Four For The Family

While the GM front Dana 60 is pricey in the wrecking yards, the GM 14-bolt full-floating rear axle is much more common and that much cheaper to buy. This heavy hitter is beefy, right down to its dual-crosspin differential. A Detroit Locker was added to the rearend for no-fuss traction.

Multiple thin leaves with even spacing and anti-friction pads are signs of a high-quality leaf pack. ORD shackles with greaseable bolts are also friction fighters.

We long for the days when engine compartments were this spacious and uncluttered. An ubiquitous 350 V-8 motivates the big blue Jimmy, aided by a few sensible bolt-ons. An RV cam provides horsepower and torque curves conducive to both freeway flying and trail riding. An Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold is topped by a matching Edelbrock Q-Jet carburetor and breathes through a dust-fighting K&N air filter. Ceramic-coated headers exhale into a Race Magnum exhaust. An HEI ignition ignites the fuel/air mixture. Aft of the 350 is another 350: GM's Turbo 350 automatic. This is a proven drivetrain combination that's easy on the wallet when it comes time to purchase parts.

Flipping the rear shackle with an ORD bracket turns the stock tension shackle into a compression shackle and lifts the rear of the truck 4 inches. One-and-a-half-inch lift springs were used in the rear, along with a 1-inch-rate add-a-leaf. This approach to rear suspension building gives a good ride and minimizes U-joint-killing spring wrap.

In addition to the full rollcage that ties into the frame, Scott fabricated this rear bumper/tire-and-gas-can carrier combo. The owner is a mechanical engineer, and the sheer volume of owner-installed and owner-fabricated upgrades on this rig proves that he understands not only the theories, but the execution as well.

Why show a pair of child safety seats? Because we think there's plenty of room in the off-road world for trucks that can 'wheel and take the whole household along for the ride. Trail riding family-style adds up to both quality and quantity time.

The interior was left largely original and intact. The stock seats were reupholstered and the floor was rolled with Herculiner. Fuzzy dashboards and billet aluminum flame trim? Scott doesn't need that, and we don't, either. A Sony CD player and four 6x9-inch Sony speakers were installed by the owner, while the Bright Blue Metallic paint was applied by Perk's Autobody of Clearfield, Utah.