Body and Interior
The introduction of the YJ in '87 saw the first galvanized tub on a short wheelbase Jeep, an attribute that allows them to fend off rust much better than the earlier CJs. Burgard kept the sheetmetal but dumped the top, doors, and the cheesy plastic dash. A new metal dash was created on a Torchmate plasma table that houses Auto Meter gauges and a plethora of toggle switches. Other interior upgrades include the Bestop seats, lap belts, Sony 6x9 speakers, and a custom six-point rollcage. The stock fuel tank was removed and replaced with a 19-gallon JAZ fuel cell behind the rear seat to make room for the relocated rear axle.
Even with axles that are eight inches wider that stock, some cutting was necessary to fit the 42-inch tires. The front fenders were scrapped completely and replaced with tube fenders for more clearance and strength. The front fenders tie into a custom stinger front bumper. In the rear, the fender openings were cut all the way to the rear of the tub and 0.125-inch-thick custom corners were added. A pair of 2.25-inch, 0.250-wall DOM rocker guards span the distance between the front and rear fender openings. After the body modifications were complete, the stock white paint was covered with Ford Shelby Cobra Blue. Burgard did the bulk of the work on the Jeep, including shooting the paint, in his father Robert's garage with the help of his family and friends.
Good, Bad, and What's It For
There is so much ground clearance on this Jeep that Burgard hardly has to pay attention on the trail; catching the differentials on a rock is nearly impossible. All of that ground clearance can get you into some pretty hairy situations though, so a winch added to front of the Jeep for peace of mind probably wouldn't be a bad idea. It lives most of its life on tough rockcrawling trails in the Sierra Nevada like the Rubicon and Fordyce Creek where problems are not uncommon and pavement is miles away.
Hard Facts
Vehicle: '89 Jeep YJ Wrangler
Engine: Ford 302 V-8
Transmission: NP435 four-speed manual
Transfer Case: NP205
Suspension: Custom three-link front and triangulated four-link rear
Axles: Unimog 404 portals
Wheels: Recentered 16x8.5 HUMVEE three-piece beadlock
Tires: 14x42-16.5 Super Swamper IROK
Built For: Ground clearance when climbing over the biggest rocks
Estimated Cost: $12,000
Why I Featured It
This Jeep has a V-8, 42-inch tires, and 21 inches of clearance under the differentials. That is more ground clearance than a stock Jeep has at the frame! It was also built in a normal garage on a realistic budget. With no rearview mirrors and a top speed of 50 mph it wouldn't be my first choice for a daily-driver, but in the rocks, it is hard to beat.
-Harry Wagner