Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Four Wheeler

REMOTE OILING Hamburger’s Performance Products announces the addition of two new billet spin-on oil filter bypass adapters for Ford Power Stroke and Dodge Ram Cummins diesel engines. These spin-on bypass adapters give you the ability to plumb a remote-mounted oil filter for easy messfree oil changes or improved filter performance. Each bypass adapter is CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum. They are also clear anodized for wear resistance and engraved with flow direction labels for port identification. The integrated -12AN ports are said to allow for easy plumbing and provide maximum lubricant flow for any heavy-duty service vehicle. A neoprene O-ring is included to seal the adapter to the block. Hamburger’s billet bypass adapters are made in the USA and are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. INFO: Hamburger’s Performance, 562/921-0404,…

WHEN DRIVING OFF-ROAD AT NIGHT OR even down rural roads, it becomes very apparent that the factory headlights and fog lights leave a lot to be desired, even with the high beams on. In the past, aftermarket off-road lights have played both the part of a functional accessory and as cosmetic 4x4 jewelry. Modern-day aftermarket off-road light offerings are brighter, more compact, and more efficient than ever before. A couple decades ago there were only one or two types of light options. Today, there are three different affordable lighting technologies. These include halogen, high-intensity discharge (HID), and light-emitting diode (LED) off-road lights. Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. Which light technology is right for you depends on the application and, of course, personal preference. Halogen Halogen lights are the…

EVEN FOR A COMPANY IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE, work on future models must continue to the very last. Such was the case for International in the ’70s. Even as International Harvester (IH) was discontinuing their light trucks in a 1975 consolidation move, the company green-lighted a project to develop composite bodies. International had long been interested in composite technology to simplify the development of new body styles and lower production costs. Implementation costs held the idea at bay until the mid-’70s when those costs became manageable. International hired Dr. Leo Windecker in 1975 to spearhead research on composite bodies. Windecker, a former dentist who had become an expert in composites, had adapted existing technology to design and build composite aircraft. The Windecker Eagle was a successful design that received FAA certification.…

Four-wheeling for a living is a heckuva deal, and there are some who are lucky enough to clockin behind the wheel of a 4x4. Back in the Apr. ’82 issue of Four Wheeler, we published a story about some time we spent with an Inertial Survey crew in the middle of nowhere. This survey crew was using a trio of vehicles that consisted of two Ford F-250s and a Pathfinder-converted four-wheel-drive Ford van that was stuffed with “guidance equipment, computers, and monitors.” The story began on the top of a “naked 9,000-foot mountain 40 miles from the nearest human being in the dry high country of the Wyoming Rockies.” Some “major energy resources” had been discovered, and the survey crew was tasked with mapping a route to the resources before…

WHEN JIM ANDERSON SET OUT TO PICK HIS NEXT TRUCK, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO CHOOSE something off the dealer lot to pull his toy hauler. However, he wanted something a little different for his weekend jaunts to the dunes. Growing up in Illinois, he saw many a fine truck succumb to the ravages of the wet winters there, and older trucks were a rarity on the roads. When he moved to Arizona, he had a new chance to own a vintage pickup that he could drive year round. Shortly after purchasing a nicely built ’67 2WD Chevy pickup, he delivered the project candidate to Lamb Fab in Gilbert, Arizona. There they undertook the task of converting this truck to one that could make use of the transfer case…

IF THERE IS ONE AREA OF MYSTICISM AND witchery on a 4x4, it’s in wiring and electrical upgrades. Interestingly enough, the wiring is often the area where we see incredibly butch and scaryhack modifications on a 4x4. In most cases, the horrendous handiwork is hidden under the hood or dashboard, waiting to cause parasitic battery drain or worse, a car fire. The good news is that wiring is actually fairly simple on older 4x4s, but on newer 4x4s it’s so complex that any modifications usually involve the addition of a completely separate simple wiring harness. The easiest way to understand the electrical system of your 4x4 is to think of electricity like water. Both water and electricity generally travel the path of least resistance. For this example, think of your…

CRYOGENIC FREEZING Q I broke my Suzuki Samurai transfer case in half and wasted my gears. I’m building a new billet aluminum case, and I want to have the gears cryogenically treated. Have you ever had anything cryo’d? CLAY CLAWSON VIA FACEBOOK.COM/JOHNCAPPA4X4 A Cryogenically treating gears, axleshafts, and other components made a big splash in the off-road world about a decade ago. Unfortunately, the advantages don’t really outweigh the cost in most cases. Cryogenic treating won’t significantly increase the kind of strength you are looking for, which is shock loading. It’s best used in other applications. The process will increase the wear life of gear teeth, splines, or bearing surfaces because it helps the part resist abrasion. Of course there is a small strength gain, but it’s negligible. Cryogenically treating…

THAT’S INTERESTING Thanks for the trivia, U.S. Census Bureau: The first state to require license plates was New York in April 1901. Ford is coughing up $1.6 billion to upgrade its Livonia (Michigan) Transmission Plant and Ohio Assembly Plant. The F-150 Raptor’s new 10-speed tranny will be built at Livonia. Nissan won Energy Star Partner of the Year, Sustained Excellence Award, given to organizations protecting the environment through more energyefficient operations. It’s the fifth time in a row for a Nissan win. The 2016 Ford F-150 is getting a Special Service Vehicle package meant for government customers such as law enforcement. A high-output alternator, 40/blank/40 seats, and vinyl flooring are among the unique features. Porsche has a new vehicle delivery program. It’s part of the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta…

THE 2014 TRUCKS GONE WILD SUPERBOG IN Perry, Florida, was so much fun we felt the overpowering need to boomerang back to the Iron Horse Mud Ranch for Superbog 2015. As expected, the muddy nirvana was packed with mud faithful for several days of all things goo and the collection of 4x4s was mind boggling. There are three main components that make the Superbog so amazing (and insane). First, there’s the location. The Iron Horse Mud Ranch is a massive 520-acre facility that has several killer mudholes, lots of camping space, several truck washes, and a close proximity to town for those who may need to acquire repair parts or who don’t like to camp. Another component is the Trucks Gone Wild (TGW) team. Matt Steele, Chuck Davis, and Chris…