"Readers Rides"

2006 Submissions

"Lubes" from Ft. Collins, Crawlorado sends in pics of WrangKong- what's left of a 2000 Jeep Wrangle, SBC 350 w/ tbi, TH350,NP203/205 doubler, 35 spline inner/outer, HP Dana 60 front w/ Dedenbear knuckles,shaved 14 bolt rear, Detroits and 5.13s in both diffs, 9" lift, custom 4 links front/rear  , ~18" stretched wheelbase (112" total), 15x12 True Design beadlocks wrapped with 44" Super Swamper TSLs.  Built entirely by me.

Chris from Tulsa, Oklahoma sends in pics of his current build...."I hope to have it done in a couple of years. All that's been done so far is lift, 3/4 ton axles and tires. I am trying to teach myself how to build a motor"

Ivo T  from Madrid, Spain sends in some pics of his ride ...It's cool to see rigs from all over the world!!!!

Pete B from North Bay , Ontario sends in pics of his buggy and the story behind it...."I built this buggy using a Dana 44 front and 12 bolt GM rear full size Chevy axles which I narrowed 21 inches, welded the spider & side gears to lock them up then shaved the housings for maximum clearance. Next I bought a 1980 Honda Civic with a 1.3 litre engine and automatic transmission. I pulled the transmission apart and welded the spider & side gears in the differential of the transmission to lock the axles together and reassembled the transmission. I set the engine/transmission, axles, rad, etc. in position on stands with the engine turned 90 degrees so the engine sits just forward of the rear axle with the transmission ahead of it. When I narrowed the axles I took more out of the right rear and left front so the pinions would be aligned to the right. For my next step I built a frame around all this with 2" square tubing and bolted the axles directly to the frame with U-bolts. Drive shafts were easy to make. I just found some pipe which fit tightly over the Honda axles, made a couple rings. Tapped them over the axles then ground them down till they fit into the Chevy yolks, slid them in and welded them solid.For the steering I used the Honda steering column complete with ignition switch and a VW bug steering box. The feature which makes this buggy unique is that by using a front wheel drive transaxle the torque is multiplied through the differential in the transmission before it goes to the axles creating extra low gearing. We chained this buggy to a tree and while sitting on dry pavement it will actually spin all four 33" tires at a rate of about 3MPH. Top end is about 30MPH at about 6500rpm (honest that old Civic motor screams)
 

Leigh Byrd  from Kamloops, BC sends in pics of his '81 Bronco. He tells us "It rides on 35" boggers.  It has a a 3" body lift and major fender trimming.  These pics were taken at Hosley Lake near Kamloops, BC." 
 

Brent from indiana has a 1985 s-10 blazer. It is the stock frame with solid axle swap, dana 44 front and 9" rear with 4.88 gears and lockers. It has full hydraulic steering.... the powertrain is a built 355 with a turbo 350, 2500 stall, and 205 transfer. It has 38.5/16/16.5 Swamper TSL. Custom built bumpers and hi-lift jack mount. future plans include a 12,000 lb. winch and more lift to clear 44's.

 Darren from Atikokan , Ontario......loves to play with his rig

Adam W has a 1987 K5 blazer With a 4-5 inch suspension lift, 350 vortec engine, tbi fuel injection, 35-12.50-15 superswampers on eagle alloy 15-10 wheels, power every thing, aluminum radiator, 4.11 gears with posi rear carrier, newer black paint, dual steering stabilizers, phantom billet grill, exhaust cut outs , a decent little jvc / pioneer sound system and a lot more .

         

James from Ohio sends in a pic of his  1978 ford f 250 custom 460 big block 6 in. skyjacker lift kit 35 in, super swamper tires msd ignition kit

Sean Moore sends in about his 1986 Chevrolet K10 that I have put a fully floating 14 bolt rear end, Dana 44 front end, 4 inch lift, 468 Big Block( Around 500 horsepower), and 35x12.50x16.5 General Grabbers on 10 inch aluminum wheels.

Kris from Prince George, B.C - tells us about his  1986 ford, started out as a 3/4 ton but I switched everything under it to 1 ton with approximately 10" of suspension lift on 38" tall by 16.5" wide super swampers, the engine is a 460 with a 4 barrel edelbrock carburetor, edelbrock manifold, wolverine cam, 427 cobra-jet heads(not sure how much horse it has but it lites up the 38's on cement like their not even there:D! ) recently got a dark metallic green paintjob done with chrome along the bottom of the body(looks as good in the sun as it does covered in mud) Future Plans - lockers front and rear, hydraulic steering, 40" super swampers and a couple parts to spruce the engine up some more.

Larry from Oak Harbor, Washington sends in his rides 1970 chevy P.U. 35" BFG mudders a 350 out of a 67 impala, 4 speed, 6" lift and 1980 chevy P.U. total 12&a 1/2 inch lift, 350 crate motor, 40" superswampers, 3" exhaust, headers

Diane Cook tells us about her ride- Specs:  1995 s10 blazer 4.3 v6, k&n, flomaster exhaust sac with skyjacker leafs front and rear.  custom steering, crossmembers, drivelines,  old school s10 transfer case.  dana 44 and 9"  5.13 gears with spools.  39.5x16.5x15 pitbull rockers for traction.  rhino lined interoir.  custom tube door,  monster electric fan,  and a lot of other home made stuff.

Chris S from Kamloops, BC tells us - This is my 1987 chevy S10. I started with a two wheel drive half ton frame. It has a chevy 14 bolt in back with a detroit locker and custom made springs. In the front there is a ford dana 60 with an open diff, coil springs and a three link suspension. 13 inch travel RS9000 shocks all around. I used a 350 horse small block with a turbo 400 trani to a devorced dana 24 transfer case. Inside there is role cage RCI bucket seats and five point harneses. There is a 8000lb. winch up front. I painted the whole thing in box liner for durability. I put the rad in the back with three electric fans. It's rollin on 39.4 inch boggers with 16.5 x 12.5 aluminum rims. I am a machinist by trade and have done everything myself

Ivo based in Madrid, Spain, tells us he has a Wrangler Sahara that was modificated and designed by me and look equal like yours machines !

Steve B drives a chevy s-10 7 inch lift 33 inch tires roll bar, new th350 trannny. Good Looking ride

Rocky & Jenny love to wheel. Rocky drives 79 scottsdale 20 454/SM465/205 Dana 60 35 spline true trac. 14 bolt FF disc brakes Detroit with 456 gears. 39.5boggers on hummer double bead lock rims12inch springs 3inch body lift. In bed 65 gal gas tank double roll bar. 12,00 lbs Ramsy front 8,000 lbs Warn rear. We call it Big Green. Jenny drives an 88 samurai 1.3l stock 4 cylinder. Trail tough 4:1 gear down transfer case1 1/2 old man Emu springs/sprung over. trail tough 1 3/4 shackels. Lokright front and rear, 31 swampers. 8,000lbs Warn

Chris P sends in specs and  pics 1989 Toyota 4Runner. SAS’d, 5.29’s, Detroit Ez Locker rear, Aussie Locker front, Chromo D44 axles in front Toyota axle, 37” MTR’s, Custom front and rear bumper. Also there is a custom tire carrier all made by me. Toyota rear leaves up front, 54” Chevy’s in the rear, 14” BDS shock up front, 12” Rancho in back. Don’t mind the rusty quarters, I am replacing them soon.

Trevor sends in specs and a pic of his 96 jeep zj , mods:7" lift, Long arms, 35"x12.5x16 MT Claw's, Onboard air, D44 front, D60 rear, Hi steer,  a long way to go but it is getting there

Aaron Aka Rumblebee from Calgary, Ab- 79 blazer chassis with a regular cab and a short short box. TBI injected 350,THM350,205 t-case. Sissy 10bolt front and a sissy 12 bolt rear. 38.5 Thornbirds. Future mods, 400 small block,dana 44 front and a semi floating 9.5"  14bolt corp rear both stuffed with 4.56 gears. Currently switching to a rust free 89 1 ton cab.PS- This is one cool dude who has helped along with Crash to install the Knight's new MPFI for '06.:)

Chris F from Prince George, BC tells us ...My rig is a 68 Land Rover Series 2A 88" wheel base.I have swapped in a small block Chev 350 (78 Blazer 4 Bolt bored 60 over and flat tops)with performer intake, q-jet carb with homemade snorkel, large capacity oil cooler, ramhorn manifold dual exhaust with Dynomax 50's and stacks short style water pump power steering pump from a 68ish Impala and alternator bracketry from a 62 Suburban 4x4 and a 94 amp alt , TH 350 ( 85 Chev 1/2 ton with T/V) with stage 2 shift kit, B&M cable Slap shifter and largetrani cooler with fan (oil cooler and trani cooler are up front where the rad used to be and share an electric fan), NP 205 (79 Chev 1/2 ton) with modified shift rails, twin sticks, flat rear flange (np 208 front flange with different seal) which allowed me to run a chev front cv drive shaft in the rear, the rad (80 Chev 4X4 1 Ton tow truck 4 core) has been moved to therear and has dual Ford Tempo fans, the diffs were swapped in (stock LR springs leaf over axle = 6.5" lift) from an 85 Toyota P/U with 437 gears and I welded the spiders front and rear. I also used the power steering box and column , power break master and booster from the Toyota as well. It has dual rancho 5000's up front and single Bilstiens out back. In the front I'm using the stock Toyota Traction bar and in the rear I have a front radius arm and frame bracket from a 70  Early Bronco with a welded on axle bracket (works 100% with no restrictions). I have moved the fuel tank into the box along with the dual deep cycle yellow tops as well. I fabed  a pack rack above the box to carry what ever. I also cut down a full top and made a pick up top out of it then bolted in some RCI racing buckets with 2.5" 5 pointharnesses. I also installed some aftermarket gauges-5 pack, tach and a realistic 40 channel CB. There's an 8000 lb Braden winch behind the cut down "C" channel front bumper. 4 Recovery attachment points front and rear, and currently I'm running 35x12.50x15 Super Swamper TSL's on steel white spokes.

Future plans are as follows:
40" Boggers with DIY weld on bead locks, Chromoly front inner and outer axle shafts as well as chromoly rear shafts, a high pinion rear drop out,  ARB's would be nice, Stretch out the wheel base  a few inches into the 94" range or so (15" long rear drive shaft you know), re-arc springs a couple inches, convert to cross over hi steer set up with ram assist, upgraded larger bore master cyl, larger callipers with vented rotors, stainless steel braided break lines, fab up an exocage, add a rear winch and possibly fender flares.

Chris S from Kamloops, Bc tells us  This is my 1987 chevy S10. I started with a two wheel drive half ton frame. It has a chevy 14 bolt in back with a detroit locker and custom made springs. In the front there is a ford dana 60 with an open diff, coil springs and a three link suspension. 13 inch travel RS9000 shocks all around. I used a 350 horse small block with a turbo 400 trani to a divorced dana 24 transfer case. Inside there is role cage RCI bucket seats and five point harnesses. There is a 8000lb. winch up front that is on a trailer hitch so I can move it to the back if I need to. I painted the whole thing in box liner for durability. I put the rad in the back with two honda civic fans. It's rollin on 38 inch super swampers with 16.5 x 12.5 aluminum rims. I am a machinist by trade and have done everything myself. I just got it going so I don't have any stuck pictures yet. Still working the bugs out. Anyways here it is.

Rob's truck is a 1984 Chevrolet Custom Delux with a 6 inch suspension life and 33x12/5 Hankook Dynamic radials and a 400 for an engine

Jeff M of Glimpse Technology in Australia sends in pics of his mate's 4 seater monster Toyota 40

Robert- from New Brunswick tells us "It started as a   1978 toyota land cruser, with a 4.2 in line 6cyl blue it  up last year .I converted it to a small block chev 30over flat top pistons pro comp cam little head work alumn.hi rise intake new quad bog carb works really well. Iser i have won 2003 super stock divison. I installed bull low 3 spd, 205 transfer case  with the land cruser front and rear howsan.put on a 1980 toyoya truck cab extend the fenders 12 in  to fit ever thing in nice im running 38/12.5 15 super swamper.had to have something bigger 38.5 /15,15 on home mad bead lockers.thaugh it would be nice to have your opinion on my truck ,maybe some suggestion on improvements. By the way my 5 year old daughter named it the Mystery Machine.

Mark- from Oregon sends in pics of his 1981 jeep cj7 it has 32x10.5 super swampers,  8000 pound  mile marker winch , kc off road light and custom made of road bumpers    

Jeremy- sends in a pic of his first truck. It is a 1985 GMC 6.2 liter diesel 3/4 ton 4x4, all I have done so far is put a set of Goodyear Wrangler 315/75/16 on it, but there are a few things I would still like to do to it in the near future

Stephen from California tells us " I started with a stock bronco and now I moved my way up to my 85 toyota pickup. I have a 4 inch suspension and 3 inch body lift, locked axles with 5.29's and 35 inch bfg mud terrains. Hopefully over the next couple of years I can get the knowledge and cash to build a truggy. "

Maxwell M sends in pics of his and his wifes rigs