COOL CHEROKEE
Tim Miller's '96 Jeep Cherokee was built to blast through the snow and mud around Tim's hometown, Two Harbors, Minnesota. Big tires were needed so on went an 8-inch Skyjacker kit with 2-inch spacers in the front, while custom leaf springs were used out back. The newfound gain in elevation made room for 35x14.50 Boggers on 15x10 steel bead locks. Living in between the tires is a Dana 30 front axle equipped with an Air Locker and Warn shafts. Out back is a Chrysler 8 1/4 with a Detroit Locker. Both axles run 4.56 gears.
DAILY DRIVEN D90
Jimmy McAdams of Colorado Springs, Colorado, drives and 'wheels his Land Rover Defender 90 on a daily basis. First to go on was a 2-inch suspension lift with Old Man Emu coils and Black Diamond shocks in the front. In the rear a Rockware coil dropout kit was used to provide increased articulation. The slight lift provides more articulation and room for 35-inch Swamper SSRs. Front and rear ARB Air Lockers are used to provide traction.
BLAZER ON A BUDGET
As a starving college student in Raleigh, North Carolina, Nick McLamb does not have a ton of money to spend on his '87 Chevy Blazer. However, it did receive a 2-inch lift that cleared the way for 33-inch Super Swampers. The 350 V-8 was left stock but its breathing was helped out with a K&N air filter, throttle-body spacer, and a dual exhaust. Other goodies include a soft top and extra lights for nighttime romps. The little cash left over was wisely spent on recovery gear.
BIG DODGE
Steve Cononie, of Germantown, Maryland, gets plenty of looks in his '99 Dodge Ram 1500. The extra attention could be due to the bright-yellow paint scheme. More likely, though, it is due to the fact that the Dodge has a 6-inch Skyjacker lift that clears the way for 35-inch BFG All-Terrains on American Racing wheels. Helping to move the Dodge down the road a little more quickly is a Flowmaster dual-exhaust kit while protection for the front comes from a Mopar brushguard.
LOST WAGES
Joel Herron of Boise, Idaho, put his after-school--and summer-job--wages to good use by purchasing and building a '79 Ford Bronco. Out came the original engine and in went a 460 V-8. A 4-inch lift then cleared the way for 35-inch Swampers on steel wheels. The front Dana 44 was left in place but did receive a set of Warn shafts after Joel snapped the stockers one too many times. Finally, a front brushguard was fabbed up to protect the front sheetmetal.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Matt Boney, of Mountain Home, Idaho, bought his '85 GMC 1/2-ton from his dad and quickly began working on it. First to go on was a 4-inch Trailmaster lift which supplied enough boost to run 36-inch Swampers on 15x10 Ultra wheels. Next, the stock 305 V-8 received some massaging in the form of an Edelbrock intake and carb, Crane Cam, and MSD ignition. Matt then went to work pulling dents out of the GMC's sheetmetal before painting it blue. To help out the 305, a set of 4.56 gears were put in the axles while a rear Lock-Right helps gain traction.
LIFTED LATE MODEL
Roaming around Concord, North Carolina, is Stuart Redenhour and his '94 Chevy truck. First to go on the truck was a 6-inch Pro Comp lift which made room for the 35x16 Boggers on 15x10 Alcoas. To spin the taller tires, 4.56 gears were thrown in both differentials. To make sure that the Chevy is plenty fast, a Paxton supercharger along with a K&N air filter and headers were thrown on the 350 V-8. Finally an Alpine CD player was installed to enable driver and passengers to hear something besides the whine from the Boggers.
MIXED S-10
Jason Perkins of Lynnwood, Washington, made his '87 S-10 Blazer into a capable trail rig. First he yanked off the IFS and grafted into place a Dana 30 out of a '90 Cherokee using Bronco coil towers, Rancho coils, and Rancho control arms. For the rear a trussed and straightened Dana 35 was used out of the same Cherokee. To provide enough lift to match the front, a spring-over was performed using the stock springs and 2-inch blocks. Other reader-built items include the front and rear bumpers.
Dj Vu
Justin Schoener wanted to build a Chevy on a budget and was lucky enough to find this used and abused '84 specimen. The Chevy was purchased for cheap as it was in a serious accident and the bodywork began from there. After every panel was straightened, a 4-inch Rancho lift was added to clear the 35-inch Wide Climbers on 15x10 Progressive wheels. A 350 V-8 out of a Camaro was then swapped into place. Finally a 9,000-pound winch was fitted into the stock front bumper.
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