Let me start by saying sorry right here and now. There won't be any magic formulas ( ok maybe a few conversion formulas) no this part with this part will make you unstoppable. Mostly it will contain rambling thoughts about building a capable 4x4, and maybe even a prerunner or two. Start with the right vehicle
While a fullsize can be made into a great rock crawler, and a sportage could be built to rule 2 ft mud pits, this isn't the most practical answer. Short wheelbase trucks often don't have a strong drivetrain and huge power. Longer wheelbase (mostly 3/4 ton and up) lack the tight turning radius and adding to breakover angle is difficult. So pick the type of wheeling you are building for first. Then pick the vehicle.
Plan Of Attack
This is where a lot of effort ( and more importantly money) is wasted, not knowing what comes next. A great example is this: A mid size choosen mid summer for wooded trails (good trade off descent power and drivetrain strength with fair turning radius) now it is early spring and the mud bogs the engine too much with the oversized tires. The three main options here are gears, building up the existing motor, or an engine swap (hey this is unbearable). Gears will run about 800-1000 (installed) to build up the motor will run from 600-3000 (depending on how far you go) and the motor swap will run from 2K TO 7k. But with that power are larger tires in the works, more equipment? If the answer is yes then the swap (in this case v6 to v8) is in order. Gears and engine build up are finishing touches, and heres why: No matter what you have you'll always want more eventually. As such maxing out the current engine for power today, won't allow for more power later. Gears are even worse for this application.
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