Pete started life as my Grandmother’s gift to herself (probably for putting up w/ Gpa for so many years). He was purchased from Arnold Wiebes in Visalia, CA. If I remember correctly when we first went and looked at them, all they had was the 4 bangers and my Dad talked her into the V6. They had a V6 coming in the next week and it just so happened to be in the Spruce Tip Green that she wanted. The purchase was made and we returned a week later to see the jeep sitting on the trailer. That part I remember only too well because I decided I had to see it before they took it off which resulted in me getting my tail busted by my Dad. He did relent and allowed me to ride home w/ Gma which was a huge thrill for a 8 yo boy who had never ridden in a new car. The trip home I begged Gma to give it to me when she was done driving. She was in her mid 40s then and I figured it couldn’t be more than 10-15 years.

Well I was wrong about that, she was still driving it up to about 2000. He sat out by the barn for a few years and she finally gave me the keys in February of ’06. Having driven Pete a lot over the years (what I learned to drive in), I decided to do a complete frame up restomod. My intent was to make him the off road vehicle I always dreamed about. My dreams weren’t too grandiose. I just wanted him to be stronger, safer, better looking, you know what I wanted for myself that never happened.

I am a graduate of Oklahoma State University so when it came to picking a theme it was a no brainer. Pete was donning new colors, orange and black. At first I had planned to paint him Omaha Orange, but was quickly vetoed by my wife Karla. She demanded black, and since I’m partial to sleeping in the house, black it was.

The build took about 2 years and every piece was sandblasted and painted, all gearboxes were rebuilt, engine resealed blasted and painted w/ Buick green from POR. Upgrades included 3″ Black Diamond lift, front disk brakes and eventually a D30, rear 15 gallon gas tank, rectangular tube bumpers front and back tied into the frame, swing out rear spare tire holder, u-bolt skids, and suspension seating in, you guessed it, orange and black. The paint is black metallic urethane base/clear coat, wheels are American Racing Outlaw IIs skinned w/ 33X10.50 BFG MT KMs, a Smittybilt 8K winch mounted on 1/4″ steel plate tied into the frame and recovery points, drivetrain is T14/D18/OD w/ a flanged D44 w/ Tracloc in back and the aforementioned D30 w/ Aussie locker up front w/ 4.88 gears and power steering. For creature comforts there is carpet backed w/ both jute and peel and stick sound deadener/heat shield, a Kenwood stereo, carpeted console w/ cup holders and CB, and of late a 26K BTU Heatercraft heater. In back we have either a matching orange and black seat or a Tuffy lock box depending on the trip requirements and covered w/ a Bestop soft top.

It’s a labor of love for me and, even though Karla claimed it as hers as soon as it was running, I am so glad I took the time to do it. We’ve been all over the border states wheelin’ and just cruisin’ and at least here in OK it gets a lot of looks. Last fall we took it up to Idaho and Washington for a short trip to Karla’s old stomping grounds and we continue to have a blast every chance we get. Here’s some pics. Enjoy.

Pete's home

Seen better days

Stripping down

Time to get to work

Progress

Smooth as a baby's butt

Frame done

Engine cleanup

Shiny

Engine paint

Ain't it purty

Tub, you're next

Engine back in frame

Not this clean ever again

Pete gets upgrades

Black Diamond lift

D27 w/ Chevy discs

Pete gets new shoes

Body prep

Bumpers

Rear front side

Rear back side

Tied into frame

Power steering

Winch

Front view

Rear view

Interior

Beverage holders

Muffler clamp jacbrac

Old farm jack

Kenwood stereo

Dana 30 and solid axle cover

Yukon gears and Aussie locker

Solid Axle cover on Dana 44

Say Hi to Pete