'82 Jeep CJ-8 ScramblerDonnie Roebuck was on our Ultimate Adventure trip last year and came back this year with some new spots on his ride. Donnie headed up from his Florida home to spend the week bashing around the Southeast on trails that he considers his local stomping grounds. Always prepared, Donnie travels with tons of spare parts, but formed quite a list of broken parts during UA, including a front wheel bearing, a rear driveshaft U-joint, the rear antiwrap bar, the weld between the axletube and housing, the auxiliary fuse block, and the transmission torque converter lock-up solenoid. Even so, he never backed down from an obstacle in his Ford-powered Scrambler.
Driver: Donnie Roebuck, Deltona, FLEngine: Ford HO 302, K&N filter, Superchips custom chip, 351 marine-spec cam Transmission: Ford AOD-E four-speed automatic with Baumann Engineering tranny processorTransfer Case: Klune Industries 2.72:1 crawl box, Dana 300 with 4.0 low rangeSuspension: Spring-over with National Spring, front 10 inches longer than stock, rear 7 inches longer than stock, shackle reversal Front Axle: Dana 44 high-pinion, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker, Warn alloy shafts, CTM joints, '78 CJ disc brakesRear Axle: Dana 60 high-pinion, 4.88 gears, spool, Moser 35-spline shafts, semifloating axleshafts and a lube pump to prevent forward pinion bearing failure, TSM CJ rear disc conversionTires: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawler T/AsWheels: Trailready 17x9 bead locksSpecial Features: Bobbed tub with spots by Chuck Davis, Jeep CJ V-8 three-row radiator Premier Power Welder onboard welding system, 160-amp alternator, dual Optima batteries and Wrangler Power Products dual battery manager, soft top custom built by Orlando Auto Upholstery, Warn auxiliary lights, locking hubs, Warn HS9500i winch
'93 Jeep Wrangler YJTom and Lee Haus were driving their '93 YJ with full-width axles this year. Tom is a Los Angeles County fireman and a great guy to bring along with a bunch of accident-prone guys. Tom saw a little carnage of the vehicular kind on his own Wrangler this year. When the front main leaf broke in Tennessee, the axle swung far enough forward to separate the front driveshaft, while at the same time twisting the splines. To make it out of the trail, the front axle was chained to the rear axle, while the winch was strung in front. Back at camp, fellow UA survivor Donnie Roebuck lent his onboard welder to weld the main leaf to the second leaf so the YJ could travel from Monteagle, Tennessee to Gardendale, Alabama. Then it was Trent McGee's turn to come to the rescue as he had a pair of Superlift leaf springs overnighted to Gardendale. Tom sends a big thanks out to Trent and Donnie. After that, Tom, Lee, and their YJ made it through the rest of the Ultimate Adventure unscathed.
Drivers: Tom and Lee Haus, Los Angeles, CAEngine: 4.0L with high-flow K&N air filter, Borla headers, high-flow cat, Flowmaster mufflerTransmission: Stock manual five-speedTransfer Case: Klune-V 4:1 crawl box, NP231 with JB Conversions HD Short Shaft Kit, HD gear and chainSuspension: CustomFront Axle: Dana 44 with Detroit Locker, Warn axleshafts, 4x Doctor diff cover guardRear Axle: Dana 60 with Detroit Locker and Warn 35-spline full-floater kitTires: 37x12.50-17 BFGoodrich KrawlersWheels: 17x8 Trailready bead locksSpecial Features: Tubular front end, Endo bar, front seats tied into rollcage by Ryan's Cages, custom 3-inch extended body mounts, crossmember/skidplate, full rollcage (roll tested), rocker guards from 4x Doctor, wheelbase stretched to 104 inches, rear bumper and winch mount by Yours Truly, Rock Gear soft top and soft doors, Warn 8000 winch, onboard air by Kilby Enterprises, ABS hood from JP Aluminum Bodies