Confused? E-mail your questions about trucks, 4x4's, and off-roading tech using "Nuts, I'm confused" as the subject and include a picture (if it's applicable). Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file. Also, I'll be checking the forums on our Web site (www.4wheeloffroad.com), and if I see a question that I think more of you might want to have answered, I'll print that as well. Otherwise drop it old-school style with the envelope addressed to the address below. Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes.
Write to:
Nuts & Bolt
4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704
E-mail to:
fred.williams@primedia.com
Question: I have a '95 Jeep Wrangler Rio Grande that my dad bought for me on my 17th birthday. Ever since I have had the dang thing it has leaked when it rains, and for the past two years I have been trying to figure out were the leak is. I know that it leaks under the dash because my right pant leg always gets wet and when there is a passenger in the car their shoes get wet also. Now my stereo has water damage and it no longer works. I'm sad and I need to buy a new one but I'm not going to before I find where the water is coming from.
Liz Johnson
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: I'm going to go easy on you with this answer, because I have not yet reached the age where I would be considered a grouchy old man like my boss. You see, if Editor Rick Pewe was answering this question he would tell you to quit your crying since real Jeeps don't need tops, and getting wet is just part of that "Jeep thing" all those windshield stickers mention. Plus the fact that your Jeep has a stereo is pretty much against all his rules of Jeeps. I, on the other hand, have found that if you want some creature comforts out of your Wrangler then you need to know about some of the quirks in the Jeep design. First, notice that grille-type thing on the hood of your Jeep just in front of the windshield. That is the culprit in your wet-footed misadventures. You need to remove that grille and clean out the drainage pipe. It's probably clogged with leaves and junk and no longer drains easily. Find the clog and you'll be dry-socked and happy.
Question: I have a very clean '85 CJ-7 with a 4-inch Superlift and 33-inch MT Baja Claw tires. Everything else on the vehicle including gears, transfer case, four-speed transmission, and 4.2L engine is original. My problem is with the modifications I have made, the four-wheel low is not nearly low enough. I find myself using the clutch or powering through obstacles I should simply crawl over. My buddies with newer Wranglers have no problem with these areas because of their five- and six-speed transmissions and lower-ratio transfer cases. Do you recommend I lower my gears or install a gear-reduction kit in my transfer case? I am also looking for a reputable shop to perform this work in the metropolitan Phoenix area.
Scott Bourdo
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Lower gears are always one of the first upgrades for any trail-bound 4x4. Either lower gears in the transfer case like a Lowmax 4:1 kit from JB Conversions (337.625.2379, www.jbconversions.com) or lower ring-and-pinion gears would be smart. Since you only have a four-speed you may want to look into the transfer-case gears because it will not affect your on-road driving. If you do not drive on the street much, I would also recommend lowering your axle gears into the 4.10, 4.56, or 4.88 range depending on how low and slow you want to go. As for a shop in Phoenix, check out 4-Wheelers Supply (800.606.6421, www.4wheelers.com). We built a truck with them a few years back and they have the knowledge to get your Jeep crawling in no time flat.
Question: I own an '86 K5 Blazer, and I am wanting to know where you would recommend I run the exhaust to keep the fumes out of the cab. Right now it's dumped before the rear axle. When I remove the top or roll the rear window down it chokes you to death.
J.C.
Russellville, AR
Answer: When you're off-road it's nice to have a relatively comfortable vehicle to drive, but exhaust fumes are not only annoying but also poisonous. Part of the problem is that you are not getting the exhaust all the way to the rear of the truck. By putting the exhaust underneath the truck and in front of the axle it can not only roll up into the windows, but also come through any holes in the floor. The best place for exhaust is probably pointed out from under a rear corner, the further from the occupants the better. This will keep most of it from coming up through the floor as well as diminish its chances of rolling in when the rear window is down.