Long-time Jeep engineer Phil Toney's last assigned AMC company car was a then-new 1987 YJ Wrangler Laredo. When Chrysler purchased Jeep and wanted Phil's YJ back, he bought it and named it "Prodog." This began a decades-long quest to build a tough, comfortable Wrangler daily driver that also rocked in the rocks. That quest ran into an obstacle (literally) during our photo shoot when Phil and Prodog rolled on the Golden Spike Trail in Moab. Phil wrote, "My recent boo-boo in Moab will motivate me to replace the body and make other changes to enhance off-road performance." So, Prodog is headed into "winter project mode" this coming winter. Prodog influenced many in Jeep management over the years as they saw how well modifications worked. Check it out during its final moments in this trim.
The 4.7L (282 CID) inline six started as a 1978 VAM Concord block built in Mexico and used from 1972-1980. It has the 12 counterweight 258 crank that runs smoother, is easier on the main bearings and has more rotating inertia (important when crawling with a manual tranny) than the later 4 counterweight 258 crank. Phil welded up a 1991 4.0L head to fit the block. The late-model 2000-2006 TJ 4.0L MPI works great at any altitude or attitude. The cam is a Crane dual pattern RV grind. Injectors were upsized from #19 to #26 Dodge 360 V8 parts to accommodate the larger displacement and intake/exhaust improvements. The exhaust system includes Mopar Performance 6-2-1 headers and a Gibson stainless muffler. The motor mounts were raised 1 inch to afford more clearance and improve rear driveline angles. Phil reports the mill runs smoothly from below sea level to over 14,000 feet.
 Durango 4x4 rocker guards...  Durango 4x4 rocker guards keep rocks at bay. TJ fender flares were coated with color-matched Permatech so they wouldn't show rock rash as they did when they were still black. 35x12.50R15LT Goodyear Wrangler MTR tires are mounted on 15x8 Panther alloy wheels. As you can see, Prodog is a very well-engineered Wrangler. |  The radiator is a brass 3-row...  The radiator is a brass 3-row unit from YJ military vehicles. The 2-speed electric fan is adapted from a 1998 5.9L ZJ. There's no mechanical fan. The low speed is triggered off the upper radiator hose and the high speed off the lower. The low speed is also triggered when the AC clutch engages. The AC works well. |  The frontend is a high-pinion...  The frontend is a high-pinion Dana 44 with 4.10 gears and an ARB Air Locker. The steering gearbox is from an early TJ Wrangler. The power steering pump is from a 2002 WJ V8 and has better internals and higher pressure capacity than the stock 6-cylinder pump. |