Stretched & Streamlined

This custom '87 Wrangler was a complete frame-off build. The frame was stretched, bringing the wheelbase to 108 inches. Just about every component was stripped and powdercoated, and the original body was replaced with a high-quality JP aluminum tub.

This colorful 'crawler is owned by Stanley Steele and his wife Sandy from Farmington, New Mexico. Stanley has been building race cars, desert trucks, and boats for as long as he can remember. His next obvious step up was building a totally custom rockcrawler.

Stanley's Jeep started life as an '87 Jeep Wrangler YJ, but once the 'crawler conversion was complete, the only resemblance of the original Jeep left was the rectangular headlights. Stanley owns S&S Engine & Machine and S&S Powdercoating in Farmington, so the Jeep buildup wasn't that difficult to undertake; he had the shop, tools, and experience readily available.

The extremely clean and capable machine you see featured before you is the final creation.

The stretched wheelbase gives the rig better agility on and off the highway as well as better approach and departure angles.	A JP aluminum tub was used in the buildup of the Jeep. The JP body is not only tough and forgiving when it comes to trail hazards, but is also corrosion-resistant and looks great. S&S custom aluminum rocker guards were bolted on for protection.	Stanley's 'crawler sits on a custom Currie 9-inch axle in the rear and hybrid 9-inch axle up front. Both axles are fit with ARB Lockers. A custom four-link system was installed by S&S Engine, and Pro Comp coil springs were used for suspension. Fox custom long-travel shocks were mounted on all four corners of the Jeep to tame the trail. The front and rear 'housings were stuffed with Moser 35-spline axleshafts.
The custom aluminum skidplate was fit over the crossmember. A 3/4-inch-thick sheet of Teflon was then attached, which helps the Jeep slide over most trail hazards.	The rebuilt 355ci GM small-block was completely balanced and blue-printed. The aluminum heads were ported and polished, and a cam with a 474/510 lift and 208/221 duration was bolted in. Custom fuel injection was created using components from a Ford 302 system. A Stewart water pump and Be Cool custom aluminum radiator were installed for cooling.	The Jeep rolls on 37x13.5R17 BFGoodrich Krawler tires and 15x8-inch Walker Evans bead-lock wheels.
Here, you can see some of the extremely detailed work that has taken place under the hood, as well as the custom shock hoops and spring buckets.