Dave's Custom
Dave Seger of Fruita, Colorado, has a ton of time into this '82 CJ-7 if the pictures are any indication. A full frame-off restoration (with the frame getting powdercoated) led to this 35-inch-Cooper mud-tire-shod specimen. The 258ci inline-six was mildly warmed up with a Clifford cam, header, and aluminum intake topped with a Howell fuel-injection. The stock T-176 and Dana 300 still handle gear splitting duties, while the front and rear Dana 44s with 4.56 gears, ARB Air Lockers, and ARB differential covers put power to the ground. A Rubicon Express 4 1/2-inch lift works with an M.O.R.E. 1-inch body lift to clear the tires, while a M.O.R.E. rear bumper and tire carrier handle spare tire duties. The rear inner wheelwells were clearanced to accept a TJ rear seat, and the full-width axles keep the tires out of the new 'wells.
Like Father, Like Sons
This is a dual-owner, father and son Jeep project. Jim is the dad and Kirt is the son. Kirt lives in Oakfield, New York, and he tells us that when he was young Jim used his FC to plow and haul wood, but thanks to the New York winters, it didn't last long. This '59 FC-150 was built to have fun with and drive every day. It has a swapped-in 225ci Buick V-6 bolted to a T-90 transmission and original Spicer 18 transfer case with a Warn Overdrive. It still has the stock axles and leaf springs with swapped-on 31x10.50s wrapped around some white spoke wheels. The bed that Kirt's son is measuring is a JayHawk dump box, just like the dump bed that used to be on Grandpa Jim's FC all those years ago.
Jimmy Sahara
When we came up with the name for this submission, we figured it would be a slam-dunk. Richard Regel's '88 Sahara has a 4.3L V-6 out of a GMC, so it makes sense. When we went back to read it, it almost sounds like a porn name. Sorry, no cheesy music or fuzzy dice here, just a solid YJ with a great engine choice. The 4.3L has been hopped up with an Edlebrock Performer aluminum intake and cam fed by a 390cfm Holley carburetor. Sanderson shorty headers get the gasses on their way and an MSD ignition system lights the spark. An SM465 is bolted to the NP231 via a Novak adapter. An electric fan with thermostatic controls hangs off the aluminum radiator. Richard built custom wood panels for the all-new Auto Meter gauges, and the project took him just under four months to finish.
Rock Zombie
Mike Linehan of San Diego, California, tells us that this '68 CJ-5 has come back from the dead twice. He bought it nearly stock, swapped in a Dana 30 front axle, and after breaking stock axle shafts and wearing out seals, broke both rear axle shafts and front hubs on the Rubicon Trail. Then he rebuilt it with a 4-inch Superlift lift kit, a shackle reversal, an SM420 transmission and it got hit by another driver making an illegal U-turn, bending the frame. Now it rides on a Throttle Down Kustoms frame with Poison Spyder tube fenders, Off Your Rocker corner guards, and a custom belly skidplate to fend off any other drivers or rocks. The Buick V-6 was rebuilt by Ed Hale with 0.040-over pistons, a Comp RV cam, Offenhauser intake with a 4bbl carburetor, a Pertronix ignition, and custom headers. The Spicer 18 transfer case still handles power splitting with the front Dana 30 benefitting from power steering and an OX Locker. Meanwhile, the Dana 44 rear has a Detroit Locker and Summers Brothers full-floater kit.