L
ladder bars Longitudinal suspension control arms that connect the axle to the frame, preventing axle wind-up and hop.
lash Amount of clearance between a valve and a rocker arm or between a rocker arm and a lifter or pushrod.
lateral link Tubular suspension rod that positions the axlehousing so that side-to-side movement is minimized during cornering.
LED Light-emitting diode, a small semiconductor that lights up when current is passed through it. Used on some dashboard displays and taillights.
lifted Any 4x4 that is raised either by a suspension or body lift.
lift-block A spacer placed between the axle assembly and the springs to lift a truck inexpensively. These are only safe on rear-axle assemblies.
light it off Start an engine.
limited-slip differential Final-drive system where the two axleshafts are mechanically connected with a series of clutchlike plates to prevent wheelspin on slippery surfaces and to ensure that the engine's power is transmitted equally between the two tires.
line A driver-selected path that gives a truck the best route to climb over an obstacle or through a pathway. Choosing the right line is essential to successful four-wheeling.
locked in To have engaged the manual front hubs into the lock position.
locker A device in either the front or rear differential that sends engine power to both wheels regardless of traction.
lockers front and rear One of the most common truck-owner fibs.
Loctite A product used on fasteners to maintain torque.
long-block Engine assembly consisting of a cylinder block, a crankshaft, a camshaft, bearings, pistons and rings, connecting rods, an oil pump, an oil pan, a timing cover, seals, cylinder heads, and an intake manifold.
loud pedal Accelerator.
low gears Gears that increase the amount of reduction in the transmission, transfer case, or axle. In an axle, they are expressed as the ratio of ring-gear teeth to pinion teeth, so low gears are numerically higher than high gears. (Example: 4.10 gears are lower than 3.55 gears.) Rockcrawlers typically have low gears.
low-lock To have the transfer case in 4-Lo therefore locking out the center differential, if so equipped.
M
mandrel bend Hydraulic or mechanical tube-bending machine that uses dies and mandrels (forms) to bend tubing in such a manner that the walls don't collapse.
manifold cooking To use a hot intake manifold as a heat source for cooking on the trail. Burritos and cans of beans or chili are favorite manifold delicacies.
MAS Mass Airflow Sensor, a device that measures the amount of airflow into the intake manifold. This information, as well as data from other sensors, is sent to the engine's computer, which calibrates the optimum air (fuel and adjusts the EFI system as required.
meats Tires, particularly large, aggressively treaded ones. Syn. skins, shoes.
MIG welding Metal Inert Gas welding is a wire-feed welding system that uses argon gas as a shielding agent for the weld. Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other metals are commonly welded with a MIG welder.
mill 1. Engine 2. Milling machine.
modular wheel Custom or racing wheel with an inner, an outer, and a centersection that are bolted or riveted together.
monochrome Styling inspired by European performance cars where the bumpers, grille, body trim, and door handles are painted the same color as the body.
mountain motor Big-block engine, typically bored and stroked to at least 500 cubic inches.
Mouse motor Chevy small-block V-8 engine, named Mouse because of its small overall physical size, and because, some say, GM executives wanted to scare Chrysler's "elephant" Hemi engine with the new, powerful small-block Chevy.
Multilink Solid-axle suspension design where coil springs are used instead of leaf springs, and the axle is located by longitudinal and lateral suspension control arms, or links.
N
nail it To apply full throttle.
negative offset When the wheel's mounting surface is outboard of its centerline.
normally aspirated An engine that relies on vacuum through its intake manifold and cylinders to draw in an air-fuel mixture; an engine without a forced-induction supercharger or turbocharger.
NOS 1. New old stock; original equipment, unused parts for vintage trucks, often found in their factory cartons at dealerships. Ant. repro, reproduction. 2. A nitrous oxide injection company. 3. Slang for nitrous.
O
OEM Original equipment manufacturer. Syn. stock.
off-camber A situation in which the truck is sideways on an incline, increasing the likelihood of a rollover.
oil gallery Small passages within the engine block and cylinder heads through which lubricating oil circulates.
one-off 1. Custom part or component that is fabricated from plans; no other identical copy exists. 2. Wide-production modifications to an existing vehicle, such as a Saleen Explorer.
out to lunch Worthless, a truck that doesn't run well or look right.
oversteer Cornering condition where the rear tires slide toward the outside of the turn.
P
Panhard rod A transverse link (rod that attaches to the truck's frame at one end and to the axlehousing at the opposite end), providing lateral positioning of the axlehousing relative to the chassis.
paperweight A part that's broken beyond repair can be used as an excellent paperweight.
payload Maximum weight a truck can carry, calculated by subtracting the curb weight of the truck and a 150-pound allowance for each passenger from the gross vehicle weight rating.
peg-leg An open differential. Syn. one-legger.
pickle fork Fork-like tool used to separate suspension components, such as ball joints and tie-rod ends, for repair.
pinion angle The angle of the pinion yoke on an axlehousing in relation to its driveshaft.
pitman arm Steering lever that converts the rotary motion of the steering box to the linear motion of the steering system's centerlink.
plenum Box or cavity at the intake manifold's entrance that stores the air/fuel mix for distribution to the intake runners.
plow Understeer.
port injection Electronic fuel-injection system that injects fuel directly into the cylinder-head ports.
posi Short for Posi-traction, a limited-slip differential used by General Motors. The term is often used generically for any limited-slip device.
positive offset When the wheel's mounting surface is inboard of its centerline.
prerunner An off-road truck that's built to prerun a desert race course so that the driver can study and practice on the course before the race.
progressive-rate springs Suspension springs that become progressively stiffer as they are compressed.
proportioning valve Hydraulic braking valve that varies the braking force at the front or rear wheels, depending on pedal pressure, load, and weight transfer, to reduce or eliminate wheel lockup.
P.T.O. Power take-off, an accessory powered by engine output, usually a winch.
pumpkin The centersection of an axlehousing that contains the differential carrier and gearset. Syn. coconut, third member.
pushrod Thin metal rods that transmit the motion from the camshaft and lifters to the rocker arms, and thus operate the valves on an overhead-valve (OHV) engine.
Q
quad 1. Four-barrel carburetor. 2. A four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle.
quarter-panel Body shop term for the front or rear corner sheetmetal assembly.