Searching Old Issues
Q: What issue was it that you guys put Toyota axles and YJ springs in a stock red Samurai? I want the back issue but can't remember what month it was. Any help would be great.Jason Coicvia e-mail
A: Jason, you have a good memory. That article appeared in the Dec. '03 issue. More recently, we performed a very similar conversion that was detailed in the Nov. '06 issue. Both issues should be available through Primedia Back Issues (2900 Amber Ln., Corona, CA 92882, www.primediabackissues.com). The cost is $6 per issue, plus $3 for shipping and handling. The magazine title and desired issue date should be noted in your order. Thanks for writing.
What Tires for Mud?
Q: I have a Chevy Tahoe that I take camping in the mountains of New Mexico where the clay trails collect 6 to 8 inches of water when it rains. I have used BFG All-Terrains and Pro Comp Xterrains, but the BFGs don't work and the Pro Comps are still limited. Boggers won't work for me because they're too loud and rough. What tires would you recommend?Jeff Leitervia e-mail
A:
Jeff, the best tires for mud are usually those that are specifically designed to contend with it. That said, most available mud-terrain-type tires are good bets. Both BFGoodrich and Pro Comp offer capable mud-terrain tires, as do Nitto, Toyo, Mickey Thompson, Dick Cepek, Goodyear, and many other manufacturers. Of those mentioned above, I've most recently tested the Nitto and BFGoodrich offerings with excellent results. Basically, you want to look for a deep-lug tread design that has self-cleaning ability so that the tread can continue to provide traction even in the muddiest of situations. While Super Swamper TSL/Boggers are one of the premier tires for tackling mud, they do tend to emit more road noise due their bias-ply construction. If you desire a multifunction tire, then look to any of the radial mud-terrain styles.
McNulty's Jeepster prompted Mike Herman of Petaluma, California, to send us this picture of his '67 Jeepster that he's currently restoring.
More Jeepster LoveComment: It was nice to see a Jeepster in 4WD&SU. I hope you keep it as original as possible, since there are not many old Jeepsters still around. I included a picture of my '67 Jeepster that I picked up in Idaho in August '05 from the original owner. It was last used in 1999 but is now back on the road. It is nearly all original, including the top, auto transmission, and original Jeep AC (not yet working). I look forward to seeing the progress on yours.Mike HermanPetaluma, CA
A: Mike, you're not the only one to express interest in Kevin McNulty's new ride. Of course, McNulty is still the biggest fan - thoroughly evidenced by his recent explosion of articles detailing this vehicle's progression from abandoned farm implement to weekend wheeler. He's having fun with it, and it sounds like you're in for a bit of the same with your '67. Thanks for writing, Mike. We'll look for you on the trail.