Sponsor: BDS
When the BDS Jeep showed up, more than a few people were wondering if head of engineering Glen Hard and head of sales Mike Maloney knew what they were getting into. You see, this '97 Wrangler wasn't much more than a bolted-together rig on 37-inch tires. We'd be lying if we said they didn't break anything, but they made it to the end of the UA with much less carnage than everyone expected, and it wasn't for lack of trying. There were quite a few times we expected these guys to be picking up Dana 30 and 35 parts from along the trail, but the perfect balance of skill, conservative use of the skinny pedal, and quality aftermarket parts kept the BDS Jeep trucking all week.
Rig Recipe
Driver: Glen Hard
Co-driver: Mike Maloney
Vehicle: 1997 Jeep TJ with 180,000 miles
Stomping Grounds: Outback Adventure Park, Butler, PA; Silverlake Sand Dunes, MI; various dealer trail rides across the country
Engine: 4.0L with K&N Filter and JET programmer
Transmission: Automatic (stock)
Transfer Case: stock
Front Axle: Dana 30 Superior Super 30 kit, 4.88 gears, ARB Air Locker
Rear Axle: Dana 35 Superior Super 35 kit, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker
Suspension: BDS 6.5-inch long arm kit
Tires & Wheels: 37x12.50x17 Goodyear MT/R Kevlar on 17-inch Spyderlock beadlocks
Winch & Bumpers: Warn Endurance 12, custom- built bumpers
Other Stuff: GenRight tube fenders and rollcage, Warn onboard air system, Lightforce lights, custom wrap, custom high lift mount, BDS rocker guards
Readers: Kevin and Jen Stearns
The Stearns are wheelers and readers, and they also have a small 4x4/hot rod shop that's making a name for its late-model GM engine swaps, but sometimes even the boss needs a vacation. This year the Stearns left the daily grind to their hardworking employees and accepted the invitation to come wheeling with us.
Kevin has had his fair share of muscle cars and off-road machines. The goal for the tube-and-fiberglass Blazer was for it to be an all-around rig capable of big air at the dunes, flexing over boulders and still being comfortable for him and his wife to cruise the streets of his hometown of Morgan Hill, California. With plenty of reliable power under the hood and a strong drivetrain, this fullsize succeeded in being a great all-around machine. In fact, the Blazer only had some minor issues with some fuel cell foam clogging the filter and a front driveshaft issue-other than body damage, that is, but who counts body damage?
Rig Recipe
Driver: Kevin Stearns
Co-driver: Jennifer Stearns
Vehicle: 1983 Chevy Blazer
Stomping Grounds: Pismo Beach and Hollister Hills, CA
Engine: Pacific Fabrication LS2 V-8 engine package
Transmission: TH 400, full manual valve body, Klune Goliath
Transfer Case: Round pattern NP205
Front Axle: Dana 60, ARB Air Locker, 35-spline alloy outers, Warn premium hubs, 4.10 gears
Rear Axle: 14 bolt, Detroit Locker, disc brakes, 4.10 gears
Suspension: Pacific Fabrication three-link front, four-link rear, 18-inch Fox coilovers, Fox hydro bumps
Tires & Wheels: 40x13.5R17 Goodyear Kevlar MT/R on 17-inch Raceline Monster beadlocksWinch: Warn M12000
Other Stuff: Tube and stock frame chassis, fiberglass body
Readers: John and Justin Bjorum
John Bjorum has a knack for overcoming adversity. For example, he ran all of Ultimate Adventure with a healthy LSI Chevy V-8 engine in his Cherokee yet only had a Dana 30 front axle. If that sounds amazing then you'll faint when you hear why he didn't upgrade to a larger front end. It turns out that after we telephoned him and invited him on the UA he was so excited he had a heart attack! Poor guy. He rebounded quickly, but his front axle upgrade savings account got sapped by some silly doctor's bills (priorities get switched around when you almost die). Lucky for us, John has a strong heart and a sensible right foot. He not only ran all of the UA without breaking that half-ton front, but he also drove many obstacles like a fearless four-wheeler.
John first started wheeling in a '77 CJ-5 with a 304 V-8 and a three-speed up in the Silverlake Sand Dunes near his home in Michigan. Over the next 20 years he had a variety of Jeeps and four-wheel trucks until he bought the red '96 Cherokee Classic for his wife. The XJ stayed stock until John and his wife went to Moab in 1999, and what went on the Ultimate Adventure is a rig that reflected 10 years of modifications since then. It was built as a daily driver until four years ago, when John bought another vehicle, an '04 Grand Cherokee. Prior to that John had to drive the XJ, wheel it, and be able to drive it back home. The XJ has been to Moab and back 11 times and also to California, South Dakota, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Rig Recipe
Driver: John BjorumCo-drivers: Justin Bjorum, Josh Russell
Vehicle: 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic
Stomping Grounds: Michigan; Moab; Buena Vista, CO
Engine: '00 GM Z28 LS1 V-8
Transmission: '00 GM Z28 4L60e
Transfer Case: Atlas 3.8
Front Axle: Dana 30 4.56 gears, ARB Air Locker
Rear Axle: Custom 9-inch housing with True Hi 9 with 35-spline axles, 4.56 gears, ARB Air Locker
Suspension: T&T customs long arms, ZJ coils, Big Off Road rear leaf springs, 61/2-inch lift
Tires & Wheels: 37x12.5R17 Goodyear Kevlar MT/R on Spyderlock 17x9.5
Winch & Bumpers: Warn 9.5ti winch, Hanson front bumper, Kaymar rear bumper
Other Stuff: Tube doors, PSC hydro steering, chromoly eight-point interior cageDimensions: height 80 inches; stock XJ width, length, and wheelbase; weight 5,000+ pounds
Sponsor: Warn
Fred Perry returned this year as the representing driver for Warn Industries along with Warn's southeastern sale manager, Corby Philips. Though Fred had built a new MJ for last year's trip, he had so many requests for the return of his older stretched yellow TJ that he blew off the dust and headed out on the UA with it. Fred has had some sort of major catastrophe every year with his Jeep, but maybe now the recipe is finally dialed in. Fred, Corby, and the little yellow Jeep came through the UA virtually unscathed.
Rig Recipe
Driver: Fred Perry
Co-driver: Corby Phillips
Vehicle: 1998 Jeep (stretched) TJ
Stomping Grounds: Everywhere around Clemson, SC
Engine: '01 Jeep 4.7L V-8
Transmission: 545RFE five-speed automatic
Transfer Case: Atlas 3.8
Front Axle: Rock Crusher high-pinion Dana 60, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker
Rear Axle: Rock Crusher high-pinion Dana 60, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker
Suspension: Tera-Flex LGC long arm with Fabtech air springs
Tires & Wheels: 40x13.5R17 Goodyear Kevlar MT/R on 17-inch Raceline monster beadlocks
Winch & Bumpers: Warn bumper with Endurance 12 winch and synthetic rope
Other Stuff: Advanced Frame Works chassis bobbed LJ length with 13/4-inch tube cage, Chris Durham Motorsports sloped fiberglass hood and grille, two TJ bodies cut and welded to stretched LJ length, Griffin radiator