9-
Jason Gray, Amity, Oregon
1975 Chevy Blazer
Narrowed front and rear, this Blazer looks like it's ready to slither right through the Tank Trap, and it's driven by a gent with 25 years of experience.
Engine: 454ci GM V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: NP203/205 doubler
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Air-actuated OX locker/welded spiders
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilovers/four-link, Fox air shocks
Tires: 44-in Interco Boggers
Special features: Warn 9.5ti winch, Stazworks double beadlocks, High Angle Driveline driveshafts, PSC hydraulic steering, pneumatic bumpstops
Driver experience: 25 years
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11-
Mike Karwath, Union, Kentucky
2009 Tube Chassis YJ
Almost completely custom with the exception of the YJ hood and grille, this rig's build list reads like a dream come true. But Karwath wants to prove that his rig is more than just a pretty face.
Engine: 454ci GM V-8
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: Stak Monster Box 3-spd
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton/Rockwell 21/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, 18-in Fox air shocks/four-link, 18-in Fox air shocks
Tires: 44-in Interco Boggers
Special features: Ramsey 12,000-lb winch, propane injection, 420 horsepower, 480 lb-ft of torque, full tube chassis, re-centered H1 wheels
Driver experience: 15 years
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12-
P.J. Hale, Kempner, Texas
1948 Willys truck
A fine classic body atop a custom chassis and proven drivetrain. The Frame Twister is calling Hale's name. Will you let him answer?
Engine: 302ci Ford V-8
Transmission: AOD
Transfer case: NP243
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton/Rockwell 21/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson spool/Ouverson spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Leaf springs/three-link
Tires: 49-in Intercos
Special features: Fuel injection, Warn PowerPlant HD, four-wheel hydraulic steering, custom frame/cage
Driver experience: 20 years
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20-
Leo Kuether, Grand Forks, North Dakota
2007 Cole Works "Fat Girl"
All custom and clearly bad-ass, will Kuether's stoutly-built gal last until the Fat Lady sings?
Engine: 502ci Chevrolet Ramjet V-8
Transmission: TCI TH400 automatic
Transfer case: Atlas 3.0
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton/Rockwell 21/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson / Ouverson
Ratio: 6.72
Suspension, f/r: Triangulated four-link, Fox coilovers and air bumps/triangulated four-link, Fox coilovers and air bumps
Tires: 47x17x16.5 Interco TSL Boggers or 46x20x19 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws
Special features: Manual and reverse valve body, full hydraulic steering, Griffin transmission and steering coolers
Driver experience: 16 years
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21-
Kevin Simmons, Wakefield, New Hampshire
1937 Ford Pickup
Rat rod and mud truck mash-up! Yeah, that makes total sense to us, too. Want to see what that looks like amongst the rocks of the Mini-Rubicon or the logs in the Frame Twister? Then let your curiosity get the better of you.
Engine: 521ci Ford V-8
Transmission: C-6 automatic
Transfer case: NP205
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/Sterling 10.25-in
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, air shocks/four-link, air shocks
Tires: 39.5-in Interco Boggers
Special features: "Rat rod that likes to play the mud," '79 Ford F-250 frame
Driver experience: 19 years
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36-
Joe Quichocho, Mangilao, Guam
Tube Chassis CJ-7 Buggy
This island buggy may soon be Stateside for a week of serious TTC thrashing. We think it would look cool sitting in the middle of the Mud Pit. Do you?
Engine: 502ci GM V-8 (550 hp, 580 lb-ft)
Transmission: Hughes TH 400 w/manual valve body
Transfer case: Atlas 4-spd (5.44:1)
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton, Rockwell 21/2-ton)
Traction aids, f/r: Ouverson 47-spline locker/Ouverson 47-spline locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, Fox coilovers/four-link, Fox coilovers
Tires: 44-in Interco Boggers
Special features: Custom-built chassis, rear steer, Trailready double beadlocks, 2-in Ouverson axleshafts, Auto Meter gauges, Corbeau seats, ACCEL fuel injection, MSD ignition, Warn HS 9500i winch, Will run 47-in Super Swamper LTBs if voted in
Driver experience: 9 years
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39-
39. Roger King, Sparta, Tennessee
1964 Dodge WM300 Power Wagon
This rig's owner says he can stretch his wheelbase 36 inches "on the fly." We sure wouldn't mind seeing for ourselves how that setup works. Readers?
Engine: 408ci Dodge V-8 stroker
Transmission: Dodge NP435
Transfer case: Divorce-mount NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton/Rockwell 21/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker/Ouverson spool
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Custom coilover, four-link/custom coilover, four-link
Tires: 49-in Interco IROKs
Special features: "Lots of stuff" including rear steer, Warn 8274 winch, and 36-inch adjustable wheelbase "on the fly"
Driver experience: 15 years
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48-
Ryan Knoche, Hamburg, New York
1990 Suzuki Samurai/buggy
Who says that New Yorkers don't rockcrawl? Not the owner of this 10-year creation, which started its life as a stock Samurai and is piloted here by Ryan's co-driver, Mindi Lane.
Engine: 4.3L GM full roller V-6
Transmission: TH700R4 w/full manual valve body
Transfer case: NP203/205 Jed's Machine doubler
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Spool/ARB Air Locker
Ratio: 5.38:1
Suspension, f/r: Dual-triangulated four-link, 16-in King air shocks/dual-triangulated four-link, 16-in King shocks
Tires: 47-in Interco Super Swamper LTBs
Special features: Warn 9000ti winch, PSC steering, Yukon axleshafts, 1410 driveshafts, dimple-died lower links
Driver experience: 15 years
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50-
Darren Sinkey, Oroville, California
1989 Ford Bronco
If chosen by our readers, this hopeful pledges to drive his rig to Top Truck. He may even have completed his promised right-hand drive conversion by then.
Engine: 351ci Ford Windsor V-8
Transmission: C6 automatic
Transfer case: Triple-stick NP203/205
Axles, f/r: High-pinion Dana 60, chrome-moly shafts, 300M Longfields/shaved GM 14-bolt, disc brakes
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/Detroit Locker
Ratio: 5.13:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, Sway-A-Way Racerunner coilover shocks/leaf springs, four shocks
Tires: 47-in Interco Swamper LTBs
Special features: Full exocage, dual 20-lb CO2 tanks, four Optima YellowTop batteries, onboard welder, 40-gal fuel cell
Driver experience: 25 years
Alt's4-
Brandon Goodwin, Belfair, Washington
1972 Ford Bronco
Goodwin is volunteering to take his fine looking Bronco through Top Truck's seven mega-challenging events. Has he heard about the body-eating Canyon in the Tank Trap?
Engine: 6.0L GM V-8
Transmission: TH350
Transfer case: Klune-V, NP205
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton/Rockwell 21/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: ARB Air Locker/Yukon Grizzly Locker Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Four-link, coilover/four-link, coilover
Tires: 42-in Interco IROKs
Special features: Full tube chassis, 9,000-lb front winch, 8,000-lb rear winch
Driver experience: 19 years
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13-Terry Estes, Kempner, Texas
1974 Jeep CJ-5
With Cummins power and a lengthened wheelbase, is there anything that can stop this Jeep? Tank Trap, anyone?
Engine: 3.9L Cummins 4BT I4 turbodiesel
Transmission: SM 465
Transfer case: NP205, Lomax 3:1
Axles, f/r: Rockwell 21/2-ton/ Rockwell 21/2-ton
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit Locker / Detroit Locker
Ratio: 6.72:1
Suspension, f/r: Three-link, coil springs, panhard bar/three-link, coil springs, panhard bar
Tires: 47x17x16.5 Interco Super Swamper
Special features: 125-in wheelbase, onboard air, in-frame tank, 160-amp welder, rear steer, custom beadlocks
Driver experience: 30+ years
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