Most of us believe that real Jeeps are built, not bought. When Shannon Campbell builds a Jeep, it turns out better than anything the factory comes up with, and, for all practical purposes, it’s brand-new. Such is the case of this month’s cover Jeep caught in the Arizona desert.

Shannon is a pioneer of the 3/4 elliptical spring design and drop buggy-leaf used for extreme articulation. His third iteration of a mango-pink cruiser came after selling his last one and building a family wagon for his burgeoning troop— but this one isn’t to be abused hard or scratched up. Of course, it being a Jeep, it’s bound to earn a few trophies and scars, regardless of the terrain.

 

Starting with rectangular tubing and '96 Wrangler sheetmetal, Shannon crafted the frame to receive the GM drivetrain and an integral rollcage. The fenders are attached to the hood for easy servicing, and the body was heavily modified in many areas.



A dual master cylinder feeds the GM disc brakes mounted at each corner. Shannon keeps the manual master, so the brakes aren't affected if the engine fire goes out. All the wiring goes through the junction box on the firewall, keeping it easy to maintain.



A factory ZZ4 Chevy 350 crate motor provides the power and sports a Holley 650 double-pumper. The stock HEI distributor ensures reliability, and the custom headers are HPC-coated for durability. Custom brackets mount the twin A/C compressors, one for the Vintage Air A/C, and the other for the ARBs and filling up tires. The family-style rollcage is sealed and functions as an air storage tank.



The interior mods are clean and simple, with Beards seats and Simpson belts, and Autometer gauges set in a sleek dash panel. The Vintage Air A/C can really cool down the inside, especially when the hardtop and doors are installed. The inside of the tub is Rhino-lined for added insulation from the desert heat.



Custom-cutting the sheetmetal allowed a larger gas tank to be installed and created bigger wheelwells for the 35x15.50-15 Swampers. The 2 3/4-inch dual exhaust tucks up nicely in the extra space for more clearance under the Jeep. The floor was also cut to clear the T-350 tranny hooked to the Dana 300 transfer case with the Novak adapter.

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Both front and rear axles are GM corporate 10- and 12-bolt--more than enough for the weight of this rig. With 4.56 gears, the welded rear and ARB Air-lockered front diff easily spin the Swampers mounted on factory rally wheels. Shannon even welded MRT beadlocs on the rims for low-pressure situations. The suspension is simple spring-over, reversed-shackled Wrangler leaves in the front, and Shannon's famous 3/4 elliptic springs in the rear, controlled by a four-link system and a Rancho RS9000 shock at each corner.



When this hidden panel is opened it exposes the Premier Power Welder, right below the factory TJ antenna. The forward part of the body was trimmed to fit the huge tires, so a radical lift could be avoided. That keeps the YJ low to the ground for stability and handling.



The two baby-Beards seats in the rear cradle youngsters in safety and comfort and are easily removed with quick-pull pins. The full sunshade on top keeps the UV rays off the kids and the interior, and it fits under the hardtop, if needed.