SHAKEDOWN SHOTS

2. The V6 has a Carter carburetor sitting atop an old Offenhauser intake manifold. Some adjustments of the float levels and idle mixture were required for an optimal rig run at the high altitudes. Once the engine was trail-tuned, the Jeep had just enough pep to get out of its own way.

3. John’s 1951 M38 has a fuel-injected GM 4.3 L V6 attached to a T19 four-speed and a Dana 300 transfer case out of a Scout. Super Swamper TSL’s adorn the old Jeep and are mounted to a set of 15x8” ‘wagon wheel’ rims. Inside the axles are a set of Lock-Rite lockers and 5.38:1 gears. Elevation comes from an old rancho lift kit. The combination transforms the lightweight jeep into a mountain goat.

4. We brought a bazooka to a game of Clue. Our AMC 401-powered CJ-7 gladly broke trail when we found snow and it easily walked through the rest of the terrain we came across. The 401 is backed by a T19 four-speed and BlackBox-I reduction box with a Dana 300 hanging off the back.

Other goodies include heavily modified Dana 44 axles stuffed with 4.10 gears and an ARB air locker in the rear plus a Yukon Zip locker and Dana 50 gear set in the front. Yukon Chromoly axles of the 35-spline variety are in the front and rear with a set of Yukon Super Joints and hubs riding up front. The 37x13.5x17” bias-ply Pitbull Rocker tires have been tearing up the trail on a set of B.A.D. DOT compliant bead locks for almost a decade.

5. You should begin any off-road trip by lowering your tire pressure. This helps improve traction and will even save your back when riding around in old Jeeps with stiff suspensions and large tires.

6. Rushing water, ice, snow, and rough terrain can make for interesting times. But we all made it out at the end of the day.

7. The ruts we dug in the snow are the reason Justin got stuck. No worries—we broke out the tow straps and played ‘drag the flatty down the trail.’