New guy in Arizona

Nikwho · Apr 10, 2023

Hey all. My name is Nik. Happy to have found this place! I live in northern Arizona (Flagstaff). I've got a couple of rigs. First is an '81 CJ7 that's stretched (107" wheelbase) on 3/4 ton axles and 37's. It's a fun, capable rig. Hydraulic assist steering, 4.88 gears and a twin stick 4:1 Dana 300. I like to call it my "sweet spot" Jeep! Not horrible to drive on the road/between trails (like 40's/tons/full hydro steering can be), but still pretty capable, hence being the "sweet spot".

Second rig is my tube buggy project that I really just started on! Ran up to Moab, UT and picked the chassis up off a guy a couple of months back. Picked up a 6.0 LS based truck engine, TH-400, a triple sticked NP203/D300 doubler case setup, high pinion D60 up front (4.56/Detroit locker), D70 in the rear(4.56/spool). The NP203 is geared 2.03:1. The Dana 300 has a set of LoMax 4:1 gears (same as my CJ7). I have a PSC full hydro steering setup for it.

I got the axles under it for the first time yesterday. Worked out where I want it roughly at ride height. Measuring for link bars and coilovers this week. The buggy has roughly a 115" wheelbase and some used 40" Maxxis Trepador Stickies. I may still play with the wheelbase a bit, but ultimately plan on running 42" or 43" tires. I also may source a 4l60e, for the 3:1 first gear and overdrive.

Typically, I wheel around northern Arizona, lots in Sedona. My wife, son and I just got back from the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, UT, and I'm looking to start wheeling more up in Colorado. Oh, will be running the Rubicon and Fordyce Trail this September for the first time. Pretty excited about that trip!

Thanks for looking!

Nik C.

ridered3 · Apr 10, 2023

Welcome and some cool rigs. :dblthumb:

hokie_yj · Apr 10, 2023

Welcome. Back in 2000 I believe it was I went to a national Christian high school academic/athletic competition at NAU in Flagstaff. We drove a 25 passenger activity bus there from East TN. It was in July and the A/C tore up less than 4 hours after we left home. It was the most miserable trip I’ve ever been on, but also one of the most fun. Lol.

j-mox · Apr 10, 2023

Welcome!

Don’t hide that Chevy truck! Post up some pictures of that! My son has a 52’ 5 window. I tried for years to get my dad to give or sell it to me with no luck. He gave it to my son and now its just rotting away

Nikwho · Apr 10, 2023

LOL. Old cars are my first obsession!
Here's what I've got:
'61 Cadillac Sedan Deville. Entirely original, bone stock. 390 V8, and rides like, well, a Cadillac!

'59 Apache. 383" SBC, T-56, big brakes, IFS & 4-linked. I've bought, built and sold a lot of old cars. This was my first. I brought it home about 17 years ago.

'50 Chevy 3100. Pretty much entirely stock, aside from the seat, some Auto Meter gauges and Grant wheel. 0-60 in well, never. Its slow as molasses, pretty much wringing its neck to get 'er up to 55 mph, and has 40 mph four wheel manual drum brakes! But, it's a hoot to drive!

The other car that you can catch a glimpse of in that picture is my son's '68 Ford Fairlane. It was his high school project car. He moved out and off to college out of state. I coerced him to keep it and store it at home, as he'd probably always regret selling it.

hokie_yj · Apr 10, 2023

I totally missed the old truck in the pics. I’ve got a pile of rust that identifies as a ‘51 GMC 5 window that I hope to build one day.

Nikwho · Apr 10, 2023

Man, I LOVE the 5 windows! I've always had a soft spot for GMC's, too! Let's see it!

Here's a couple of my favorites, that I sold.
'57 Plymouth Savoy (Like a base model, four door version of Christine!)

And, I spent year building this '68 GMC C15. Had a pretty rowdy 427, with a two stage (125/250 HP) nitrous system. All forged, high compression. Ended up with a 555" (502 block) stroker, with Brodix "Big Brodie" heads. That truck would scare the pants off of me every time I drove it! The 555" BBC was pulled and put in a little v-drive flatty drag boat! IThe GMC was painted Toyota Cement Metallic Grey, and the frame was painted Chevy's Dark Cyber Grey Metallic. Was such a cool truck! I don't have pictures of it all assembled post paint. Lost them on my old phone.

frame rail:

hokie_yj · Apr 10, 2023

Like I said it’s a pile of rust. This was when I drug it out if the barn it had been in for 30+ years. Hopefully one day I’ll get to do something with it.

ridered3 · Apr 10, 2023

Awesome rides!

Nikwho · Apr 10, 2023

If that thing is complete, it might be fun just to get it running! It's amazing how long they can sit, then fire right back up after a little bit of love! New brake lines, fuel lines, and going through some safety stuff, it could be fun to drive it like it is for a bit, then figure out what to do with it! At any rate, cool truck!

hokie_yj · Apr 10, 2023

It’s mostly complete I think. But the frame is rusted in two under the bed. The front end was in the barn, but part of the bed was out in the weather so it’s rotten and it got the frame too.