Mopar and the Mopar Underground team showcased their customized Jeeps and Dodge trucks project vehicles last month at Moab Jeep Safari 2008. Since 2002, the Mopar Underground design team has been customizing production vehicles, often to be shown at the massive Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas—where the industry’s greatest project cars often first see light.
The 2007 Jeep Wrangler was named one of the most accessory-friendly vehicles by SEMA members. To anyone who has hit a trail before, this should come as no great surprise. At this recent event, the factory-backed project trucks broke out from the typical convention center confines and stormed the craggy Moab terrain, proving the modifications truly enhance these models off road.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Developed by Mopar Underground, this Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (shown above) features a 3.0-liter CRD diesel engine under the hood that pushes 230 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. There are Tru-Lok-equipped Dana 44 axles underneath. A suspension lift allows clearance for 35-inch BFG Mud Terrain tires mounted on custom 18-inch aluminum wheels. The exterior features a Warn 9.5ti winch mounted on an American Expedition front bumper. A full-size spare is carried by a rear bumper from Mopar Performance Parts. The interior of the so-called “50K JK” features custom Katzkin leather seating from Mopar, GPS navigation system and satellite radio.
Jeep Wrangler “J8 Sarge” 
Amidst a series of lifted, over-tired project vehicles, the “Sarge” is one that stood out by showcasing its clear military lineage, from WWII to today. Based on the JK platform, the Sarge is built in Cairo as a non-combat military support vehicle that can be configured as a light-troop carrier, ambulance, or cargo truck.
The powertrain is a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, producing 158 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, and mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Other notable features include the Dana 60 rear axle mounted on leaf springs, larger front-disc brakes, and exclusive J8-only 17 x 8 steel wheels with a larger 5 x 5.5-inch bolt pattern. Structural upgrades to the body and chassis combine to increase the GVWR rating to 7,400 pounds. There are currently no plans to offer the J8 for retail sale in the North American market, though Jeep is hearing the requests for a diesel engine.
2005 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) Rubicon Diesel 
Jeep enthusiasts have been drawn to the high-torque potential from a diesel engine in the Wrangler, and Jeep engineers have responded by exploring a crate-engine transplant. The 2005 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) Rubicon project vehicle features 2.8-liter I-4 T1 VM diesel engine packs 120 hp and 240 lb.-ft. of torque with an AISIN five-speed manual transmission and Tru-lock Rubicon 4.10 ratio axles.
Several other official Mopar projects trucks also hit the trail, proving the modification packages on the trails that separate the poseurs from the all-terrain heroes. Most of the parts used are available through the massive Mopar parts catalog, available for browsing online, as well as through off-road specialty shops.
Research the Jeep Wrangler in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries. Also see our Jeep Wrangler Unlimited review.
Interested in building your own Wrangler project vehicle? Search our used Jeep Wrangler listings.
