Jeff Seely owns Spring Creek Builders in Logan, Utah. He's a general contractor known for quality work and attention to detail. That attention to detail extends to his vehicles, too. Jeff owns a 1987 YJ Wrangler that's simple, clean, and performs well in his favorite 'wheeling areas -- Providence Canyon, Utah; Moab, Utah; and Montrose, Colorado.
The YJ started as Jeff's daily driver 14 years ago. As he used it off-road, parts started finding their way onto the Jeep. A GM 14-bolt rear end with welded spiders and 5.38 gears, along with a Dana 60 front end with 5.38 gears and a Detroit Locker ensure there's plenty of strength to run the 42-inch Interco Irok stickys on 17x8.5 Walker Evans racing beadlocks.
A big 500-cubic-inch Cadillac V-8 sits under the hood. It's fed by a RCI fuel cell and 900 cfm Holley ProJection fuel injection system that Jeff dialed in perfectly. Five-Hundred-cubic-inches are hard to cool, so a new Ron Davis radiator with shroud and fan was installed. A strong and reliable GM Turbo 400 three-speed automatic tranny sits between the big mill and a Dana 300 transfer case that has Tera 4:1 gears and is shifted by Currie Twin Stick shifters.
The suspension features custom radius long arms with Sway-A-Way Race Runner remote reservoir coil-overs and QA1 coils up front. In back, a custom four-link long arm suspension has triangulated upper arms and TJ coil springs damped by 2.0 Sway-A-Way shocks. Currie AntiRock swaybars handle roll control. A hydraulic ram steers the YJ.
Inside, the dash was customized with an aluminum plate that's clean and comes under the "Why didn't we think of that?" heading. Auto Meter gauges keep Jeff updated on what's going on and an Alpine head unit keeps occupants entertained when the trail doesn't. An Art Carr shifter controls the Turbo Hydro 400 tranny. Front and rear Beard seats are comfortable, even on multi-day outback trips. A Warn 9.5ti winch sits on a Rock Slide Engineering stubby front bumper. Rock Slide Engineering rock sliders protect the rocker guards. A full roll cage protects passengers. Bestop half doors and bikini top provide a modicum of weather protection.
Jeff's Spring Creek YJ has everything he needs and nothing else. As we already said, it's simple, clean, and works. The mix of old school and cutting edge parts is just the right combination.