Finally there is a company that remembered Jeep made another fuel-injected Wrangler. AirAid's Cool-Air Dam System for the 4.0L YJs includes a computer designed cool-air dam, full-length intake tube, and a SynthaFlow filter. The SynthaFlow filter improves airflow by 42 percent over the stock air box while filtering down to two microns. Throttle response, horsepower, and torque are said to improve across the board after bolting the kit on.
Information: AirAid Filter Company, 800/498-6951, www.airaid.com
Nylint has come up with a way for us to get the rockcrawling bug out of our systems without destroying bank accounts. Available in 1:6th scale and 1:18th models, they are built to handle any rock course you can throw at them. Steering control might as well be ram assisted or fully hydraulic with its digital proportional steering. It's fully articulated and will easily ramp over 1,000 on a 30-degree-scale ramp (not included). If that isn't real enough for your tastes, it comes in two body styles: the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and a Scorpion buggy, both of which offer a shift-on-the-fly transfer case (1:6th scale only). The four-band radio controller and receiver allow competition between friends.
Information: Funrise Toy Corporation, 800/882-3808, www.funrise.com
From the makers of ultra-beefy frames, now come aluminum bodies for CJ-5, CJ-7 and CJ-8 as well. Using stamped 5052 sheets, all of the stock parts will fit as good as they did when new. The rail that the hardtop mounts to is made from 1 1/2-inch thick stock. Also, the rear inner fenders, floor, and sides are made from 3/16-inch plate. The rear floor is corrugated to give it much better structural rigidity to boot. All the mounting holes are present in the factory locations, meaning that if you actually still have the brake booster, clutch linkage, and other things that go through the firewall, they will bolt right up.
Information: Matkins, 406/248-3797, www.matkinsextreme.com
While bikini might be the wrong term for this, it's what Bestop is calling it. It's really so much more than just a bikini. With a black, injection-molded overhead center console, UV protected exterior coating, and two interlocking panels made of tinted, scratch-resistant acrylic, this thing is better than any bikini we've ever seen (except maybe Bree's). The integrated wiring harness feeds power to an overhead 12-volt power outlet, dual pivoting map lights, and a pair of tweeters. If you've got a Wrangler, check out this bikini.
Information: Bestop Inc., 800/845-3567, www.bestop.com
While we don't know why you wouldn't just swap in a stick when the auto blows up, if you really want to keep your slush box, Kanter Auto Products has the solution. With new bands, bushings, and other trinkets we don't even dare mention, they have the complete rebuild kit for you. Their seals and clutch packs are of original quality as well.
Information: Kanter Auto Products, 800/526-1096, www.kanter.com