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Jeep CJ's On The Rubicon - Vintage Iron, Vintage TrailEarly CJS On The Rubicon From the January, 2009 issue of Jp By Christian Hazel Photography by Christian Hazel, Drew Briner
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Yeah, we've already brought you a story from the Rubicon Trail in Northern California this year. But what would you do if you had one of the most famous trails virtually in your back yard and a paid vacation, er, work trip was only eight hours away? That's right; you'd load your flattie onto the trailer, hit the road, and polish some Sierra granite with your aired down tires. At least that's what this author did when he got the invite to the first (and possibly annual) EarlyCJ5.com Vintage Iron, Vintage Trail Rubicon trip. With the exception of one or two conspicuous rigs, any one of these photos could be mistaken for some trail ride out of the '70s. Maybe next time we'll set the camera to sepia and see how many readers call our bluff. Admittedly, this year's trip was a little rushed. We hit the trailhead early Sunday morning and poked along, making camp at Buck Island Lake half way through the trail before nightfall. The next day, the participants headed through Rubicon Springs, up Cadillac Hill, and out to the crisp air and overpriced hotels of South Lake Tahoe. We had some good fun, just enough trail repairs to keep us entertained, and a warm, squidgy feeling from seeing so much vintage Toledo tin hitting the trail together. If you've got an early Jeep, whether it's a Jeepster, flattie, Scrambler, CJ-6, or especially a CJ-5 and are interested in participating in another such run next year, let us know by e-mailing christian.hazel@jpmagazine.com, attn: Vintage Iron, Vintage Trail and we'll forward the messages on to the site's webmaster. Or log on to earlycj5.com and tell 'em yourself. Please do. We'd like another paid vacation over the 'Con  Looking mighty fine for its...  Looking mighty fine for its age, Ryan Rausch's '59 CJ-5 seamlessly blends old school muscle with modern know how. The swapped Buick 225 V-6 runs a TBI injection from a 4.3L Chevy that's controlled by a wideband Megasquirt EFI setup. Behind the tricked Buick is the factory T-90 three-speed and Spicer 18 with a Warn Overdrive. The rear Dana 44 is converted with 19-spline shafts and a Power-Loc, while the front Dana 30 from a '72 runs a Lock-Right. Chevy discs up front, 31x10.50R15 Yokohama Super Diggers, and 15x10 steel wheels rounds out the rest.  Rick Musalo proved to be one...  Rick Musalo proved to be one of those guys who quietly made each obstacle look easy. You looked away for a minute and he was through the hard stuff with no drama. His '71 CJ-5 enjoys an old school Belleview winch, which is the predecessor to the famous Warn 8274. The later-model Dana 30 front and a factory Dana 44 rear with flanged shafts turn 33x12.50R15 BFG MTs on skinny 15x8 rims. The stock Buick 225 makes the go go happen with help from a Chevy SM420 slung between the engine and the Warn Overdrive-equipped factory Spicer 18.  Mike Lange manhandled some...  Mike Lange manhandled some granite negotiating the entrance to the trail in the area that used to be known as The Gatekeeper. Mike's '74 CJ-5 Renegade is largely stock, running the original AMC 304, T-18 tranny, and Dana 20 t-case. A Rancho 2.5-inch spring lift scoots the body up over the 33x12.50R15 BFG MT tires mounted on vintage slot mags. The factory Dana 30 front and Dana 44 rear do well keeping together considering the stock shafts.  There are about ten rigs in...  There are about ten rigs in this photo and not one of them was built before the advent of the home computer.  The lone modern Jeep interloper...  The lone modern Jeep interloper was Drew Briner, but since he more than ably lent a hand in taking photos for this trip we'll leave him alone. Drew actually totaled his early Jeep prior to this trip, and from what we hear he's lucky to have made it out alive. We forgot to give Drew the spec sheet, but his Rubicon seems to be sporting a Rubicon Express long arm kit and some 35-inch tall 315/75R16 Goodyear MT/Rs-or something like that.  Jp magazine was reprezentun...  Jp magazine was reprezentun (that's what the hip kids say, right?) old school the same way it usually does. Hazel's uber-rare orange '53 DJ-3A prototype is still sporting the 3.5L Shortstar V-6, Currie front and rear 9-inch axles, SM420 tranny, and other stuff from the original build over 5 years ago. The only deviations are the swap to Rubicon Express 4.5-inch spring under YJ springs in the rear, a True Hi-9 rear diff, and a JB Conversions 32-spline Dana 300 T-case. And for the curious, the gears are 5.38s, there's a Detroit Locker in the front, a spool in the back, and 35x13.50R15 BFG Krawlers on 15x10 OMF beadlocks.  Jeff and Linda Zeber loaded...  Jeff and Linda Zeber loaded their '71 CJ-5 to the gills, taxing the Rancho 2.5-inch lift springs. The stock Dana 27 and Dana 44 axles run factory 4.88 gears, but the front now sports disc brakes and a Power-Loc diff, while the rear has a Detroit Locker. An '87 Buick 231 V-6 found its way between the fenders and an SM465 four-speed fronts the factory Spicer 18. The 32x11.50R15 BFG MTs are filled courtesy of an on-board air setup and a Warn 9000 with synthetic rope gets them out of anything they can get into.  Ray Turner and his '71 appeared...  Ray Turner and his '71 appeared in our Big Bear trail coverage, "Old School is in Session" in the November '07 issue, and his daily driven CJ-6 hasn't changed a bit. It's still running the same aluminum head '79 Chevy 350 V-8, SM420 tranny, and Spicer 18 with a Warn Overdrive. The Scout Dana 44 front and factory Dana 44 rear both sport 30-spline shafts, 4.27 gears, and a front Ox and rear Detroit Locker. Some slinky 4-inch lift YJ springs smooth the bumps nicely, but the 33x12.50R15 Yokohama Geolandar AT tires got pretty torn up on the trail.  There's just something about...  There's just something about a black windshield frame on an early CJ that's appealing. And Don Lindsay must agree, 'cause his '67 CJ-5 is sporting the look. Don's Jeep is running a rebuilt Buick 225 which we assume came from the factory judging from the V-6 emblems on the fenders. However, the '67 SM420 is most definitely swapped in front of the Spicer 18 and Warn Overdrive. A '75 Dana 30 was fitted with a Lock-Right and 5.38s before being slung on top of the 1-inch Rancho springs. Out back a Detroit Locker bolsters the Dana 44 and makes sure all of the 31x10.50R15 BFG MTs turn at the same speed.  John Briggs' '66 CJ-5 played...  John Briggs' '66 CJ-5 played tug thanks to John's home-built trailer. The completely capable CJ runs a '67 Buick 225, '86 Ford T-18 with granny low, and a Spicer 18 with a Saturn Overdrive. A '73 Dana 30 front with Alloy USA shafts, a Power-Loc limited slip, and a disc brakes lay up front. The rear is a Dana 44 with a Warn full-float conversion kit, a Detroit Locker, and disc brakes. The axles spin 5.38 gears to help turn the big 35x13.50R15 BFG Krawlers. Springs are 4-inch Skyjackers and a 2-inch body lift rounds things out.  There's just something about...  There's just something about a black windshield frame on an early CJ that's appealing. And Don Lindsay must agree, 'cause his '67 CJ-5 is sporting the look. Don's Jeep is running a rebuilt Buick 225 which we assume came from the factory judging from the V-6 emblems on the fenders. However, the '67 SM420 is most definitely swapped in front of the Spicer 18 and Warn Overdrive. A '75 Dana 30 was fitted with a Lock-Right and 5.38s before being slung on top of the 1-inch Rancho springs. Out back a Detroit Locker bolsters the Dana 44 and makes sure all of the 31x10.50R15 BFG MTs turn at the same speed.  John Briggs' '66 CJ-5 played...  John Briggs' '66 CJ-5 played tug thanks to John's home-built trailer. The completely capable CJ runs a '67 Buick 225, '86 Ford T-18 with granny low, and a Spicer 18 with a Saturn Overdrive. A '73 Dana 30 front with Alloy USA shafts, a Power-Loc limited slip, and a disc brakes lay up front. The rear is a Dana 44 with a Warn full-float conversion kit, a Detroit Locker, and disc brakes. The axles spin 5.38 gears to help turn the big 35x13.50R15 BFG Krawlers. Springs are 4-inch Skyjackers and a 2-inch body lift rounds things out.  John built his trailer smaller...  John built his trailer smaller than a WWII-era MBT, Korean War-era M-100, or Vietnam-era M-416 trailer, but we thought the slickest part was his home-brewed, high-angle coupler. John took a vintage Jeep spindle and hub assembly, added some creative welding, and wound up with a trailer hitch that can rotate 360-degrees. John agrees with us that the cast hub body and studs are a weak link and says he only uses the trailer off-road. Regardless, we thought it was pretty trick.  The Stefani family, Greg,...  The Stefani family, Greg, Jeanine, and Bella drove their '84 CJ-7 to the trail from Point Arena, California, only to have the steering shaft fall off the box a couple feet into the trail. In addition to the Jeep's impeccable sense of timing on when to break down, it's also sporting a TH700R4 swapped behind the 258. A modern 4.0L head and a Mopar Performance fuel injection system keep her chugging, while a 4.0:1 Low Range bolsters the Dana 300. A Ford 9-inch rear with a True Hi-9 centersection, Dutchman shafts, and an ARB spin with 4.88s, while the stock Dana 30 front benefits from Alloy shafts and an ARB. A set of sagged 2.5-inch Rancho springs keep the 33x12.50-15 Swampers out of the fenders.  Another repeat customer from...  Another repeat customer from our Big Bear coverage, Don Allen earned himself the Iron Man award. Aside from the 31x10.50R15 BFG AT tires on 15x8 reverse steel wheels, the '53 M38A1 is all stock. Yup, that means power nothing and manual everything, including the steering, brakes, and clutch. The Dana 25 front and Dana 44 rear still have their 5.38 gears, the little F-head churns its massive 72hp through the stock T-90, and the mammoth Spicer 18 chews up the torque and spits it through the stock driveshafts. Hardcore.  In addition to providing much...  In addition to providing much brow sweat while trying to steer, Don also gave us a floor show when a rock hit tore the F-head's oil pan skid plate partially off. We're sure you'd never think of yanking the pan of a modern Jeep on a windy, dusty trail, but it's a scientifically proven fact that F- and L-head Jeep engines like it dirty.  Serving as one heck of a father-son...  Serving as one heck of a father-son project, Jim Steger built his '66 CJ-6 with his son, Taylor in short time. The 101-inch wheelbase rig runs an early Ford 289 with an HEI distributor and an Edelbrock four-barrel carb. A Ford T-18 with a 6.32:1 First fronts the factory Spicer 18 that has been outfitted with a Warn Overdrive. A '70s Dana 30 sporting disc brakes and a Dana 44 rear both sport Power-Loc limited slips and 4.27 gears. The 2-inch springs clear the fenders from the 33x12.50R15 Yokohama AT tires slung on seriously drool-worthy 15x8 slot mags. The list of goodies is seemingly endless, with home-sprayed Chrysler Amber Fire paint, and homemade rockers, bumpers, cage, and luggage rack.   With the pan removed and cleaned,...  With the pan removed and cleaned, Ray Turner scored some JB Weld from a passing hippy hiking the trail in search of Bigfoot and got Don's pan sealed up in no time. A little RTV on the gasket and Donnie had the pan back on. The oil that had been drained out of the pan into a dirty antifreeze jug was put back in the engine along with a fresh quart and Don finished the trail
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