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The Roadmap

The Build

A spooky ritual in four phases. Each phase has a purpose. Each purpose has a story.

  1. Phase 0

    Phase 0 — Sand & Recovery Setup

    Complete

    Before hitting soft sand, the rig needed the basics: high-quality deflators, a reliable pressure gauge, onboard air and a portable backup, traction boards, and a proper shovel. Airing-down technique was drilled until it became second nature. These aren't glamorous upgrades — they're the difference between getting stuck and getting unstuck. This foundation makes everything else possible.

  2. ⭐ Featured
    Phase 1

    Phase 1 ⭐ — Re-gear to 5.13 (the fix)

    In Progress

    The diagnosis came on a soft sand dune: climbing in 1st gear, the Jeep bogged and stalled. The problem was clear once the numbers were worked out. Running 37-inch tires on the factory 4.10 axle gears effectively equates to running stock tires on approximately 3.36 gears — a significant mechanical disadvantage. The diagnosis was gearing and low-end torque, not horsepower. The fix: re-gear both Dana 44 axles to 5.13. The front axle requires reverse-cut gears due to its high-pinion design. The result restores the factory torque feel, fixes the bog at low speed, and improves everyday drivability across the range. This is the defining phase of the build — the one that makes everything else work properly.

  3. Phase 2

    Phase 2 — Magnuson TVS1900 Supercharger

    Planned

    After gearing is sorted, the next chapter adds forced induction: a Magnuson TVS1900 intercooled supercharger delivering approximately 440 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. The setup is 50-state legal with CARB executive order certification — built for daily drivers as much as trail rigs. This phase only makes sense after Phase 1 is complete; adding power to a poorly-geared drivetrain would only amplify the existing problem. The manual clutch will need an upgrade to handle the increased torque output — noted as required supporting work for this phase.

  4. Phase 3

    Phase 3 — Reactive Driveline

    Planned

    Phase 3 is conditional: only if the rig shows strain under the Phase 2 power levels. The plan includes chromoly axle shafts, heavy-duty driveshafts, updated cooling, and a full tune to match. This phase watches and responds — if the drivetrain handles the supercharger without complaint, Phase 3 stays on the shelf. If it shows stress, this is the answer.