Inbox BY KEN BRUBAKER EDITOR@FOURWHEELER.COM
a modified Jeep YJ rollbar and other used factory parts from vehicles so that it’s easy to “parking lot repair.” The only new parts bought were safety related (harnesses, seats, fire extinguisher, and so on). All in all, I have less than $2,000 into this rig and it brings a smile to people’s faces wherever we take it. CALEB VIA EMAIL
SUPER LEXUS I appreciated your article titled “Hard-working equipment versus shiny, fancy 4x4s.” I’ve had a lot of rigs, but my current ride, which might be my favorite ever, is a ’97 LX450 (yes, I wheel a Lexus), which you can see here in its current form. I go out of my way to avoid rocks and trees,
BRIAN SCORED A LEGIT VAN While doing research on this apparent unicorn van I recently bought for $500, I read your article on a Pathfinder 4x4 Safari (Trail’s End, June ’21). At the end of the article, your author asks for pics of other survivors. I have one that I cannot find a single other example of. It’s an ’85 Chevy Astro van converted by Trail Wagons in California. This company was a subsidiary of Chinook RVs. They were known to send their conversion vans to Pathfinder for a 4x4 conversion. After reading your article about the ’85 prototype 4x4 drivetrain, I realized mine is identically covered. Solid lift blocks under composite springs, Dana 44 up front, and so on. Mine has the NP205 transfer case and appears to use the same mounting brackets as in this article’s old pictures. I’m not sure if Trail Wagons or Pathfinder did the V-8 conversion or somebody else did down the road, but it is done professionally enough that it is possible. I’m just starting to restore it now. I’m trying to save the cool ’80’s Trail Wagons’ paint and generous amounts of oak trim and engravings.
LOW-BUCK SCOUT
BRIAN VIA EMAIL
Was just reading “Low-buck 4x4 truck: What’s your best wrecked-to-rugged transformation?” story in the March ’21 issue (Trail’s End) and figured I would share mine. I purchased a ’69 Scout 800 and a 12-gauge pump shotgun from a guy for $100 and then an ’89 Dodge W250 for $500 from a public auction. I sold various parts from both vehicles I would not need, recouping the money spent, plus pocketing almost $1,500. I made all the mounts for the 360ci and overdrive Dodge transmission/T-case. The frame widths are the same on the Dodge and the Scout, so the 3⁄4-ton axles did not need much modification to fit under the Scout. I used 4-inch K10 Skyjacker springs front and 6-inch CJ-7 springs rear, early Bronco shocks and mounts. It’s sitting on 37-inch Toyos. It has
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10 MARCH 2022 FOUR WHEELER
but I use my truck, a lot. I drive to the trail and it’s usually the least trail-worthy rig in the group. This truck has done the Rubicon, Fordyce, Dusy Ershim, Moab, and many other trails. Truthfully, sometimes I am sad that it isn’t pretty anymore, but I do love the fact that I regularly drive over 1,000 miles in three days, sleep in my truck, and have a kick-butt story for every dent in my truck. To each his own, but for me, the day I’m more worried about how my truck looks rather than where it can go, off-roading might not be the right hobby for me anymore. NOAH VIA EMAIL
IT’S COMPLICATED Pickups and SUVs (there are not many real SUVs left), have gotten way too complicated and expensive to service. You basically need a master’s in electrical engineering to just about do anything except change a fuse. Give me a manual transfer case shift lever and manual lockouts! In my new-to-me ’04 Silverado DD/hunting/ exploring rig (regular cab, longbox, 4x4, manualshift transfer case), I’m needing the 4L60E slushbox rebuilt and have to track down a random misfire code issue for the 5.3L (it could be caused by more than any of two dozen things). I dream for a simple, reliable, minimal plastic, pre-emissions K10 longbox with a four-bolt 350, SM465, 31–33-inch tires, and 205 T-case, in good shape … but they cost an arm and a leg that this guy can’t afford to lose. I’m sure I’ve ranted enough. JUSTIN (FROM MINNESOTA, THE LAND OF 10,000 POUNDS OF SALT DROPPED ON EVERY ROAD, EVERY SNOWSTORM) VIA EMAIL
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