Braking duties fall to a '76 cadillac master cylinder, a hydroboost booster, a Jeg's adjustable proportioning valve, stock cUcv discs and calipers on the front axle, and Wagoneer calipers with Ford rotors on the rear axle.
This '78 cJ-7 consists of a yJ body, yJ doors, yJ fenders, a cJ dashboard and windshield frame, a cJ hood, a TJ fuel-filler neck, TJ hood latches, a postal DJ grille, TJ fender flares, and a yJ-spec aftermarket soft top. We couldn't help but notice all the Jp different parts on the Jeep, and when Dave told us he built this one because his old cJ-7 was rusted out, it made perfect sense.
Inside, the black-cloth seats are Steel horse units, while the six-point 'cage was another Dave-made item. The a- and B-pillar downtubes tie into the TnT customs rock sliders and then the frame. The gauges are auto meter Ultralite 25.8-inch units, accented by a Grant steering wheel, an alpine cD head unit, and bicycle water bottle holders mounted to the 'cage for cupholders. a race-inspired switch panel provides the vital controls for the Jeep, a homemade rear-mounted lock box keeps tools and parts secure, and a layer of Line-X in the tub helps to keep rust at bay from dirty feet and water.
Most guys swap the XJ box out because it only has three bolts retaining it, but with the extra-dare we say, "overkill mount"- it has worked out really well. also, the parts swapped into the 727 provide a nice low First gear, and it has managed to stand up to Dave's 401 with no problems to date. We aren't a big fan of the DJ grille, but on this Jeep, it just isn't offensive for some reason.
Dave is a real nice, down-to-earth kind of guy who happens to have a Jeep he built 90 percent on his own, and it works really well. he's not out on the trails to impress anyone. he's just there to have a good time. if you ask him about any part of his Jeep, he knows more than you might want to hear and is happy to share the information with you.
So often we find guys with Jeeps that work so well, but they don't know the first thing about it when they're asked. With Dave and his Lime-Green monster, the attention to detail is in the Jeep and all the little details work really well together.-Pete Trasborg
Vehicle:
'78 cJ-7
Engine:
'71 amc 401 v-8
Transmission:
'83 Wagoneer TF727
Transfer case:
'80 cJ-5 Dana 300
Suspension:
Custom SOA on Wagoneer springs
Axles:
Cucv Dana 60 (front), modified '98 Ford F-350 Dana 60 (rear)
Wheels:
TNT customs 16.5x10 double bead locks
Tires:
15/39.5-16.5LT Super Swamper TSL
Built For:
Snow and rocks
Estimated Cost:
$20,000