64. Kenneth Stephens
Valdese, North Carolina
'76 Chevrolet Hybrid Blazer
One look at the photo will tell you where the "hybrid" comes from. We see a Blazer cab, and that's about it.
Engine: Chevrolet 400 V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: NP205
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension (f/r): 2-inch spring lift/same
Tires: 42-inch Swampers on Hummer wheels
Special features: Custom engine and transmission mounts, fuel cell, Warn 8274 winch, onboard air, motorcycle headlights and turn signals
Driver experience: 11 years
Questionable: We're not convinced the suspension is up to the rigors of the TTC.
65. Terry Viertel
Vancouver, Washington
'75 Dodge Ramcharger
Looks like we got us a tough-truck Mopar wanting to duke it out at TTC
Engine: Chrysler 360 V-8
Transmission: 727 with shift kit
Transfer case: NP203
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids (f/r): Lock-Right/welded gears
Ratio: 4.10:1/4.11:1
Suspension (f/r): 4-inch Rough Country springs/same
Tires: 38x15.50-16.5 Dick Cepeks
Special features: Warn XD9000i winch, full rollcage
Driver experience: Six years
Questionable: Well, from the picture it looks like the 44 can hold up to some abuse. We'll see, we'll see.
66. Valen Thompson
Las Vegas, Nevada
'80 Jeep Cherokee Chief
Take a close look at the panel behind the driver's door. Valen's not afraid to party.
Engine: AMC 360 V-8
Transmission: AMC 727
Transfer case: NP208
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/AMC 20
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit EZ Locker/Detroit EZ Locker
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension (f/r): 4-inch spring, custom reverse-shackle lift/5-inch block, 3-inch add-a-leaf
Tires: 38.5x14.5-15 Super Swamper SXs
Special features: 3-inch body lift, AGR steering box, Warn premium hubs, front and rear mount for Warn M8000 winch, rear axle truss
Driver experience: Eight years
Questionable: That ol' AMC drivetrain is fine for the desert, but we're not sure it'll be up to the Top Truck task
67. Barry Toledano
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Frog
Another foreign entry, this time from Israel, looks to be a serious machine. It started life as a long-wheelbase YJ built in Israel for the Army and border police, but Barry tossed out just about everything to build the Frog.
Engine: Chevrolet 383 V-8 bored 0.060 over and producing an estimated 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: TH400 with TransGo manual shift kit
Transfer case: NP205 cut apart and rewelded together to be mounted horizontally
Axles (f/r): Rockwell/Rockwell
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension (f/r): Custom 3-link with Sway-A-Way long-travel shocks and Eibach coil springs/same
Tires: 44x19.5-15 Boggers on bead-lock 15x12 rims
Special features: Hydraulic four-wheel steering, two-row aluminum radiator with two electric fans mounted behind the seats and coolant running through frame tubes, double-piston disc brakes mounted on front and rear pinions of the axles, Warn 8274 winch in front, Warn XD9500i in back, dual Maxima 90-amp batteries, 100-psi fast air compressor
Driver experience: 15 years. He started building the Frog 18 months ago.
Cool: Barry will add a big-block to the Frog if he's chosen for TTC.
68. Aaron Turcotte
Bowdoin, Maine
"Jeep CJ Mix"
There's a little of everything here, from a fiberglass tub to a '74 frame.
Engine: Jeep 258 I-6
Transmission: T98
Transfer case: Dana 20
Axles (f/r): Dana 30/Dana 44
Traction aids (f/r): Lock Right/ARB
Ratio: 4.56:1
Suspension (f/r): Leaf spring with Revolver shackles/leaf spring with Revolver shackles
Tires: TSL Super Swampers (size not listed)
Special features: Warn 8,000-pound winches front and rear, custom rollcage and engine cage, portable battery welder, snorkel, 22-gallon fuel cell
Driver experience: Seven years
Questionable: The Dana 30. No way it's gonna cut it.
69. Mike Turek
Montgomery, Minnesota
'80 Chevrolet
Mike's pickup looks a little rough around the edges, but it has a lot of the right stuff. Not all, but some.
Engine: Chevy 454 V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP208
Axles (f/r): Dana 60/Dana 60
Traction aids (f/r): Open/welded
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension (f/r): 4-inch Trail Master with 2-inch shackles/4-inch block with 2-inch shackles
Tires: Goodyear tractor tires or 39.5-inch Boggers
Special features: Homemade 3-inch body lift
Driver experience: Eight years
Questionable: Hmm...open front diff, no winch. Not ready for prime time?
70. Anthony Taylor
Edgewood, Washington
1982 Toyota
"Custom bodywork courtesy of trails," wrote Anthony. What body?
Engine: Toyota 22R
Transmission: Stock
Transfer case: Marlin Crawler dual case with 4.7:1
Axles (f/r): Stock Toyota/stock Toyota
Traction aids (f/r): ARB/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.29:1
Suspension (f/r): 6-inch All Pro/6-inch All Pro
Tires: 36x12.50-15 Swampers
Special features: Crossover steering, on-board air, bead locks, Warn 8274 winch
Driver experience: 10 years, half of which has been in this truck.
Questionable: The four-banger may not cut it.
71. Jordan Wininger
Wasilla, Alaska
'73 Jeep CJ-5
The "Alaskan Assassin" combines Ford and CJ-7 pieces into one major snowmobile.
Engine: Ford 302 V-8 bored 0.060 over
Transmission: NP435
Transfer case: Early Bronco Dana 20
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/9-inch
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio (f/r): 4.27:1/4.33:1
Suspension (f/r): Rear CJ-7 springs over axle/rear Wrangler springs over axle
Tires: 37x13-15 Boggers on 15x10 Bart Monster wheels
Special features: Wheelbase stretched 2 inches, custom shocks and hangers, frame completely boxed, Warn 8274 winch in front, Caterpillar heat exchanger (Hey, the guy's from Alaska.)
Driver experience: "a long time," and he's owned the Jeep for more than three years.
Questionable: Axles could be too light-duty.
72. Michael Zahul
Commerce Township, Michigan
'86 Jeep Cherokee
Each of the Big Three had a hand in building Michael's Jeep.
Engine: Chevy 454 V-8 with a Gen VI block bored 0.060 over, forged pistons, steel crank
Transmission: TH350 with custom output shaft, Redline clutch and B&M Holeshot torque converter
Transfer case: NP231 HD with slip-yoke eliminator
Axles (f/r): Dana 44/9-inch
Traction aids (f/r): Detroit Locker/spool
Ratio: 3.54:1
Suspension (f/r): Custom 4-link with nitrogen-charged shocks, 16 inches of travel/National Spring leaf pack, nitrogen-charged shocks, 14 inches of travel
Tires: 35x16-15 Boggers
Special features: Ramsey 8,000-pound winch, 8-point bumper-to-bumper cage, Ford disc/drum brakes
Driver experience: 20 years, but he's owned the Cherokee for just a year.
Cool: Two radiators-one from a '98 4.0L Jeep in front, a heavy-duty four-core unit with a cooling fan in the tailgate.