10. Patrick Callahan
Woodstock, Georgia
'88 Jeep Wrangler
It may be a YJ on the outside, but it has the heart of a Mustang and the axles of a 1-ton truck.
Engine: Ford 5.0L HO V-8
Transmission: NV4500
Transfer case: Dana 300 with twin-stick conversion
Axles (f/r): Full-width Dana 60 with 70 stub shafts/full-width Dana 70
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension (f/r): BDS 4-inch with spring-over axle conversion and Cal-Tec shackle reversal, Rancho RS 9000 shocks/BDS 4-inch with spring-over axle conversion, Rancho RS 9000 shocks
Tires: 38.5x16-15 Super Swampers
Special features: Warn 8274 winch; 35-spline Warn hubs, CV driveshafts front and rear, bead locks, crossover steering, air tanks in both front and rear bumpers
Driver experience: 20 years
Cool: By the time TTC rolls around, Patrick will have added an Atlas II and 42-inch rubber.
11. Adam Calvert
El Dorado, California
'82 Toyota pickup
We had to look pretty darn close to see any Toyota left on this truck. But what the hey, what's here is pretty trick.
Engine: Chevrolet 350 V-8
Transmission: SM465
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/Dana 70
Traction aids (f/r): Lock Right/welded gears
Ratio: 5.86:1/5.89:1
Suspension (f/r): '81 Chevrolet 1/2-ton rear leaves/'00 Chevrolet 1/2-ton leaves with drop-pivot rear shackles
Tires: 39x18-16.5 Mickey Thompson
Special features: Onboard welder and air, skeleton cage, dual Optima batteries, rock lights
Driver experience: 12 years
Cool: Adam is "currently adding a divorced 205 to double down." But we don't see a winch.
12. Jerry Cantrell
Mustang, Oklahoma
'56 CJ-3A
Another flat fender sacrificed to the gods of crawling. Which isn't a bad thing.
Engine: Chevy LT1 V-8 stroked to 383ci
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: Atlas 4.3
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/Dana 60
Traction aids (f/r): ARB/ARB
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension (f/r): Custom coil-spring/3-link
Tires: 44-inch Boggers on Weld Scorpio wheels with Champion bead locks
Special features: Warn 9000 winches both front and rear
Driver experience: 15 years; owned the truck for eight
Cool: Stroker motor will make good torque; this guy doesn't fool around in the axle department.
13. Tim Dzaman
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
'72 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40
This has to be one of the toughest Cruisers we've ever seen. If Dzaman can drive as well as he can put together a vehicle, stand back!
Engine: GM Performance 502ci big-block crate motor with EFI, generating 556 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP205/203 dual shifter with 2:1 or 4:1 ranges
Axles (f/r): Dana 60HD/Dana 70HD
Traction aids (f/r): ARB/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.86:1
Suspension (f/r): Custom 4-inch-lift coils, 4-link, Rancho RS 5000 shocks/custom Pro Comp 4-inch-lift TJ coils, 3-link, upper wishbone, lower trailing arms, Rancho RS 5000 shocks
Tires: 44x19.5-16.5 Boggers on 16x16.5 custom two-piece double-bead-lock Hummer wheels
Special features: 35-spline front axles, Borgeson steering shaft, hydraulic ram-assist steering, Warn 12,000-pound winch, full rollcage, fuel cell, onboard air
Driver experience: 10 years; owned the FJ-40 for nine
Cool: Where do we begin? It all looks cool to us.
14. John Crawford
Ware Shoals, South Carolina
'89 Jeep Wrangler
"We take our trail riding serious," says John. Serious is a good way to describe this YJ.
Engine: AMC 401 V-8 crate engine
Transmission: TH400 with B&M shift kit
Transfer case: Dana 20 with TeraLow gears
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt full-floater
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.88:1
Suspension (f/r): Leaf spring with "lots of flex"/leaf spring, anti-wrap bars
Tires: 39.5x18-15 Boggers
Special features: custom front and rear driveshafts, Superwinch locking hubs, Warn HS9500 winch, 22-gallon fuel cell
Driver experience: 25 years
Cool: Keeping the engine choice in the family.
15. Kurt Bolden
Noblesville, Indiana
'72 GMC Jimmy
Kurt has built what he calls a "good all-season, all-purpose truck." Is that good enough for TTC?
Engine: 468ci Chevrolet V-8 with Crane roller cam, Hooker headers, Borla stainless mufflers, and three electric fans
Transmission: Coan TH400 with manual valve body
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): ARB/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension (f/r): Superlift 6-inch leaf springs, Rancho shocks/same
Tires: 39.5x18-16.5 Boggers (cut) on Stockton 16.5x15 steel wheels
Special features: 15,000-pound Warn winch in back, 8,000-pound Sidewinder winch in front, Highline custom driveshafts with Spicer 1350 U-joints, Moser axles, ARB compressor, ARB snorkel, Ram-induction airbox, onboard welder and CO2 tank
Driver experience: 20 years
Cool: "I realize I do not have 6 feet of articulation or zero approach angles, but this old beater will give its all. If nothing else, it will be one of the most seasoned trucks in the lineup."
16. Larry Gillam
Fayette, Alabama
'92 Chevrolet S-10
Well, maybe what's left of the cab is S-10.The rest of Larry's pickup shouts fullsize all the way.
Engine: Chevy 350 V-8
Transmission: Four-speed
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.11:1
Suspension (f/r): Modified Skyjacker 6-inch lift springs/Z71 rear springs
Tires: 38-inch Gumbo Monster Mudders
Special features: Crossover steering
Driver experience: 30 years
Cool: Larry, your truck is cool, but the triple-hoop bed bar has gotta go.
17. Jim Driscoll
Mahtomedi, Minnesota
'79 Jeep CJ-7
When Jim bought his CJ-7 it was "half done." He spent a year finishing it.
Engine: Chevrolet 350 V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP203
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Welded gears/welded gears
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension (f/r): Rear Wrangler leaf springs with 2-inch add-a-leaves and reversed shackles/rear Wrangler springs with 2-inch add-a-leaves and lift blocks
Tires: 42-inch Super Swampers
Special features: Hydraulic steering, custom driveshafts, diamond-plate body
Driver experience: 17 years
Questionable: Jim say he's "in the process of buying" a winch. Better have one before TTC time, as to not have one is to be disqualified.
18. Mark Cheeseman
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
'89 Nissan GQ Patrol
An Aussie! And one who does truck challenges to boot. He wants to come over "and show you Yanks what we in Oz can do." Let's see if you make the cut, Cheezy.
Engine: Balanced and blueprinted Chevrolet 383 V-8 with a 400 steel crank, KB hypereutectic pistons, 10.5:1 compression ratio, ported and polished heads and 150hp nitrous kit
Transmission: Nissan five-speed
Transfer case: Nissan with 3.6 Rockhopper gears
Axles (f/r): Nissan/Nissan
Traction aids (f/r): ARB/ARB
Ratio: 4.60:1
Suspension (f/r): 4-inch coil springs, four-link, Rancho 9012 shocks/4-inch coils, Rancho 9012 shocks
Tires: 37x13-15 Boggers on 15x8 alloy rims with bead locks
Special features: Custom rollcage, ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9,000-pound winch, cut wheel arches, 2-inch body lift, adjustable front and rear panhard bars, three Optima batteries, 200-amp alternator, Mini Hi-Torque starter
Driver experience: 20 years
Cool: Cheezy says his sponsors are ready to fly him, his navigator, and his truck over for the event.