28. Jesse Haines
Traverse City, Michigan
'86 Toyota pickup
A quick look at the specs will tell you Jesse built his Toy for serious rompin.' Even better, he did all the work himself.
Engine: Chevy 350 V-8, bored 0.030 over, 9.8:1 compression, forged pistons, Edelbrock heads, Holley 750 carb, 420 hp
Transmission: SM465 four-speed
Transfer case: Divorced NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60 with 35-spline inners and outers/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Spool/welded diff
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension (f/r): Custom 4-link, Bronco front springs, Rancho RS 5000 shocks/custom 4-link, Grand Cherokee rear springs, Rancho RS 5000 shocks
Tires: 44-inch Boggers on 16.5x14 Bart steel wheels
Special features: Fiberglass bed sides, custom bumpers, 15-gallon fuel cell
Driver experience: Seven years
Cool: rear-mounted radiator is out of harm's way. But where's the winch?
29. Richard Harreld
Rio Oso, California
'72 IH Scout II
Finally! A Cornbinder! And a pretty darned well-built one, at that.
Engine: Chrysler 440 V-8
Transmission: 727
Transfer case: Scout Dana 20
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): "Lincoln Locker"/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension (f/r): Stock Scout leaves, Rancho RS 5000 shocks/double-pack of Scout leaves, Rancho RS 5000 shocks
Tires: 38.5x15-15 Ground Hawgs
Special features: Warn hubs, Warn HS9500i winch, crossover steering, 3-inch body lift
Driver experience: Eight years
Cool: big-block Mopar and stout driveline should take this Scout anywhere.
30. Chris Bowen
Costa Mesa, California
'73 Chevy Blazer
After looking at this photo, we understand why Chris told us he goes 'wheeling "every weekend...if it's driveable."
Engine: Chevy 350 V-8 bored 0.060 over and balanced
Transmission: SM465
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60 with 35-spline inners and outers/Dynatrac Dana 60 with 35-spline axles
Traction aids (f/r): "Lincoln Locker"/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension (f/r): 6-inch lift minus bottom leaf/stock springs moved 6 inches inward, shackle flip
Tires: 38.5x14.5-15 Super Swampers on 15x10 aluminum wheels
Special features: 30-gallon fuel cell mounted above the bottom of the frame; spares include front and rear driveshafts and a complete set of front axleshafts
Driver experience: 10 years
Cool: "I will destroy my truck for your viewers." "OK, Chris, but destruction isn't necessary. All we'd like is a good effort. By the way, we don't see a winch...."
31.Scott Godfrey
Citrus Heights, California
Raptor 1001
This is a purpose-built machine. Its purpose? Kick some TTC butt. But we've heard that before
Engine: Chevrolet 350 V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Atlas II
Axles (f/r): Rockwell/Rockwell
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension (f/r): Coilover/coilover
Tires: 44x18.50 Super Swampers
Special features: Hydraulic four-wheel steering
Driver experience: 15 years
Cool: These rigs are always fun to watch.
32. Darrin Hockney
Janetville, Ontario, Canada
'89 Chevrolet Tracker
Darrin wins "dare to be different" points for using a Tracker instead of a Suzuki to build his mini crawler.
Engine: 4.3L V-6 bored 0.030 over and fitted with an Edelbrock roller cam and Hedman headers
Transmission: 700-R4
Transfer case: Dana 300 with Currie twin-stick
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/Dana 44
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension (f/r): 3-inch National springs with spring-over conversion/three-quarter elliptic rear 4-inch Rancho springs with spring-over conversion
Tires: 35-inch Boggers
Special features: Custom-built frame, Warn 9000i winch, Warn axles, onboard air compressor and welder, crossover steering, ARB snorkel
Driver experience: 25 years
Cool: Darrin says his Tracker has "recovery gear if needed." Now that's what we call confidence.
33. Toby Lavender
Seaside, California
'53 Jeep
Another radical flatfender from California, this one also looks like a serious contender.
Engine: TBI Chevy 350 V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): GM 10-bolt/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.88:1
Suspension (f/r): 3-link with King coilovers and rotating front axlehousing/3-link with King coilovers
Tires: 38.5-inch Super Swamper SXs
Special features: Warn XD9000i winch
Driver experience: 25 years
Cool: Needing a forklift, and not a ramp, to demonstrate articulation
34. Lance Horntvedt
Spokane, Washington
'72 Chevrolet Blazer
Lance has entered his "Big Bad Blaze" before, but now he's got more power to spin his new 44s.
Engine: 402 Chevrolet V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): None listed
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension (f/r): 8-inch Skyjacker Softride springs/same
Tires: 44-inch Boggers
Special features: Warn XD8000i winch, disc brakes at all four wheels
Driver experience: 22 years
Questionable: Lance says he gets "more hp, more rpms" out of his new, smaller motor. But without lockers, does his high-revving rig have what it takes to get through TTC?
35. Hugh Hubbard
Canby, Oregon
'75 Chevrolet Blazer
Hugh says he's only owned his Blazer for five months. We wonder who pounded on it so hard, Hugh or the previous owner?
Engine: Chevrolet 454 V-8
Transmission: SM465
Transfer case: Twin-stick NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Welded gears/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension (f/r): Skyjacker 6-inch springs/shackle flip and 2-inch blocks
Tires: Super Swampers (size not listed)
Special Features: Warn 8274 winch; full rollcage, Line-X interior, rear ladder bars, crossover steering
Driver experience: Eight years
Cool: This Blazer looks like it lives up to the old Timex slogan about "takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin."
36. Jeff Huelsman
Roseville, California
'89 Jeep YJ
He calls it a YJ, but just try to find much Wrangler left here. It's been replaced with some good stuff.
Engine: Ford 5.0L HO V-8, estimated 300 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: NP435
Transfer case: Atlas II
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): ARB/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1 Suspension (f /r): Spring-over-axle Land Cruiser springs/4-link coilover
Tires: 38.5x14.5 SX Swampers
Special features: Wheelbase lengthened to 105 inches, cutting brakes, onboard welder, Warn 8,000-pound winch
Driver experience: 20-plus years
Cool: Judging by the net, do you figure Jeff's rolled a time or two?