Chuck Aucoin's 1989 Jeep Wrangler Islander
Chuck's YJ has a Chevy 350 SB, NV4500 (5.56 1st Gear), NP231 with MIT Conversion Kit, Rancho 2.5" suspension with
Add-A-Leafs, 2" body lift, RS9000 adjustable chocks, Dana 30 front with 4.10 gears & Lock-Right, Dana 44 rear with ARB,
BFG Mud Terrains, 33x12.50 on 15x10 American Racing Type 26 Wheels, dual Optima batteries, 140-Amp alternator, Wrangler
Power Products wire harness, Warn 8000 lb. winch, 4 KC long range lights (100 watts per), FLO-Fit seats, Grant steering
wheel, Magellan Trailblazer XL GPS, Uniden 120 channel CB, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, 48" High-Lift jack, Lange
Original cargo box (removable), Cross Enterprise trail rack (removable), full soft top, Bikini top, wind jammer, tonneau
cover, 2 each 4" Boston Acoustics dash speakers, 2 each 6x9" Boston Acoustic Speakers, 8" diameter Bazooka Tube Base,
and an Alpine CDE-78205 CD Receiver.
Jeep Score: 326
Adrian Bottos' 1995 YJ
4" mix and match lift with 33" Goodyear MT's on 15x8 American Eagles, full-size spare, steering box brace (best and
cheapest upgrade).Future plans: 1" body lift (a little more clearance pls), ARB air-locker in front and 4.10 gears.
Leaving the stock Dana 30 and 35C. And, a lady step for the wifey - probably one built into a nerf bar.
Ray Barth's 1995 YJ Wrangler
The Jeep is a 95.5 YJ with a 2.4L (4banger). It's got all the usual engine mods like, K&N air filter, split
fire plugs, high flow plug wires, Dynomax exhaust, blah, blah, blah..... You need all you can get when you run
a little 4 popper! Carpet has been ripped out due to frequent "deep" water crossings. A/C is gone because of space,
HP, and it rests where the york goes :o). The front axle is a dana 30 with 297x u-joints. The XJ right front shaft
is going in before May. Gearing is supplied by a 4.56 R&P and locked with a detroit EZ locker. Articulation restrictions
are limited by JKS swaybar disconnects and a telescoping trackbar. However, I think it's time to remove the swaybar
all together. The axle has been pushed back an inch by the shackle reversal and which is in turn compensated by the SOA.
So, no drive shaft mods are needed, just spare drive shafts. ;-)Now, moving to the back, the tranny is an AX(cough)5
stuffed with a centerforce clutch. The t-case is still the NP231, but the tailshaft has been upgraded to a 35-spline
shaft by use of the Advanced Adapters HD tailshaft conversion. The rear drive shaft is a double cardon that eliminates
the u-joint straps. The rear axle is beefed with a superior super 35 kit. This was one of the earlier models, so I
still have the lockright (soon to be replaced, thanks to Superior). R&P is 4.56's. The diff is protected by a
Younger-Bros. diff guard and skid plate. Body protection included nerfs that will be replaced with 2x4's (resting nicely
in the garage). The rear bumper is from a local shop called Bohica and the front has a simple brush guard. Extra lighting
is produced by 2 Hella 6-inchers with an air horn tucked under the hood to give Newbies a little jolt :o). All necessary
safety gear, tools, and spares are carried on board. Also inside is a mandatory item for all rockcrawlers driving a
standard tranny, a hand throttle. Below are some older pics. BTW, this a trail only rig and all the work done on it is
done by either, me, me and friends, or me an' my old man. Anyway, keep on jeepin!!!
Jeep Score: 299. After installing all the parts in my garage: 334
Dan Gobbi's 1989 Wrangler
Dan's '89 Wrangler has a 2.5 with 165,000 miles and still going. 4.56 gears, lockers front
and rear, 231 transfer case with a tera low 4 to 1 kit, currie short shaft
kit, curry CV driveshaft, 4" Big Dick's lift, 14x33" boggers 15x10 centerline
hellcats, rock bumpers/tire rack, dual optima yellow tops, sun rock guards,
warn xd9000i, full cage, and more, next on the list are dual Dana 60's 5.13
gears front Detroit rear spool 4 link suspension 16x35 Boggers.
"P.S. The girls on my hood are Miss 4-Wheel Jamboree (Bloomsburg, PA, Summer '99)"
Jeep Score: 337
Ron Gillis' 1995 Jeep YJ
Ron's YJ has a 2.5L w/ 5-speed tranny. Modifications: Warn Full Float Conversion, Lock-Right in rear, Detroit
True Trac in Front. Advance Adapters SYE Kit, CV Drive Shaft, Rubicon Express Greaseable shackles and sway disconnects.
Dunlop Mudrover 31x10.5", American Racing Wheels,Ramsey REP8000 winch, HI-lift, 4.56 gears, Rubicon Express 4.5"
Extreme Duty Lift, 2" body lift, 4x4 Posi Lock (vacuum actuator eliminator), and Nerf bars.
Charlie Gajewski's 1995 Rio Grande
"After owning 2 CJ-7's and a Scrambler it was a big change, but I bought it mainly for stylish reliable
transportation while in college that was something actually worth owning but wouldnt break the bank. It's
a 2.5 with a 5 speed, 1" of lift by way of heavier shackles, matching stainless racing bumpers, the mandatory
stainless hood hardware kit, 31" BFG all-terrains on 15 x 8 American Racing rally wheels that are actually a
reproduction of late 60's Camaro and Corvette wheels. Since this pic was taken, I've added a lightbar
with 4 ZKW lights, a Bestop Bikini top and bed cover, bug screen and stone guards. While it gets good gas
mileage (for a Jeep, anyway) and is one reliable rig, the 4 cyl. engine leaves a lot of room for desire.
But thats okay, when I trade it on a 2000 TJ, Im going for the 4.0 and Dana 44 with Trak-Lok. If only
the Chrysler Gods would bestow a 318 on the TJ...I love this rig, but once I get my TJ I'm sure I wont miss it."
Dennis Newhook's 1995 Wrangler YJ
Dennis' '95 YJ has a stock 2.5L I-4 ("regretfully...but it gets the job done for now!"), 4.10 gears, and a 5-speed tranny.
Current State of Affairs:
- 31x10.5-15 BFG A/T's
- 1-1/2" to 2" add-a-leafs & axle shims,
- 4-Rancho 5000RS gas-charged shocks,
- 1-Rancho 5000RS gas-charged steering stabilizer
- Home-made double 2" square tube rear bumper with 2" receiver hitch ("Compliments of a buddy from work's welding and my design & both our labour")
- American Racing Wheels 15"x8" "Chrome Nugget"
- 48" Jack-All Jack ("Cdn equivalent to the Hi-Lift") and an assortment of shackles, chains, cables, ropes and tow straps.
- K&N Filtercharger
- XLG fuel tank
Additional Accessories:
- Hard top and full steel doors
- Soft top to fit the full doors,
- Bikini top for front seat passengers,
- 8.5 ft fibreglass whip CB antennae
- Front tow hooks
- 2-6-1/2" Off-Road Lights (100W max capacity sealed beam) currently running 40W ("still brighter than the headlights")
- fire extinguisher
- 3-ft spade shovel
- 3-ft bow saw
- Axe
- First Aid Kit
- 1-can fix-a-flat ("in case I meet a rock TOUGHER than the tires!")
- Action Packer stuffed with trail necessities from tools to Duct Tape ("EVERY handyman's friend"!)
- H/D Booster cables
- AT LEAST two Mag Lights at my fingertips at any given point in time
- 250,000 Candle Watt spotlight
- Cigars (Trail/Outdoor necessity!)
- Jeep Zippo lighter (.....to light the Cigars, Bye!...what's wrong wit ya?)
Interior creature comforts ("I use the term 'comforts' loosely") include:
- Alpine alarm system with radar
- Pioneer in-dash CD player
- Pioneer & Alpine speakers throughout (3 sets and 1-10" sub)
- 2-80W Alpine amplifiers
- Realistic 40 channel CB
- 3 Watt cell phone
- company two-way radio.....significant because it has the 24 hr Weather Channel
That's the extent of the mods to date ("I think...this is actually the first time that I actually sat down and
listed them all...actually I didn't think that there were THAT many!")
Here's what's commin' in the IMMEDIATE FUTURE, i.e. spring, 2000:
- 3" body lift (in my garage and anxiously waiting for the weather to break!)
- 33x12.5-15" BFG A/T KO - All Terrain tires
- mods to the front bumper to accommodate the Jack-All and tow gear
- mods to rear bumper for recovery towing
- bumper mounted spare tire carrier to LUG the full-size spare
- JUNK the rear anti-sway bar...to gain rear axle articulation.
- Upgrade to Greasable Shackles/Shackle lift in rear (if necessary)
Not-to-distant-future mods:
- Automatic locking differential kit in rear axle
- engine swap .... Preferably 4.0L Jeep engine ("pretty well bolts in, but depends on what I can get. Let's face it...if I can get a small block V8 or 4.3L V6 Chevy engine to swap in and still pass emissions testing...IT'S GOIN' IN, BABY!!!")
- front anti-sway bar quick disconnects,
- upgrade/replace steering components as necessary
- upgrade to 4 wheel disc brakes
- H/D battery and alternator (the BIGGEST that'll fit!)
- gut the interior carpeting and install Spray-On Truck Box Liner ...adds a NICE and FUNCTIONAL touch to the so-called "Hose-Down" Interior
- Steel Half doors
- Rear tonneau cover
"I know It's a little long winded....but hey! I get carried away when talking about the Jeep!"
Jeep Score: 177
Steven Caplan & Dana Lowe's 1989 Wrangler
"This is my 1989 YJ that has been my dailer driver for over 10 years and
over 200K km (125k miles). All that I have done with this is put
31" tires on American Racing rims - looks great (but not in this
picture). It is stock otherwise with the 4.2 litre inline 6 cylinder
engine and 5 speed transmission. I've since added a Kayline soft-top
with full-view soft-doors as well. The jeep rating is very low - our
off-roading jeep is our 2000 TJ."
Bryan Benesh's 1991 Wrangler
Bryan's YJ has a 2-1/2" suspension, 2" shackle, and 3" body lifts, and is sporting
35.5x9.50 Super Swamper TSLs. Rear torsion bar has been removed and quick-disconnects
added on front to improve articulation. At present the 4.0 and running gear are mostly
stock, but he recently purchased a Chevy 350 and is beginning the process of completely
overhauling the entire drivetrain. By spring it will have the 325 hp 350, backed up with
Chevy driveline to Dana 44/60 with 4.88 lockered axles. Will finish up by summer with a
Warn coil conversion after all weights are determined.
Recent changes: The running gear has been replaced with Dana 35C heavy duty Superior axles
with spline upgrade, Dana 30 with spline upgrade, 4.56 ring and pinion, Currie tail-shaft
conversion, lockers front and rear. An AMC 401 will be used in place of the 350, utilizing
the Torqueflight 727 tranny and NP231.
Jake Foster's 1998 Wrangler Sahara "Lulubelle"
Jake's Wisconsin YJ Sahara is named "Lulubelle" after the tank's name in the movie "Sahara"
(seeing how my Jeep is a Sahara and is always there for me, the shoe fits). She has a 4"
Pro-Comp suspension lift w/ES 3000 shocks (they suck), 2" body lift, JKS quick disconnects, dual
Optima red-tops, and the Wrangler Battery Manager System to prepare for the new winch on its
way (Warn HS9500i, by the way).
"I junked the original carb and threw on a Weber (sweet). I bought some of those 3" tube
bumpers front and rear w/nerf bars from 4Wheel Parts Wholesalers (junk). Those are to be
swapped soon for Bulletproof's fine line. It's shod w/5 33" BFG muds and 5 American Eagle 5-hole
rims. I sold the half doors and bought full steelies and put on a new Bestop Supertop (awesome).
Had to get some Tuffy door locks, because if there is anyone out there that was like me drooling
over everyone else's full steelies well, they weren't getting mine. Also installed a Tuffy
console for my Midland CB w/weather and a front-mounted mic so I could remove it for security
(nice setup). I had a hood lock that took a normal key, but if I could pick it so could someone
else, so that got sent back and I put in one with a cylinder lock like the Tuffy (solid). I blew
out the rear carrier screwing around on a hill one day so I had to buy a Detroit (darn :), but
still have the 3.55 gears (I know, it sucks, but I have 2 Jeeps to build here, gimme a break).
I put in an add-a-trunk w/ a hinged lid (sweet) for my tool box. I made a custom Hi-Lift Jack
mount that fits behind the front bumper and it locks, too. I welded extra light tabs on the top
hoop on the front bumper for the PIAA lights, and it has factory fog lights that I switched for
square ones to go w/the YJ look. I was bored on a rainy day so I took a trip to Autozone and
bought some airhorns for her and boy, are those fun - it will get ya in trouble though, so look
out.
Here's the rest: Husky floor liners, Alpine CD player w/remote control, all black hinges, custom
sway bar slash mirror extensions for those doors off days, has A/C, tilt, and 78,000 original
miles w/ original paint job.
My Jeep days started in new Mexico then to Florida now I'm stuck up here in the tundra of
Wisconsin, hoping to be back in New Mexico soon."
Jeep Score: 228
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