Out back you'll find the 40-spline...
Out back you'll find the 40-spline rear Pro Rock 60 axle, Poison Spyder Customs Trail Corners, and Safari Gard's trick rear bumper with a swing-out tire carrier.
Our 37x12.50R17 BFG Krawler KX tires are really too much tire for the factory axles, especially since durability and reliability were tops on our list. We went with Dynatrac Pro Rock 60s front and rear. The lowest ratio available for the high-pinion 60 axles is 5.38:1, so that's what we installed. The ratio is about right with the overdrive on the highway. The 5.38s keep the Jeep's pathetic four-speed auto from hunting for the right gear. When we first installed the lift, our planned wheels weren't ready, so we made due with some regular 17x8s. Since then, we slapped on the polished 17x8 1/2-inch Walker Evans Racing wheels complete with extra-wide CORR-racing-type bead-lock rings. You can order the wheels with a wide variety of lug patterns, ring colors, and backspacing. We spec'd ours out with a 5-on-5 1/2 lug pattern with 4 3/4 inches of backspacing to work with our slightly wider Pro Rock axle assemblies.The BFG Krawler tires are some of the best tires we've ever used in the rocks, which is perfect since that's where this Jeep spends most of its time. The Krawler tires actually work well in any terrain, and they provide a unique, aggressive, children-eating look, even if you only plan to wear them out on the street.
The Pro Rock 60 frontend with...
The Pro Rock 60 frontend with 40-spline shafts features Dynatrac's high-steer parts and track bar. All of these components bolt on to the original Jeep frame and steering box without welding.
Since the installation of the Rubicon Express long-arm lift kit on our Wrangler, we've made a few changes to the suspension. The original stiff front sway bar was ditched for a Currie Anti-Rock unit with aluminum arms. This helped provide a smoother ride and keeps us from going nuts when dealing with sway-bar disconnects. We like having the light sway bar for off-road use. Completely disconnecting it may provide more flex and a higher RTI ramp number, but it makes your Jeep less stable. Also new underneath are the Walker Evans Racing/Dynatrac shocks. The two companies worked together to build high-end, adjustable, Wrangler-specific shocks with remote reservoirs that bolt on to the factory Jeep shock mounts. The trick-looking high-zoot shocks help control axle movement for a smooth ride at speed or when creeping along. They should be available from Dynatrac by the time you read this.
Rock, mud, sand, snow, children,...
Rock, mud, sand, snow, children, or whatever -- the 37x12.50R17 BFG Krawlers mounted on polished Walker Evans Racing wheels are aggressive and reliable.
The Awesome Unlimited is officially done; however, there are still some things we are considering for the future. Our transfer case is suspect. If we keep the auto tranny, we may need more gearing there. An Advance Adapters Atlas II with a 3.8 low range could find its way underneath. At the same time we would upgrade the driveshafts to 1350 U-joints and yokes. But we've also been kicking around the idea of doing what we think Jeep should do from the factory -- putting a 345hp Hemi V-8 under the hood. If that happens we want a six-speed manual for sure. Keep your eyes peeled.
Project Awesome Unlimited, Part 1
Project Awesome Unlimited, Part 2
Project Awesome Unlimited, Part 3
Project Awesome Unlimited, Part 4
Project Awesome Unlimited, Part 5