Don Campbell's Jeep Wrangler is something that most of us dream of. It has all the time and money put into it that we've all wanted to put into our own visions. The difference is that his has actuallybeen completed and proven its worth off-road, whereas most of ours are still half-cocked dreams bragged about around a campfire somewhere late at night. Well, some guys just dream and some guys just do....
Don, a TIG welder by trade, did most of this work himself with the help of his father, Chuck, a machinist, and the patience of his wife, Susan. No one will ever do as good of a job as you would on your own vehicle, and Don knew this, so he went to town on it until he couldn't find anything else to do.
Wow, it makes us want another Jeep project (like we don't have enough already). Quick! Someone send us a pic of a hopeless, dilapidated pile so we stop being so inspired. We don't have time for inspiration.
Up front, Don's YJ sports a Dana 60 that would make any wheeler jealous. It's been packed with an ARB Air Locker and 4.11 gears and rides under 12-inch King coilovers. A three-link suspension system works in conjunction with a Panhard rod to help keep those Kings traveling in the correct arc, while hydraulic bumpstops keep that art piece of an axle from touching the frame. A custom antisway bar keeps the Jeep up straight, while crossover steering keeps it pointing in the right direction. Countless hours were put into building this Jeep. Small touches abound such as the small aluminum roller/guard in the bottom middle of the frame for the winch rope to drop down and around the axle without fraying or rubbing anything on the frame.
Once most of the rig was complete, it went to see another familiar father and son team by the name of Campbell: Bret Epperly of Campbell Enterprises in Phoenix did an immaculate job getting all the gauges, sensors, and wires running with the Vortec motor in this YJ, while replacing most every stock part that this flame-red YJ was ever equipped with. Bret even took the time to label every wire so there'd be no guessing years down the road. | 
Under the hood sits a Chevy 355ci Vortec V-8 with fast-burn heads, forged pistons, and pink rods. An 8-quart oil pan with trap doors keeps this motor lubed while a Competition Cams camshaft keeps the heart of this motor turning smoothly. Tubed headers expel exhaust gases into a custom 3-inch exhaust. A custom aluminum radiator shroud was made to fit in the front of an all-aluminum radiator the ensure this Jeep runs cool. | 
That is a very hard white plastic that is covering the bottom of the Jeep. It tends to slide very well (similar to what's on the bottom of a snowboard, but harder) and bolts onto metal skidplates with flush-mounted bolts. Just above the skids, an Atlas transfer case with a 4.2:1 low range gets spin from a Hughes special TH400 tranny and torque converter. |
Luxury! Custom tweed seats keep the passengers comfy while sitting behind the custom aluminum dash with flow-thru console and adorned with carbon-fiber Auto Meter gauges. A Budnik steering wheel provides control over the Jeep, while aluminum pedals finish off the look of the interior. | 
In the back a Tera 60R high-pinion axle keeps things running strong. It's been packed with a Detroit Locker and 4.11 gears to match the front. The 16-inch King coilovers help support the rig while a triangulated four-link keeps the axle in place. Disc brakes are attached at every corner and do a great job of stopping the 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains mounted on 17-inch Alcoa wheels with bead locks. Even the custom exhaust is beautiful with the way it squares off and swoops under the plastic plating right below the fuel cell. | 
The body was dipped in DuPont Flame Red and kept in immaculate condition even though it sees hard-core wheeling. Custom aluminum fender flares in the rear keep the tub from getting sprayed with rocks or mud, while custom rocker guards keep any high centering down to a minimal damage report. And check out that super-sweet aluminum fuel cell in back of the rear seat and the rectangular LED taillights (to match the YJ headlights) that were added instead of the typical round ones. |
Tech Specs
Vehicle: '87 Jeep YJ Wrangler
Owner: Don Campbell, Loveland, CO
Engine: 355ci Vortec V-8
Tranny: Hughes TH400 tranny
Transfer Case: 4.2:1 low-range Atlas
Front Axle: Dana 60 high-pinion, ARB Air Locker, 4.11 gears
Rear Axle: Dana 60 high-pinion, Detroit Locker, 4.11 gears
Front Suspension: 12-inch King coilovers, three-link with Panhard bar
Rear Suspension: 16-inch King coilovers
Winch: Warn 8,000-pound
Tires & Wheels: 37x12.50R17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrains on 17-inch Alcoa wheels with bead locks