Okay, not really an exciting mod, but rather an example of how you can try to retrofit a different gearbox into a ride-on.
This Jeep was actually our first Power Wheels. I bought it about a week before the metal-framed Dune Squad jeep. When I got it, the highspeed lockout was still in and the treads weren't too shabby.
Well, after getting the Dune Squad, this one just got neglected and eventually she became the donor of 19T #7 gearboxes for the "Yellow Jeep" project.
However, I didn't want to render this red Jeep useless so I retrofitted it to use the #4 gearboxes from the DuneSquad.
Here's a picture of the Jeep (74440)...
PowerWheels - Jeep Wrangler (74440) - Red Wrangler - unibody Jeep w/ 18V, #4 gearbox retrofit PowerWheels - Dune Squad (74570) - Yellow Jeep - metal-framed Jeep w/ 18V, LED lights, #7 gearboxes, brake pedal PowerWheels - Wrangler 98 (78490) - Army Jeep - unibody Jeep w/ 12V, OD painted, brake pedal, rubber tires PowerWheels - Grey/Pace Exclusive (86270) - metal-framed Jeep - currently stock Peg Perego - Gaucho Grande (HP252) - 70's-style Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 - 18V, LED lighting, brake pedal, front & rear traction-aids PowerWheels - X-Treme Machine (74790) - painted, 18V w/ 24V NOS, 19T #7 gearbox, brake pedal, front traction-aids PowerWheels - Hot Wheels Rally Kart (xxxxx) - 18V in process PowerWheels - Hot Wheels Rally Kart (xxxxx) - currently stock
So with the #4 gearbox (with motor removed), I slid it on the axle & traced the outline onto the wheelwell. Afterwards, I hacked away at it with a hacksaw (unfortunately, my dremel was out of commission).
Here it is with the gearboxes/motors mounted. (yes, I'm aware of the H-harness in the pic)
So, even though this may not be an "elegant" mod, it restored functionality to this PW after stealing the 19T #7's from it... and it still looks stock.
PowerWheels - Jeep Wrangler (74440) - Red Wrangler - unibody Jeep w/ 18V, #4 gearbox retrofit PowerWheels - Dune Squad (74570) - Yellow Jeep - metal-framed Jeep w/ 18V, LED lights, #7 gearboxes, brake pedal PowerWheels - Wrangler 98 (78490) - Army Jeep - unibody Jeep w/ 12V, OD painted, brake pedal, rubber tires PowerWheels - Grey/Pace Exclusive (86270) - metal-framed Jeep - currently stock Peg Perego - Gaucho Grande (HP252) - 70's-style Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 - 18V, LED lighting, brake pedal, front & rear traction-aids PowerWheels - X-Treme Machine (74790) - painted, 18V w/ 24V NOS, 19T #7 gearbox, brake pedal, front traction-aids PowerWheels - Hot Wheels Rally Kart (xxxxx) - 18V in process PowerWheels - Hot Wheels Rally Kart (xxxxx) - currently stock
nothing wrong with the swap at all, now you have an official "rat rod".
i may actually try some 21T #7 boxes on my safety 1st corvette, the safety 1st look stronger than PW, but its now lightly clicking after only 30 min of 24v and i have never had a PW box fail (knocking on wood).
granted a 24v controller and pedal would have avoided the gearbox strain all together.
Here's the Red Jeep with the #4 gearboxes in action. Someone wants to buy it so I had Jonas test drive it first. So, it's been "downgraded" back to 12V.
...not sure what's going on with YouTube, but you may need to click on the HD button to view the video... for some reason the low quality version is unavailable (???)
Here's a clip when it was still 18V and running on #7 gearboxes:
...must be something up with YouTube. You may need to click on the HQ button to view the video.
PowerWheels - Jeep Wrangler (74440) - Red Wrangler - unibody Jeep w/ 18V, #4 gearbox retrofit PowerWheels - Dune Squad (74570) - Yellow Jeep - metal-framed Jeep w/ 18V, LED lights, #7 gearboxes, brake pedal PowerWheels - Wrangler 98 (78490) - Army Jeep - unibody Jeep w/ 12V, OD painted, brake pedal, rubber tires PowerWheels - Grey/Pace Exclusive (86270) - metal-framed Jeep - currently stock Peg Perego - Gaucho Grande (HP252) - 70's-style Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 - 18V, LED lighting, brake pedal, front & rear traction-aids PowerWheels - X-Treme Machine (74790) - painted, 18V w/ 24V NOS, 19T #7 gearbox, brake pedal, front traction-aids PowerWheels - Hot Wheels Rally Kart (xxxxx) - 18V in process PowerWheels - Hot Wheels Rally Kart (xxxxx) - currently stock
Jeep Wrangler (74440) gearbox swap
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Posted - 03/10/2009 : 00:05:55
