HardRock's Jeep Wrangler

[philoldsmobile]

there is a similar thread on LPG on the alfa forum now, and with regards to the mixed reportf of engine wear (some say reduced, some say increased) one guy has an alfa 75 that has been on LPG for 10 years, he had this to say..

Quoting: alfaowner.com

I have been running a 75 on lpg for over 10 years and am now in the process of converting my 166.
I will be doing it over the next couple of months so I'll let you know how it goes.

I have been told by my supplier that there is a shortage due to the cold spell and he expects prices to fall by late spring

+ves cost, oil gets less contamination from the combustion process so improved engine life (my 75 is now on 320,000 miles)

_ve loss of space, use a tank that fits in the tyre well, the cylinders sit too high and change the cars handling

[HardRockCamaro]

From what I've read the wear on the cylinder walls is reduced due to the oil not being washed off by a liquid fuel, the wear on the rotating assembly should be less as the oil condition is supposedly much better due to the gas burning so clean.
However the wear on the head/back of the valves is increased due to lack of lubrication by the dry gas as opposed to petrol.  This wear can be very bad if you have soft valves / cylinder head(s) but not so bad on engines that have very tough valves/seats which is often very old engines that were toughened up to cope with the switch to unleaded fuel (such as the Jeep inline 6).
European Fords, Hondas, BMW 6 and 8 cyl, Jag 6 cyl, Jeep modern 6 cyl / small 8 cyl engines are bad for it.  The solution is to install a flashlube system which injects a controlled amount of oil into the gas flow.  This adds up to £200 to the install and of course you have to buy the oil and remember to top it up.

[HardRockCamaro]

Finally got the ARB Safari Snorkel fitted to the Jeep which I bought back in November when on holiday in the US...
Also fitted some matt black headlamp bezels instead of the factory chrome ones:



Watching a 76mm hole being drilled into your pride and joy is as pleasant as visiting the dentist...

So far the butt dyno tells me the engine actually pulls slightly better, no doubt due to the fact it is in essence a cold air intake.  Probably less noticeable on other Jeeps that get air from the front grill, but on the Wrangler the airbox takes air in from a better protected area under the bonnet...

[art b]

and very nice it looks too....

[HardRockCamaro]

Well a few bits have changed since the latest update...

Since the pic above it has gained a 12,000lb winch and submersible IPF spot lamps on a new front bumper, genuine Jeep TJ Rubicon MOAB rims, lost the side steps, had some light guards fitted front and rear, a larger petrol tank (the 41L tank numbnut was supposed to fit not the 28L one for a JK that he did fit), a high pinion axle from a mid 90s Cherokee, diff gearing has gone from 3.07:1 to 4.11:1 and for summer use I have 2 piece, removeable soft doors.

A new rear bumper with integrated tyre carrier, fuel can brackets and strogae rack is on its way as we speak, along with some sill guards/steps.

The LPG has almost paid for itself, partly due to a 5,000 mile trip I made around Europe this summer, and partly because I have been paying 71.9 for LPG compared to the 75p I had originally estimated, and petrol is typically 132.9 at best vs the 130 I had estimated.  So it'll be paid off within 12 months of install...  

She now has around 63,000 on the clock iirc and has been no trouble whatsoever.  

I absolutely love it, best vehicle I have ever owned!

[art b]

with a winch and all that other gear ..you should be renamed ''hard rock wrangler''....

looks like you have been busy with and enjoying the old girl....

[F Body]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

best vehicle I have ever owned!

Good fun but rather crude would be my description

[HardRockCamaro]

Just the way I like my women...  :P

It is crude yes, but I like that.
It doesn't make excuses and try to be something it isn't and fail.
It's a very simple design, with the minimum of electronics and "stuff", can be fixed by any mechanic.
It has no sound proofing, no one fitted a load of rubber bits to try and hide the fact it is a machine.  When you move the gear shifter you can feel and hear the linkages moving, you can hear the clutch engage, thanks to no soundproofing you can hear the injectors firing and the diffs and transfer case whirring away.
Everything is simple, pretty robust and designed with far less compromises to on road usage than any 4x4 other than a Defender.
The design has worked well since 1941, minimal changes over the years (adding a plastic dash, airbag, fuel injection, coil springs and lengthening and widening it a couple of inches).
It's funny, I don't appreciate how noisy and unrefined it is until I get in to a modern car. But modern cars leave me totally cold now, absolutely zero character. Highly competent, yes, overly complex and fussy, yes.
I can see me keeping the Jeep for a few years...

[Andy]

See thats my kinda car really. But different horses for different courses really. Some people want whisper quiet drivability while others want to feel like they're part of the car or actually involved with the how thing.

The being able to be fixed by a mechanic is a massive plus in my book! All these cars now that need to be hooked up to a computer before you can work out whats wrong with it. And even then, you could have a situtaion like Martin had where you're chasing a fault through all the different circuits finally tracking down an under useds or well hidden relay!

I'd love a bosh in one of those, yours looks the mutts now! I keep seeing one near my work in Bourne End, Bucks. It looks like it received the dick off roading though, the whole front fender all busted up. Haven't see it for a while, probably still knocking up the miles. Will get a pic next time I see it.

[HardRockCamaro]

It's a sign of the market that off roaders have gotten softer and softer, cars have be one quieter with ever more gutless engines that are hidden by umpteen gears. Plastic covers everywhere, on top of the engine, under the car... I looked at a 1.6 petrol engine in a new Ford Focus and marvelled at the sheer amount of junk that surrounded it vs the old XR3i 1.6. All that for an extra 5hp and less emissions...
I do think that cars are generally more reliable than ever, but the hidden cost is in servicing and repairs. A friend has a 4 year old diesel Skoda Fabia. 4 years is the major service with new cambelt and water pump. £780 at the dealer, or £540 at a specialist. In either case I would be crying...

[HardRockCamaro]

Some more pics from the last 12 months:

[HardRockCamaro]

And a video from Salisbury Plain

[art b]

great proper use of a 4x4 ...

a great reason for having a car...i went of roading with a mate once and its very addictive....he alway said if he hadnt broken some thing he wasn't trying...

most people with a 4x4 would shite themselves if they saw half of what you have done....

you should take martina with you, to give em a shammy when ur done ...
im sure he would love it...

[HardRockCamaro]

It is addictive.  And thus expensive.
So few 4x4 these days are up to it though, awful ground clearance and approach/departure angles plus so few have solid axles these days which means their suspension articulation is poor and they keep lifting wheels in the air, which means n longer 4 wheel drive...

The best value way of doing it is to be an XJ Cherokee for £700, fit a 3" £400 lift kit yourself, 5x cheap 30 or maybe 31" mud terrain tyres for say £300, a copy snorkel for £100, disconnect the front anti roll bar and then front and rear lockers if you can afford it for around £1,500.  At that point it owes you £3,000 and is practically unstoppable and will leave a Land Rover Defender in its wake!

[Fieldy]

Im always crossing Salsbury plain for work... Great to see a 4x4 doing what it is supposed to do

[art b]

my mate had the older yj with a 6'' lift and all sorts of wiggly axle bits..
he pulled all sorts of stuff out of the quarry at Tong...

it was an animal,

[he also said the likkle suzukis were great things for not getting stuck]

[HardRockCamaro]

The YJ is basically the same, but has leaf springs instead of coils, so doesn't articulate as well (and doesn't ride as well).
I went with a 2.5" lift as that is enough for 32" tyres which is about as big as I would ever go.  I may go for 33's which means 1/2" spacers.
I also have quick disconnects on the font anti roll bar so I can get another 4 inches or so difference in height between the 2 front wheels.  

Suzuki SJ's are great.  They are even smaller than the Wrangler and size does matter off road (and smaller is best!).  In fact a magazine article I read recently showed that they have the same wheelbase, approach and departure angles as the original Willys MB Jeep of WW2.  They are also light so they don't sink like a Range Rover.  Their only downside is that they are prone to tipping backwards on steep climbs or roll over on side slopes (and to a lesser extent so does the Wrangler and Defender 90).  They are also underpowered when the going gets heavy.  Everything is a compromise!

[F Body]

Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine has named The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2012 4X4 of the Year



The Rubicon took the trophy after acing a 1,000-mile trial that evaluates vehicles' performance in dirt, mud, sand, rocks, gravel and highway driving

http://www.autoblog.com/page/2/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.autoblog.com/page/2/

[HardRockCamaro]

Ta for the link!

The UK magazine 4x4 Monthly last year named the Wrangler as the best "extreme 4x4" in the UK, beating out the Land Rover Defender as it went everywhere the Defender went but was nicer inside and drove better on the road.  

Four wheeler magazine in the USA named the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited as the 4x4 of the decade.  

[HardRockCamaro]

I like this article, because its so true:  

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/make-mine-a-jeep-pj-orourkes-ode-to-the-wrangler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.caranddriver.com/features/make-mine-a-jeep-pj-orourkes-ode-to-the-wrangler

"Out on the Ohio Turnpike, the ride and the wind noise were better than what I expected, but what I expected was something like holding a storm window in front of my face while sitting in an office chair being towed on a rope behind a semi. It was better than that."

[F Body]

This is more like it

The Xtreme Outfitters Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition




http://www.autoblog.com/photos/sema-2011-call-of-duty-wrangler-replica/#photo-4581425/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.autoblog.com/photos/sema-2011-call-of-duty-wrangler-replica/#photo-4581425/

[HardRockCamaro]

So, 9am this morning the TJ arrives as London Jeep Specialists for some surgery on her rear end...





8 hours later and several large boxes of stuff from RockHard4x4 and I've solved a few issues I noticed while on my road trip around Europe:

1) Previously space in the rear cargo box was used up by 2x5L fuel cans while on a long road trip. I can now carry 2x20L cans and lose no space whatsoever in the storage box.
2) If I need even more space light, low value items can be strapped to the rack above the rear tyre.  I for one hate roof racks, they're a pain on a soft top Jeep and they raise the centre of gravity.
3) The big 31"+ rear tyre has been giving the rear tailgate hinges a hard time and is really too heavy for the stock location.  1 tyre carrier mounted on the bumper later and no more creaks from the tailgate.
4) Better departure angle and far stronger. You would not believe what that bumper weighs!
5) It just looks better than the natty stock UK rear bumper.
6) 2x very stout recover points
7) 2" Receiver hitch should I ever get around to building my camper trailer...
8 ) Somewhere to put the hi-lift jack (runs along the bottom of the tyre carrier below the rear tyre and has a padlock point.
9) Somewhere to mount the CB antenna so my old taillight sandwich bracket can go.

I have to say that the RockHard4x4 stuff is very well made indeed!  Everything is uber heavy duty and well poweder coated.  The hardware is grade 8 stainless with billet bits and it all fits together well as a quality piece.

London Jeep repurposed one of the rear number plate lights so as to attach it to the passenger side taillight to light up the bike sized number plate in the stock US location.  It means losing the reverse light on the passenger side but who cares...
Thankfully there was just enough room for the stock fog lamp on the tyre carrier but drilling into that S.O.B. was not easy!
The stock centre brake light had to go so this new one sits behind the spare tyre and shines through the centre cap hole.  Very trick imho!






Frame tie-in brackets for extra strength (required for 33" and larger tyres or if using the gas can holders or storage rack):



We drilled an extra hole in the top left and the rear bumper itself also requires 4 extra holes to be drilled into the rear cross-member in addition to the stock bumper mounts.  It's on there good!



Back tomorrow to fit the other goodies that were in the box...  

[HardRockCamaro]

Natty Sahara plastic trim has to go...  



Once removed and cleaned up you're left with basically the look of the lower Sport trim model, which I prefer...



Some 3.5mm diamond plate steel up the side and under the tub secured with 20 bolts and some thick tubular steel later and we have some serious sill protection...  

[Cunning Plan]

Oh man that looks like a beast now

[HardRockCamaro]

Got a response from Chrysler Customer Service in the USA re the Build sheet for my TJ.

Confirms it is a 98 model regardless of the 2000 registration...

Model Year 1998  Jeep Wrangler
Body Model TJ U L 77  

Sales Code:      ---     Description:
*M5 Cloth High-Back Bucket Seats
-TJ Saddle/Moss Green
ABBA European Equipment Group      <- Are they having a laugh with the option code for Europe?!
ABES Export Equipment Group
ABUA United Kingdom Equipment Group
ADCP Convenience Group
ADHP Heavy Duty Electrical Group
APAS Monotone Paint
ARSP Sahara Decor Group
BAUP 117 Amp Alternator
BCEP 600 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
BGAS Power Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes
CADP High Back Bucket Seats
CDBS Reclining Front Seats
CFMP Rear Folding Seat
CGGS Traveling Inboard Seat Belt Buckle
CGWS Next Generation Front Air Bags**
CGZS Passenger Air Bag On/Off Switch
CKES Front Seat Area Carpet
CKFP Rear Seat/Wheelhouse/Cargo Carpet
CKTS Cargo Tie Down Loops
CK9P Delete Rear Cargo Floor Covering
CLCP Front Floor Mats
CSAP Spare Tire Cover
CUFP Full Length Floor Console
DDQ 5-Speed Manual Transmission
DHNS Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System
DJJS Dana 30/186MM Front Axle
DMMP 3.07 Rear Axle Ratio
DRKS Dana 44/226MM Rear Axle
DSAP Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle
ERH 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine
GBBS Tinted Windshield Glass
GCBP Front Door Tinted Glass
GCFP Full Metal Doors w/Roll-up Windows
GEDP Tinted Rr Drs/Qtr/Liftgate Glass
GFAP Rear Window Defroster
GREP Left Mirror
GSEP Right Mirror
GTES Manual Remote Control Mirrors
GXXP Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
HCDS Heater w/Instrument Pnl Ventilation
HGDP Deluxe Insulation Group                    <-  There isn't any!!!
JAYS Instrument Cluster w/Tach
JCKP 110 MPH Primary Speedometer
JHAP Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
JHBP Rear Window Wiper/Washer
JJAS Cigar Lighter
JJHS Single High Note Horn
JJJS 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
JKAS Locking Glove Box
JKLP Headlamp Leveling System
KBSP STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KWPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KXPS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KYPP STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K5XS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
LBBP Courtesy Lamps
LCDP Map/Dome Reading Lamps
LDAP Underhood Lamp
LMJS Halogen ECE Headlamps
LPGP Rear Fog Lamps
LPSS CHMSL Lamp
MBAS Painted Front Bumper
MB5S Black Rear Bumper
MCHS Bumper Extensions
MFPS Chrome Headlamp Bezels
MFRS Black Front Frame Overlay
MFTS Body Color Grille
MWBS Sport Bar w/Side Padding
NACS European II Emissions
NBKS EVAP Control System
NF1S 19 Gallon Fuel Tank
PX8A Black Clear Coat
QX8S Black Clear Coat
RBLP AM/FM Cass Radio w/Changer Control
RCDP 4 Speakers
RDDS Fixed Long Mast Antenna
SBAS Power Rack and Pinion Steering
SCGP Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
SDUP Heavy Duty Suspension w/Gas Shocks
SHAS Front Stabilizer Bar
SHCS Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars
SUAP Tilt Steering Column
TBBS Full Size Spare Tire
TBRS Outside Tire Carrier
TRNP P225/75R15 OWL Wrangler AT Tires
TZAS Goodyear Brand Tires
VKXA Black Hard Top
WJ1P 15X7.0 Aluminum 5-Spoke Wheels
WKBP Matching Spare Wheel
WLZC All Aluminum Wheels
XCYS Delete Remote Start System
XEES Fuel Tank Skid Plate Shield
XEFS Transfer Case Skid Plate Shield
XEVS Tow Eye Brackets
XJFS Tethered Fuel Filler Cap
YABS Build To Export Mkt. Specifications
5I9S Right Hand Drive (RHD)
8CNA United Kingdom Country Code