Inherited
Penny Wilson of Concord, North Carolina, received this '50 Jeepster as a present from her dad six years ago. Unfortunately, three years ago her dad passed away. He had owned the Jeep since the '50s, and after his passing Penny restored it to the condition you see here. The front end is a Fat Man independent setup and the rear has a Ford 8-inch in it. A new wiring harness controls a 350ci Chevrolet V-8 bolted to a TH350 transmission which breathes through a two chamber Flowmaster. The Jeep also got a whole new interior, top, and side curtains along with re-chromed chrome and newly-polished stainless steel.
Brown on Brown
This '73 J4000 hails from Portland, Maine, and belongs to Kevin Hagan. Kevin has owned the truck since the early '80s and it still has the 360ci V-8, TH400 transmission, and Dana 20 T-case. The engine breaths easier through a bevy of Edlebrock intake components and a true dual 2.5-inch stainless steel exhaust. The front and rear Dana 44s spin 33-inch BFG KM2 tires wrapped around Mickey Thompson Classic II rims. A rear Optima Yellow Top powers a 1000-Watt inverter for running tools and a fresh water pump that is hooked to a 6-gallon water tank.
Savings Not Loan
It might have taken a few years, but Ronald May from Tyler, Texas, has wanted a Jeep for long enough to finally stack away enough pennies to pick up this '02 Wrangler. For the time being the drivetrain is stock with the only modifications being a 2-inch Skyjacker lift kit used to clear a set of 33-inch Bighorn tires on a set of 15-inch-diameter Dick Cepek DC-1 rims. Future plans include front and rear electric lockers, front and rear bumpers, a winch, and liberal skidplating just as soon as the savings account will allow.
Beers and Sammiches
It isn't often we get people writing in with honest stories on how their Jeeps are built. Nick Sekulich came right out and told us that his Jeep was built with the help of a buddy's home garage, some sammiches, and countless beers. They left the 4.0L HO engine in place and bolted an NP435 up using an Advance Adapters bellhousing with an NP205 behind it. Power then hands off to a high-pinion Dana 44 front axle with 4.88 gears and a Detroit Locker. Out back the Dana 35 was stuffed with a Superior Super 35 kit, 4.88 gears, a Detroit Locker, and the whole thing is trussed in an attempt to keep it together. Super Swamper LTB's in 33x13.50-15 flavor are wrapped around some steel wheels.
Slugger
This '06 Wrangler Rubicon belongs to Will Marshal of Louisville, Kentucky, who ordered it in 2006. Since then it has been draining his bank account in the form of a Rokmen Tummy Tuck, Riddler differential covers, and CurrectLync steering. The big money went into attempting to keep the stock axles alive with the 37x12.50R17 Goodyear MT/Rs with Kevlar on Walker Evans beadlocks. Surprisingly, the front and rear factory lockers are still holding up. Both axles feature chromoly shafts, 4.88 gears, and custom gusseting. Elevation comes from Old Man Emu springs and Rubicon Express Superflex arms which locate the axles. Modified Warn front and rear bumpers cover the ends, with Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers covering the sides.