More Mounting Options
"Super tough injected molded glass filled nylon composite" is quite a mouthful, but it is an actual quote from the press release on the new KC Tube Mount Bracket. What it boils down to is that these new two-piece clamps can fit from a 11/2- to a 2-inch tube, includes a 1/2-inch mounting hole, and can be used to mount anything from a CB antenna to an auxiliary driving light. They won't rust, and they are even useful to use as a tie-down point for stuff inside the Jeep. Information: KC HiLites, 928/635-2607, kchilites.com
Full Width, Solved
If you are looking to install full-width axles under your '76-'86 CJ, you will need to outboard the front leaf springs. The location of the wider axle's pumpkin makes the narrow CJ spring spacing impossible to keep. This full-width kit from Dave's Customs Unlimited features heavy-duty 1/4-inch plate steel brackets that sandwich the frame and a front bumper assembly that add a lot of strength to the relatively weak CJ frame. Some drilling and welding will be required but this kit makes what used to be a difficult task a lot simpler. Information: Dave's Customs Unlimited, 970/216-8179, davescustomsunlimited.com
Super Short Adaptation
Advance Adapters just came up with a short way to bolt a much better transmission to your Jeep Dana 18/20 transfer case and likely still have a rear driveshaft. At only 7/8 inches, this SM465 to Jeep adapter is the shortest one on the market. This adapter is manufactured from a Blanchard ground steel plate and features 20, 33, and 40-degree clocking options and includes a new main shaft. Information: Advance Adapters, 800/350-2223, advanceadapters.com
Re-Contented Lift Kit
In this day and age of manufacturers "decontenting" everything from cars to DVDs, it is nice to see a company that is going the other way. The new Rubicon Express RE7122/RE7142 Standard lift system for the JK Wrangler includes parts such as an adjustable track bar, cam bolts for caster and pinion adjustment, and sway bar end links that you normally don't see in a "standard" lift kit. This 31/2-inch provides enough clearance to run up to a 37x12.50 tire, sells for under $600, and is engineered to be easily upgraded to a Super-Flex system at a later date if you so desire. Information: Rubicon Express, 877/367-7824, rubiconexpress.com
Bulletproof Top Hat
This roof rack from MBRP isn't just a roof rack, it is a whole system. The system includes precision-cut gaskets and a method for transferring the weight of the rack and anything on it to the body tub on the inside of the hard top. The rack itself is made of two-inch heavy-wall tubing and fits all four-door Wranglers. Two light tabs at the rear and five light tabs built into the front of the rack provide other lighting options. The light tabs at the rear are particularly useful for work lights on the trail or at camp. Information: MBRP Inc, 888/636-7223, mbrp.com
Zinc Be Gone
In this age of fuel injection, we are glad to see new carburetors still coming to market for those of us that want to drive something a little simpler. Holley had ditched the zinc bodies for this new line of Ultra carburetors. Currently available in the Street Avenger and double-pumper versions, in addition to the all-aluminum construction that reduces weight by 5 lbs overall, these carbs feature four-corner idle circuits, clear sight glasses for easy float adjustment, and metering blocks and base plates available in your choice of red, blue ,or black. Information: Holley, 270/781-9741, holley.com
Keepin' It Legal
Many of us with winches just don't bother putting the front license plate back on the Jeep because it's just a hassle, and even the low buck solutions only work with roller fairleads for a limited time. We've ripped the actual metal of a few license plates going with cheap methods. This license plate holder from Roc Dog uses wedge-shaped urethane mounts that plug into either a roller or hawse style fairlead and features a 12-inch cable leash to keep thieves at bay. It is constructed from 16-gauge steel, and has several different mounting options. Information: ROC DOG Fab-rication, 720/563-7932, rocdogfab.com
Stainless Twins
If you are tired of the one-size-should-fit all twin stick kits out there, or you just want a better grade of shifter, look no further. JB Custom Fabrication has been making twin-stick kits for Jeep transfer cases out of 303/304 stainless steel for a few years now. The company produces many different kits, depending on your year/make/model of Jeep and even different kits depending on whether you've got a manual transmission or automatic. All the bends are machine-bent in the US with US-sourced materials, all threads are CNC machined, and the self-locking nuts are mechanical nuts, not ny-locks. Applications include Dana 300, Dana 20, and NP205, with more to come. Information: JB Custom Fabrication LLC, 503/749-3099, jbfab.com
CJ Tire Carrier
Sure there are tons of bumper/tire carrier combos on the market for the AMC-era CJs, but until now, there was no simple bolt-on solution that evoked the stock tire carrier styling and actually works. Rated to handle up to a 35-inch tire, this tubular tire carrier from Treks mounts similarly to the stock unit, but uses a De-Sta-Co clamp for closure and rod ends for pivot points. Other features include a tire mount that can adjust up and down on the carrier as well as adjust depth, so whatever backspacing you have it'll work. The carrier also includes a CB antenna mounting tab and the tire plate has multiple bolt patterns designed into it. Information: Treks Off Road, 307/775-9565, gotreks.com
High Tuck Power
The Mach Force-XP exhaust system from Advanced Flow Engineering features 3-inch mandrel-bent 409 stainless steel tubing which the company claims will increase flow over stock by 79-percent and boost power output 13hp and 15ft-lbs of torque. The high-tuck design should clear most lift kits while welded-on bayonet-style hangers and band-style exhaust clamps finish off this high-quality kit. It fits both 2-door and 4-door '07-and-up Wrangler models. Information: Advanced Flow Engineering, 951/493-7100, afepower.com
Light From Above
There aren't very many light bars that you see us write about in this column, and that is because we rarely see light bars for a Jeep that we like. The Delta Skybar features a bolt-in installation with solid 1/2-inch supporting arms, a 13-gauge steel cross bar houses six xenon-powered lights for a total of 330 watts of power. The included double switches and dual wiring allows for variable light control (two, four, or six lights) and includes a built-in visor to eliminate glare and six hard light covers. The Skybar fits '97-'06 Wranglers. Information: Delta Tech Industries LLC, 714/577-8028, deltalights.com