY SMALLER THAN THE FACTORY UNITS, THEY ALSO FLOW BETTER ALLOWING FOR MORE HORSEPOWER AT THE WHEELS. THE MAGNAFLOW UNIVERSAL HOT ROD KIT USES 100 PERCENT STAINLESS STEEL MANDREL BENT PIPES THAT WILL STAY LOOKING GOOD FOR YEARS TO COME. A FULLY POLISHED HIGH FLOW ROUND MUFFLER THAT HAS NO BAFFLES OR RESTRICTIONS AT ALL WILL MAKE THIS TRUCK SOUND GREAT. AND THE TAIL PIPE IS FINISHED OFF WITH A CUSTOM TIP.

(IAN)>> THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF THE 205 MEANS WE'LL NEED A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. SO WE'LL BUILD A SECONDARY CROSS MEMBER OUT OF SOME INCH AND THREE QUARTER DOM TUBING AND SOME FLAT PLATE. ONE OF THE ISSUES WHEN SWAPPING AN OLDER TRANSFER CASE INTO A NEWER TRUCK LIKE WE HAVE IS YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ELECTRONIC VEHICLE SPEED SENSING. NOW THE TRUCK NEEDS THAT FOR A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, NOT JUST TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION AND FOR THE SPEEDOMETER IN THE DASH. IT WORKS HAND IN HAND WITH THE VEHICLE'S MAP SENSOR TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING RIGHT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SPEED SENSOR, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK. NOW IN THE ORIGINAL TRUCK OURS WAS PICKED UP RIGHT HERE AT THE BACK OF THE TRANSFER CASE. A SMALL PLUG PLUGGED IN HERE AND MEASURED THE ROTATION OF THAT TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SHAFT. NOW THE 205 THAT WE PUT IN THAT RIG DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROVISIONS FOR AN ELECTRONIC SPEED SENSOR. SO WE PICKED UP A UNIVERSAL SPEED SENSOR KIT FROM ADVANCED ADAPTERS. IT STARTS WITH THIS SMALL RELUCTOR RING THAT EITHER CLAMPS ON TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION, OR IN OUR CASE WE'LL MACHINE THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF OUR 205 FOR THIS TO FIT. WE'LL THEN DRILL AND TAP THE OUTPUT HOUSING TO FIT THIS SMALL SPEED SENSOR THAT WILL PICK UP THE REVOLUTIONS OF THIS RELUCTOR RING AS IT TURNS. NOW THAT WILL DELIVER THAT SPEED SENSOR SIGNAL UP TO OUR TRANSMISSION AND THEN WE'LL KNOW WHEN TO SHIFT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, COLD AIR AND HOT IGNITION!

(IAN)>> WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO FINISH UP UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF OUR BLAZER, AND THIS IS THE POINT WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT YOU NEED TO STOP, STEP BACK, AND JUST RELAX. IT'S EASY TO GLOSS OVER SOMETHING AND FORGET ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL. FORGET TO BOLT DOWN YOUR BATTERY, THE FIRST TIME YOU HIT A STEEP HILL CLIMB, IT'S GONNA JUMP OUT OF THE TRAY, RIP THE BATTERY CABLE OFF, AND THEN YOUR TRUCK IS GONNA BE STUCK THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL WHILE YOU TRY TO FIX IT JUST TO BACK DOWN AND GET OUT OF THE WOODS. NOW WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THIS TRUCK. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH AN ALL NEW SHORT BLOCK AND DROPPED ON A TOP END KIT FROM EDELBROCK. BUT TO PULL EVEN MORE POWER OUT OF THAT PACKAGE, WE'RE GONNA INSTALL A COLD AIR INTAKE AND UPGRADE OUR IGNITION.

(CHRIS)>> THE COOLEST PART ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM AIR INTAKE USING UNIVERSAL PARTS FROM SPEED BY SPECTRE IS THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HOW IT CAN BE BUILT.

(IAN)>> OURS WILL START RIGHT AT THE TBI WITH ONE OF THEIR LOW PROFILE PLENUM UNITS, BUT THE REALLY UNIQUE ITEM WE'RE GONNA INSTALL IS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE SPECTRE FOUR INCH AIR BOX, AND IT'S A FULLY ENCLOSED AIR FILTER THAT INSTALLS IN LINE IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM. NOW THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS IS WE CAN INSTALL IT ON A RIG LIKE OUR BLAZER THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY INNER FENDER WELLS. IT'LL PROTECT THE FILTER ELEMENT FROM GETTING CONTAMINATED BY WATER AND DIRT THAT'S KICKED UP BY THE TIRE BECAUSE IT'S FULLY HOUSED INSIDE THIS UNIT.

THE IGNITION UPGRADE THAT WE CHOSE FOR OUR TRUCK IS A MALLORY HYFIRE CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE BOX. NOW THE WAY A CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE BOX WORKS IS IT SENSES WHEN THE FACTORY IGNITION COIL SHOULD FIRE ONE SPARK AND SENDS MULTIPLE SPARKS DOWN TO THE SPARK PLUG DURING THE IGNITION CYCLE. NOW THIS IS AN OFF ROAD SERIES BOX, WHICH MEANS IT CAN HANDLE THE VIBRATIONS THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THIS TRUCK WHEN WE'RE OUT ON THE TRIAL. BUT THE UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE HYFIRE IS HOW IT'S INSTALLED. INSTEAD OF TAPPING INTO THE FACTORY HALL EFFECTS SWITCH, WE SIMPLY PLUG THE FACTORY IGNITION COIL INTO THE TOWER ON THE SIDE OF THE BOX. IT'LL SENSE WHEN THAT IGNITION COIL WANTS TO FIRE AND INSTEAD FIRE THIS HIGH OUTPUT IGNITION COIL SENDING THOSE MULTIPLE SPARKS DOWN TO THE PLUGS. THAT MEANS TO INSTALL AN IGNITION UPGRADE LIKE THIS ON YOUR TRUCK, ALL YOU NEED TO HOOK UP ARE TWO WIRES.

(CHRIS)>> AND TO INSURE WE GET THE MOST OUT OF OUR EXTRA IGNITION, WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT OFF WITH A SET OF ETHREE SPARK PLUGS. THE UNIQUE EDGE TO EDGE DESIGN OF THE ELECTRODE PROVIDES IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND REDUCED EMISSIONS. CONSIDERING OUR TRUCK IS STILL 50 STATE LEGAL, THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NOW THAT OUR RIG'S GOT GUTS, WE'LL MAKE IT LOOK GOOD TOO! UP NEXT, A COWL INDUCTION HOOD, TOUGH FLARES, AND FRESH BED ARMOR.

(IAN)>> WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A DUAL PURPOSE TRUCK LIKE WE ARE HERE, YOU'RE KINDA DANCING A FINE LINE. WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING AN ALL OUT CRAWLER, HONESTLY, HOW IT WORKS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW IT LOOKS. YEAH, YOU MAY THROW SOME CUSTOM TOUCHES AT IT LIKE POWDER COAT AND ALUMINUM RIMS, BUT REALLY IT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE DIRT IS WHAT COUNTS. BUT WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A LIFTED STREET TRUCK, IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE. HOW IT LOOKS IS WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW IT WORKS OFF ROAD CAUSE IT'S NEVER GONNA GO THERE. BUT WITH A DUAL PURPOSE RIG, YOU'VE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF BOTH ASPECTS. NOW THE HOOD ON OUR BLAZER WAS IN AWFUL SHAPE WHEN WE TOOK IT OFF. SO TO DRESS UP THE OUTSIDE OF OUR TRUCK, WE'RE GONNA REPLACE IT WITH THIS COWL INDUCTION PIECE THAT WE GOT FROM LMC TRUCK. NOW IT'S A DIRECT FACTORY REPLACEMENT HOOD FOR THE ONE THAT CAME OFF OUR TRUCK. SO IT WILL BOLT RIGHT UP TO THE STOCK HINGES. BUT THIS LARGE COWL SECTION RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WILL DEFINITELY GIVE OUR TRUCK THAT MEAN STANCE. NOW THE HOOD DOES NOT COME PAINTED. IT JUST BASICALLY COMES IN PRIMER. SO I SENT IT DOWN TO KEVIN AT TRUCKS, AND HE PUT IT IN THE BOOTH WHEN HE WAS SPRAYING SOME OF HIS OTHER PARTS FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT. HE LAID DOWN A COAT OF THIS GLOSS BLACK TWO STAGE URETHANE PAINT. AND THEN HE LAID ON A COUPLE COATS OF CLEAR TO GIVE IT THAT GOOD, DEEP SHINE. NOW CONSIDERING ALL HE DID WAS SCUFF IT AND SHOOT IT IN THE BOOTH, THE HOOD TURNED OUT GREAT.

(CHRIS)>> LOOKS GOOD ON THIS SIDE.

(IAN)>> LETS FIND OUT, BAM!

(CHRIS)>> PERFECT!

(IAN)>> WHILE WE'RE DRESSING UP THE OUTSIDE OF OUR BLAZER, WE THOUGHT WHY NOT GET RID OF THE WORN, FADED, AND CRACKED FACTORY FLARES ON OUR TRUCK WITH A SET OF NEW ONES. NOW THESE ARE BUSHWACKER POCKET STYLE FLARES. AND NOT ONLY WILL THEY LOOK GOOD ON OUR TRUCK, BUT THEY ACTUALLY OFFER A LITTLE BIT EXTRA TIRE COVERAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE WIDER THAN THE STOCK ONES. THAT MEANS, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE WITH YOUR OVERSIZED WHEELS AND TIRES, 100 PERCENT LEGAL. AFTER A QUICK SCUFF AND A CLEANING WITH SOME WAX AND GREASE REMOVER, WE'LL SHOOT EACH FLARE WITH SOME GLOSS BLACK PAINT. THEN THE FLARES ARE INSTALLED USING THE FACTORY INNER FENDER WELL MOUNTS.

(CHRIS)>> TO FINISH OFF THE BODY PROTECTION ON OUR BLAZER, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE ROCK SLIDERS A GOOD COAT OF DUPLICOLOR BED ARMOR. THE NEW WATER BASED AEROSOL FORMULA GOES ON BEST WITH MULTIPLE LIGHT COATS. AND BECAUSE IT'S WATER BASED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE CHEMICAL OFF GASSING NORMALLY FOUND WITH SPRAY ON BED COATING.

(IAN)>> NOW WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF ODDS AND ENDS TO FINISH UP ON OUR BLAZER. WE'LL SLIP IN TWO NEW DRIVE SHAFTS, BLEED THE BRAKES, AND GO THROUGH IT BUMPER TO BUMPER TO CHECK EVERYTHING BEFORE WE TAKE IT OUT. AND THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS BLAZER, WE'LL POUND A LITTLE PAVEMENT AND THEN GET SOME DIRT ON THOSE TIRES.

(ANNOUNCER)>> WHY WOULD WE TRAILER OUR CHEROKEE WHEN WE CAN MAKE IT STREET LEGAL? COMING UP, OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER GETS A BETTER REAR END!

(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.

(IAN)>> TODAY ON OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER PROJECT WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA SPEND A LITTLE MONEY TO SAVE A LITTLE MONEY. SO FAR ON THIS RIG WE HAVE $3,000 DOLLARS INVESTED IN THE TRUCK COMPLETE, AND IT'S READY TO GO WHEELING. WE ACTUALLY TOOK IT OUT RECENTLY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT TRAIL RIDING JUST TO CHECK OUT THE SUSPENSION LIFT AND THE NEW TIRES AND WHEELS, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. BECAUSE WE WELDED UP THE REAR AXLE IN THE BACK OF THAT TRUCK, WE HAD TO PUT IT ON A TRAILER AND HAUL IT WITH A TRUCK. AND WHEN WE WERE COMING BACK FROM THE TRIP I REALIZED, WHAT GOOD IS A LOW DOLLAR WHEELER THAT YOU NEED TO OWN A PICK UP TRUCK AND A TRAILER TO USE EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO GO WHEELING. SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA SWAP OUT THAT REAR AXLE AND UPGRADE THIS ONE THAT WE PULLED FROM A JUNKYARD. IT'S A POPULAR SWAP FOR THE JEEP CHEROKEE, IT'S A FORD EXPLORER EIGHT POINT EIGHT. THE TRACK WIDTH ON THESE EIGHT POINT EIGHT AXLES IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE AXLE WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUT OF THE CHEROKEE. PLUS THE BOLT PATTERN IS THE EXACT SAME, MAKING IT AN ALMOST DROP IN SWAP. WE'RE TEARING OURS DOWN TO UPGRADE IT. NOW THE EIGHTEIGHT HAS A 31 SPLINE AXLE SHAFT, WHICH GIVES US EXTRA STRENGTH, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AXLES HAD AN OPEN CARRIER DIFFERENTIAL JUST LIKE THIS. SO WE'RE GONNA UPGRADE OURS WITH A LOCKER. WHILE WE'RE INSIDE, WE'LL SWAP OUT THE RING AND PINION FOR A SET OF 488 GEARS FROM GTWO. NOW THIS WILL GIVE US A GOOD CRAWL RATIO WITH OUR 33 INCH TALL TIRES. NOW WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOCKER TO RUN ON THE STREET AND ON THE TRAIL, YOUR BEST OPTION IS THE ARB AIR LOCKER. IT'LL GIVE YOU THAT TRUE OPEN DIFFERENTIAL ACTION WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE STREET, BUT WHEN YOU HIT THE DIRT, WITH THE FLIP OF A SWITCH, YOU HAVE THAT 100 PERCENT CONNECTION BETWEEN BOTH REAR WHEELS. AND OF COURSE TO INSTALL IT IN OUR HOUSING, WE PICKED UP A COMPLETE INSTALL KIT. WE'LL START BY PRESSING THE MAIN BEARING ONTO THE PINION AND PUTTING NEW RACES IN THE HOUSING.

DROP THE PINION IN AND DRILL AND TAP THE HOUSINGS FOR THE AIR LOCKER BUNG. FINALLY DROP IN THE AIR LOCKER AND ADJUST THE SHIMS TO GET THE APPROPRIATE BACK LASH AND TORQUE ON THE CAPS. THE EIGHT POINT EIGHT DOES HAVE ONE DRAWBACK AND THAT IS THAT THE FACTORY AXLES ARE HELD IN PLACE USING A CCLIP INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL. NOW THE REASON THIS IS BAD IS IF YOU BREAK AN AXLE SHAFT WHEN YOU'RE OUT WHEELING, THERE'S NOTHING HOLDING THE TIRE AND WHEEL UNDERNEATH YOUR RIG. IT'LL SIMPLY WALK RIGHT OUT AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED ON THE TRAIL. SO WE'RE GONNA UPGRADE THIS HOUSING USING A SUPER 88 KIT FROM SUPERIOR AXLE AND GEAR. IT REPLACES BOTH SHAFTS WITH THESE CHROMOLY PIECES, AND NO CCLIP ON THE END. INSTEAD THE AXLE IS HELD IN PLACE BY A PRESSED IN BEARING THAT'S HELD ONTO THE AXLE SHAFT, AND A RETAINER AT THE END OF THE TUBE, KINDA LIKE A FORD NINE INCH. WITH THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY REMOVED, CUT THE HOUSING DOWN SO IT IS FLUSH WITH THE BEARING PLATE. THEN INSTALL THE NEW BEARING HOUSING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SILICONE ON IT. PRESS THE NEW BEARING AND RETAINER ONTO THE AXLE SHAFT, SLIDE THE NEW SHAFT INTO THE HOUSING, AND SECURE IT USING THE PLATE. NOW EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE TODAY IS OBVIOUSLY A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, TO REBUILD THIS REAR AXLE AND MATCH THE GEAR RATIO ON THE FRONT WITH A NEW RING AND PINION IS GONNA LAND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $1,300 TO $1,400 DOLLARS. BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE, NOW WE CAN DRIVE OUR CHEROKEE ON THE STREET, A GOOD FLAT BED TRAILER TO HAUL IT TO THE TRAILS IS GONNA RUN YOU ABOUT $1,500 TO $1,600 BUCKS. SO WE ACTUALLY SPENT MONEY TO SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. NOW WE'LL FINISH UP THIS REAR AXLE BY SEALING UP THE DIFF WITH THIS HEAVY DUTY ALUMINUM GTWO COVER. FOR DETAILS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN TODAY'S EPISODE, HEAD ON OVER TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.
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