Kung Fu
1992 Toyota Pickup
Since its debut in 2005, Dan Vance's Toyota Pickup has had a 3.4 Toyota V-6, a 5.0 Ford V-8, and a 4.0 Toyota V-6 in the engine bay and it's dominated with all three engines. It's survived an 80-mph rollover with minimal damage to the truck or occupants. The front suspension is a Total Chaos kit that's actually available over-the-counter to anyone who can cough up the cash. You would be hard-pressed to find a faster Toyota pickup in the desert. With two MDR class championship titles to his name, Dan created a small truck with big truck capabilities. It doesn't matter how good you are with a welder and bender, you can't replace experience with anything.
Specs
Vehicle: '92 Toyota Pickup
Owner: Dan Vance
Chassis: 4130 chromoly cage front to rear
Engine: 4.0L V-6
Drivetrain: XRunner six-speed manual transmission, Currie 9-inch with 5.57 gears and Stange steel spool
Suspension: Total Chaos Kung Fu Race Kit, Fox shocks, custom four-link rear suspension
Steering: Total Chaos King Kong Steering, Howe pump
Brakes: Motorsports disc brakes
Tires/wheels: 35-inch Goodyear MT tires, 15x8-inch KMC bead lock wheels
Interior: Beard Ultra Pro seats, Crow harness and window nets, Kenwood race radio, PCI intercom system, Auto Meter gauges, Momo wheels, Parker Pumper
Other Parts: Lightforce lights, PWR radiator, McNeil front Tundra conversion fiberglass clip, rear Hanneman Tundra conversion bedside fiberglass
Favorite Off-Road Area: Barstow, Lucerne Valley, Baja, Las Vegas
Big Yellow
1981 Dodge W300
What does a concrete worker build during his time off with little cash? A high-flying Dodge truck nicknamed the "Yellow Banana," of course! Derek Rose of Richmond, Michigan, wanted to create a truck that would be able to tackle huge piles of sand and mud while keeping him eye level with semi trucks on the road. Big and bad was his aim, and that led us to featuring his W300 in our May '09 issue. With a budget of less than $15,000, Derek built a rather unique truck that allowed him over a foot of wheel travel, even with 44-inch Swampers, and it provided more fun than you could shake a stick at. You have to love a giant truck capable of launching itself in the sand or eating up mudpits on rainy days.
Specs
Vehicle: 1981 Dodge W300
Owner: Derek Rose
Chassis: 1981 W350 OEM frame
Engine: 360 V-8, mild top end rebuild
Drivetrain: 727 Torqueflite trans w/ manual valve body, B&M mega shifter, Dana 60 front w/ Detroit Truetrac, Dana 60 rear w/Detroit Locker, 5:13 gears, NP205 divorced transfer case, 1350 Spicer and 1410 joints and yokes on custom driveshafts
Suspension: Skyjacker leaf spring w/ third link front, custom drop hangers, Skyjacker shocks. Rear Skyjacker leaf springs w/third link, handmade flipped shackles, Skyjacker shocks
Steering: Crossover with AGR reverse gearbox
Brakes: Factory disc front, EGR offroad disc conversion rear, stainless lines
Tires/wheels: 44-inch Super Swamper Boggers on steel rock cralwer 16x12 wheels
Interior: Corbeau seats, stainless steel dash and console
Other Parts: Each electronic accessory on its own switch and breaker, Bushwacker flares, handmade 25-gallon fuel tank, front and rear Reese hitch, Remote trans cooler with custom cage, lots of cool diamond plate to strengthen key areas
Favorite Off-Road Area: Sand dunes of Michigan