If the majority of your automotive experiences come in the form of on-road vehicles, it can be eye-opening to see just what happens on the off-road side of the hobby.
While I’m certainly no expert on the 4×4 world, I’ve seen enough to know that there’s some damn cool stuff going on – particularly when it comes to Jeeps.
Sure, modern Jeeps are very capable machines right out of the box, but an entire industry has been built on making these things even better. And some folks are going even further, not just improving them, but using Jeeps as the basis for dramatic rebuilds.
In fact, with some of these builds there’s so little of the original vehicle left that it’s a stretch to even call them Jeeps anymore.
Which brings us to Bruiser Conversions, a Florida-based company that caters to Jeep owners looking to swap out their factory engines for something with more thrust.
Among the products Bruiser offer are kits to drop in turbo-diesel engines, modern HEMI V8s, and of course the venerable GM LS series V8s.
And as a full-on demonstration of what a proper Bruiser-converted Jeep can be, it’s created a radical Wrangler JK-based machine known as the Bruiser Conversions Super Cab.
V8 Or Bust
At the heart of the Super Cab lies one of Bruiser’s LS V8 swaps – more specifically an LS3 straight from the GM Performance catalog.
With BBK headers, a custom Magnaflow exhaust and a nitrous system, the LS3 makes 565 horsepower. That’s more than enough to propel the Super Cab through any type of terrain it might encounter.
But the massive jump in horsepower is just the beginning of the Super Cab’s attributes. The transmission is the proven Mercedes-Benz/Chrysler WA50 which feeds a pair of 4.88 Eaton E-locker diffs through an Atlas 3.0 twin stick transfer case.
When building a serious off-road machine, it’s not only ground clearance but things like approach and departure angles that come into play when setting up the chassis and suspension. To help in those departments, the Super Cab’s front axle has been moved forward two inches and its rear axle moved 3.5 inches back.
The four-inch lift comes from Currie Enterprises, and underneath you’ll also find custom-length aluminum control arms, external bypass shocks, hydraulic bump stops and upgraded steering arms from Carolina Metal Masters.
Raceline Liberator bead-lock wheels measuring 20×10-inch and finished in a tasteful combination of black and bronze feature at each corner.
And getting the Super Cab over the obstacles are a set of 42×14.50R20 BFGoodrich Krawler T/A KX tires.
Rugged Style
Needless to say, the exterior of the Super Cab looks much different to anything you’ll find in a Jeep showroom. It carries a profile similar to an old school Jeep pickup and has a custom tan soft top with quick release hardware.
Other modifications to the exterior include rocker guards and aluminum front fenders from GenRight Off Road, and aluminum half doors that have been painted in olive green to match the body.
There’s also an aluminum skid plate system from TNT Customs, and up front you’ll find a stubby front bumper for additional clearance, a Warn winch and 7-inch headlights to complement the LED light upgrades throughout.
Despite its rugged exterior, the cabin of the Super Cab is very comfortable. There’s Katzkin leather upholstery, unique Bruiser Conversions embroidery and an upgraded Kenwood stereo system.
In other words, it’s the perfect place to spend a long day on the trails at an event like theMoab Jeep Safari, as we saw in Larry’s recent post.
It’s got more than enough power; it’s capable on any terrain and is pretty stylish to boot. It’s hard to ask for much more in an off-road vehicle.
The Bruiser Conversions Super Cab is more than just a Jeep with a cool engine swap, it’s modern day off-roading at its finest.
by Mike Garrett
Photos by Larry Chen
Photos by Larry Chen
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