What the Heck!?
In the Grove
Vehicle: 1976 Chevy Camaro body/’81 K-10 frame
Owner: Chris Groves
Tires: 36-inch TrXus STS
Suspension: 9 inches
Performance Mods: 350ci
Does everything work the way you want?: It’s getting there
Anything you would change?: Lower stall torque converter
Anything to add?: Thanks to my stepdad for all of the help
Unlimited Original
Vehicle: 1988 Jeep Wrangler body/’79 Ford F-250 frame
Owner: Jason Derech
Tires: 49-inch Iroks
Suspension: Custom
Drivetrain: C6, NP203/205 Doubler, Dana 60 axles
Performance Mods: 460ci
Other Doodads:Custom tub and soft top, seats six
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Buggy Bogger
Vehicle: 2010 Swamp Buggy
Owner: Michael Cox
Tires: 18.4x26 Titan R2 tractor tires
Suspension: Custom 4-link
Drivetrain: TH350, SCS quick change gearbox, 21⁄2-ton Rockwells
Performance Mods: Custom V-8 built by Titan Engines
Other Doodads: 180-pound aluminum frame built by Swamp Buggies of Florida, custom airbrush work by Porkchop Air Brush
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
On the Ice
Vehicle: 1965 Volvo L3314N
Owner: Rune Rydningen, Arendal, Norway
Tires & Wheels: 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs on 15x8 wheels
Suspension: Stock
Drivetrain: 3.25:1 low range, front and rear lockers, 5.38 gears
Performance Mods: Volvo B18, 65hp
Other Doodads: Garmin GPS, custom cage, winch
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Tried to take a shortcut this winter and went through the ice. Now I know why no one takes that road anymore!
Does everything work the way you want?: Almost there
Anything you would change?: Full-float rear axle with a Lock-Right, high-back seats, and better lights
Anything to add?: This was my father’s daily driver for many years
Random Mikes
Vehicle: 1974 “Al Camaro”
Owner: Mike Miracola & Mike Wiggins, Random Lake, WI
Tires & Wheels: 40-inch Gumbo Mudders on 15-inch American Racing wheels
Suspension: Custom 3-inch
Drivetrain: NP203, Dana 44 front, 9-inch rear
Performance Mods: 390ci
Other Doodads: 3-inch body lift, custom cage, bumpers, sliders, and steps
Does everything work the way you want?: Works great!
Anything you would change?: 4-link suspension, ARB Air Lockers, a set of front and rear winches
Anything to add?: The body was created by mating an ’88 Camaro with an ’80 Dodge pickup bed
Sport Crawler
Vehicle: 1995 Kia Sportage
Owner: Dennis Thompson, Stansbury Park, UT
Tires & Wheels: 31x10.50s on 15x7 wheels
Suspension: 21⁄2-inch Eibach springs with 2-inch Upyourkia spacers and KYB shocks up front, stock Jeep Wrangler TJ rear coils with TeraFlex 6-inch lift front TJ shocks in the rear
Drivetrain: Extra shim packs added to the rear limited slip, 4.77 gears
Performance Mods: 2.0L, K&N filter, MagnaFlow exhaust
Other Doodads: Custom front bumper, sliders, and rear bumper, Smittybilt winch
Funniest Wheeling Incident: Watching people’s faces when I am wheeling 4+ trails in Moab!
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes
Anything you would change?: Solid-axle swap and lower transfer case gears
Anything to add?: Real Kias are built, not bought!
AMC 5
Vehicle: 1973 AMC Gremlin body/Jeep CJ-5 frame
Owner: Frank McDermott
Tires: Dunlop Mud Rovers
Suspension: Custom
Drivetrain: 4.10 gears
Performance Mods: 304ci
Other Doodads: Custom cage
Does everything work the way you want?: It’s a work in progress
Anything to add?: I hauled this out of a junkyard a few months ago. I am in the process of bringing it back to life. It currently runs and drives, but could definitely use some fine tuning.
The Big Bobber
Vehicle: 1969 M35A2
Owner: Richard Heberling, Bigler, PA
Tires & Wheels: Michelin 14.00R20s on 20-inch military wheels
Suspension: Stock front, custom rear
Drivetrain: T136, 21⁄2-ton Rockwells, 6.72 gears
Performance Mods: 465ci
Other Doodads: Bigler Boyz custom built bobbed bed and crew cab, custom traction bars, Smittybilt XRC seats
Does everything work the way you want?: Yes