392 Jeep on 42s – make that 44s

Engineers and mechanics rarely see eye to eye… especially when it comes to building cars. This story goes a different way however. But it didn’t start out great. Before this 392 Jeep on 44s, the story began when Steven Morris brought us his lifted Jeep JLU Diesel Rubicon for an alignment and general audit on his rig. 

Big plans for his Diesel Jeep…

When the Jeep first came to us (at Black Bear Off-Road in Buford, GA), Steven already had a decent lift and some big tires on his diesel JLUR Jeep. And one thing I noticed about Steven from the start, was his attention to detail. Steven’s an engineer and works as a SVP at Connectivity Wireless. Me? Well I’m Jeepin Bubba from Black Bear Off-Road lol. And I’ll tell ya – it’s very rare for a customer to have a clear vision for their build when they walk in the door. Usually they have an ‘general idea’ of what they want & what they like. But Steven was strategic down to the smallest detail… even knowing the measurements & specifications for the parts that he wanted. And what that would actually mean in the real world on his Jeep. 

Steven had plans for coilovers, a longarm kit, and even bigger tires… 

However, the diesel had other plans. After spending over 7-months with his Jeep in-&-out of the dealership for diesel-related warranty issues, the honeymoon phase was over. Steven made the smartest decision any modern Jeeper can make: He upgraded from the diesel to a 392 Rubicon. But this meant stripping many of the parts from the diesel build, and basically putting it all back to stock. Let’s just say – the pile of parts in his garage did not impress his wife. Nevertheless – this is where things transition from bad, to good… and then great. 

Steven’s new 392 Jeep… 

With a new & well laid-out plan (and lots of hours in our shop), we got his Jeep lifted on a Accutune/FOX custom 7″ coilover lift… with a Teraflex longarm and 42″ tires. Of course – if you’re going to have a 6.4 Hemi and massive heavy tires, you have to upgrade the drivetrain. We went with a Fusion Dana 80 rear-end, and a Dana 60 front-end. The axles added a ton of beef with 5.38 gears, e-lockers, and 2.5-ton steering. And if we stopped right there, we would’ve had (on paper) a really nice build. It’s rare to see a Wrangler this high with full-width axles and a Hemi. However, we couldn’t leave well enough alone. 

This 392 Jeep wasn’t meant to be a pavement princess… 

Yes – Steven does daily drive it, but he ALSO tends to wheel it on weekends. Therefore, functionality & dependability is a must. We put the Jeep on the flex ramp time & time again to see how we could max-out the ability of the coilovers… and also not rub. Along the way, Steven got his own welder and plasma cutter, researched, and made many of his own brackets to maximize flex & clearance. As a team – we cut, welded, drilled, trimmed & tested… repeatedly. I think I’ve honestly lost count of the hours spent on this Jeep. Now keep in mind though, at this point in the story, it’s still on 42-inch tires. With highline fenders, a front bumper & winch, lighting, audio, steering & axle upgrades, coilovers, and custom driveshafts. No small fries. But then…

SEMA walks in… 

So as a small business owner (keyword small), I try to find ways to put my company, Black Bear Off-Road, on the map. Which means reading the fine print with events, and working with industry partners & brands. With SEMA coming up, I wondered what it would take to get this build to the show. If you’ve been to SEMA (or seen coverage), you’ve no-doubt have noticed all the Feature Vehicles on display outside & around the halls. In order to be one of those feature vehicles, you you need the backing of a SEMA exhibitor. AKA – a company with booth space at The SEMA Show. 

We reached out to KnKut Drill Bits…

Andy Thompson from KnKut (pronounced Can-Cut) is a friend. They make high-end, top-quality drill bits. Not the kinda stuff you get at Home Depot or Harbor Freight, but the kinda stuff that mechanics & fabricators vouch for. We use their products around the shop. And we’ve done various Jeep events together… like Jeep Beach & Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion. KnKut is an exhibitor at The SEMA Show as well, so working together, we submitted our application. And guess what – we got accepted! Not only was this a dream come true for me personally, but… 

It stepped-up the pressure to get Steven’s Jeep to ‘SEMA Standards’… 

Now look – I know ‘SEMA Standards’ have been criticized a bit over the last decade for letting fashion override function. But you have to keep in mind, we’re in the age of social media & click-driven journalism… and drama goes viral. The fact remains – some of the most well-crafted, inspirational, top-tier builds are represented at The SEMA Show. So to someone who’s a vehicle builder & works with companies at the show… it’s a huge honor. Let’s just say, we felt the need to crank it up a notch. 

We swapped the Jeep’s 42-inch tires for massive 44s… 

This led to some serious rubbing issues, which were compounded by Steven’s creative & functional plan to frame-chop his bumpers (with bumpers not designed to be frame chopped). The Jeep looked fantastic with tons of approach angle… but function was key here. So we spent hours cutting, grinding, and welding. Then we’d test it on the flex ramp. Only to back it down for more cutting, grinding, and welding… and repeat. The rear fenders got cut in half and re-welded back together inches higher up. Problems were solved; obstacles were overcome one-by-one. And ultimately – the Jeep can now fully flex on 44s… climbing to the top of our flex ramp without interference. 

So what’s the point in all this??

A small-town off-road shop took a new 392 Jeep & worked closely with the aftermarket AND the owner, to build a one-of-a-kind machine that’s going to the largest car show in the world. We’re excited to show-off what we’ve created together. It takes a lot of work & perseverance to create BOTH a great looking AND performing Jeep. And I think that’s what makes SEMA so iconic. Sure – it’s a trade show; it’s business. But it’s a passion-driven business… and that makes it special. The SEMA Show is where car-culture converges each year to be inspired & motivated by one another’s creations. And I’m thrilled to be a part of it. 

Suspension:

7″ custom Accutune/Fox coilovers  //  14″ front travel, 16″ rear travel  //  Teraflex long arm kit  //  Fox air bumps with custom mounts  //  Currie Antirock front & rear

Drivetrain:

470HP 6.4L V8  //  Fusion Dana 60 front & Dana 80 rear axles  //  5.38 gear ratio  //  eLockers  //  Fusion 2.5-ton steering  //  Redneck Ram hydro steering assist  //  JE Reel 1410 double cardon driveshaft  //  RCV axle shafts

Exterior:

44″ Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT tires  //  20″ Fuel Rebel wheels  //  Hefty Fabworks front bumper (custom cut/frame-chopped)  //  MotoBilt rear bumper (custom cut/frame-chopped)  //  Diode Dynamics headlights, fogs, and markers  //  MotoBilt Rear tail lights  //  Metal Cloak fenders  //  Rock Slide Engineering electric steps  //  12K winch  //  Moose Knuckle recovery shackles

Interior:

KICKER dual 12″ Solo-Baric subwoofers  //  SKAR 1800-watt amp  //  KICKER sound bar, door, & dash speakers  //  Diabolical Inc Slipstream security enclosure

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