The Ninja's Foe
VEHICLE: '87 Suzuki Samurai
OWNER: Rick Wampler, Chandler, AZ
TIRES: 33x15.50-15 Swamper SXs
WHEELS: 15x12 Center Lines
SUSPENSION: 51/2-inch spring-over axle conversion
DRIVETRAIN: 4:1 transfer-case gears, 5.38 gears in axles with Lock-Right lockers
OTHER DOODADS: Warn 6,000-pound winch, homemade rock sliders and bumper
Platt's Grand
VEHICLE: '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee
OWNER: Eddie Platt, Cincinnati, OH
TIRES: 31x11.00-15 Swamper Thornbirds
WHEELS: 15x8 American Racings
SUSPENSION: 3-inch Skyjacker with 1-inch coil spacer, Pro Comp shocks
DRIVETRAIN: 4.0L, auto tranny, NP231 transfer case, Dana 30 front, Dana 35 rear with Lock-Right
PERFORMANCE MODS: K&N air filter, Jacobs plug wires, Bosch Platinum, Afco aluminum radiator
OTHER DOODADS: Rock sliders, Performance Products roof rack, Cobra CB
FUNNIEST WHEELING INCIDENT: Almost killing the engine in a waterhole
BEST MOD: Tires
WORST MOD: Rock sliders that didn't fit at first
Pic of the Month
Banana
VEHICLE: '75 Ford Bronco
OWNER: Sean Gaudette, Sterling, MA
TIRES: 35x12.50-15 Swamper SSRs
WHEELS: 15x10 Mickey Thompson Challengers
SUSPENSION: 41/2-inch BC Bronco with offset radius arm bushing, James Duff shock mounts, Rancho 9000 shocks
DRIVETRAIN: 351W bored 0.060 over, 4L60E tranny with FAST controller, Dana 20 transfer case, Dana 44 reverse rotation with Truetrac, Ford 9-inch with spool and Warn full-floater kit, 4.88 gears
PERFORMANCE MODS: Engine bored 0.060 over with tons of other stuff
OTHER DOODADS: Grant steering wheel, Ididit steering column, Performance Unlimited steering, Auto Meter Phantom gauges, Lokar shifter, 22-gallon fuel tank, Warn DXI 9000 winch, Cory Kittle rock skis and bumpers, Kayline doors, Wilwood proportioning valve
BEST MOD: 4L60E tranny
WORST MOD: Truetrac diff
2ByToy
VEHICLE: '84 Toyota 2WD
OWNER: Dave [who didn't write his last name clearly enough--Ed.], Auburn, CA
TIRES: 38x12.50-15 Swamper TSLs
WHEELS: 15x12 Rockcrawlers
SUSPENSION: Solid-axle 4x4 conversion, Wagoneer front springs, 64-inch rear springs
DRIVETRAIN: 2.6L LC Engineering stroker, five-speed tranny, Marlin Crawler dual transfer cases, Dana 44 with Warn alloy shafts and ARB air locker, 12-bolt rear with full-floater conversion and spool, 5.38 gears, custom driveshafts
OTHER DOODADS: Flatbed, custom front bumper
BEST MOD: Four-wheel-drive conversion
Submission Information
All submissions to Readers' Rides must include an address or telephone number so sender can be verified and include a complete list of all modifications made to the vehicle. Unfortunately, if we can make out faces of people in the photos, we cannot use them. Also, letters must be signed by the vehicle's owner. Due to the large volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot return photos. Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file.
Write to:
Readers' Rides 4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704
E-mail to:
rides@4wheeloffroad.com