Russ Hanson's Page

I am 38 years old and had wanted a project vehicle since I was a teenager. When I was young I helped rebuild engines and attend car shows with my dad with the intentions of having my own project car. I joined the Air Force where I have been on active duty for 16 years and have either never had the time, money or place to build something. I had been watching all my favorite “builder” shows for years and increasingly jonsin to get a car, jeep or bike; anything to release my creative juices! I found a 1989 jeep Cherokee for $650 and purchased it with the intentions of monstergaraging it out. I basically wanted to cut my teeth on this thing before I tried my hand at me dream hotrod, a 1970 chevelle.

I grew up driving off road with my dad. In fact I learned to drive in a 1974 CJ-5 in a field in Iowa. I had hardly ever even driven on the streets when I actually got my driver’s license. He taught me how to use 4x4 low range before teaching me how to parallel park! Oddly enough I was a better driver on the road because of all the off road experience.

I was just recently invited to a father/son Rubicon Trail excursion over father’s day weekend this year. It’s been forever since I went four wheeling with my dad and me being in the Military I don’t see him near as often as I’d like to. I got this stone stock Cherokee I need to get trail worthy by then. On top of all that I have a one car garage and some basic hand tools to do all the necessary things to get it up to snuff. With a very limited budget I am concentrating my efforts on only spending money on the most important robust trail items and building and fabricating all the other components from scrap. I also surf Cragslist often for deals. In fact I got a superwinch off there for $150 the other day.

I’m building all the skid plates, bumpers, rock guards, roof rack and tire carriers myself from the scrap pile of a local steel yard. I got a 10 foot by 8 foot piece of garage to work in (with the jeep taking up the rest and sticking out into the drive while I’m working). Pictured is the front bumper I built around the new (used) winch and the rear bumper/tire swing out. It only took me three weeks of weekends and after work but only cost me $150 in scrap metal!

My future intentions are to put at least Dana 44s with electronic lockers, new transfer case, rebuilt tranny and stoker engine, exo-skeleton, suspension seats and of course a nice sound system. This is way down the road and depending on how often I have to fix all the breakage due to weak parts, it may be a while! I also plan on more 4X4 trips with dad.

I should have the minimum aftermarket trail items by the trail ride but I’m worried about breakage. I will be running stock drive train and an inline six with 190,000 miles on it. I’m hoping to get through the infamous Rubicon with a slight lift, winch and 33” tires. Good thing the crowd I’m going with will have all the stuff needed to pull me over the big stuff!