Logan Cochran from Alma, Arkansas
has a pretty grown-up hobby. He has been building many extreme off-road machines
with his dad and knows more about engines, other components and fabrication
than a lot of people in the four-wheel sport. In his early teens he hasn't been
able to make all the money for his dream project but his dad, Greg, gladly helps
out for such big ideas.
There was an old 1982 CJ8 sitting around the house not doing much, so Logan's
imagination started to work. Influenced partially by his dad's towing and recovery
business he designed and fabricated a really remarkable rock crawler with Greg,
and a friend in only two-and-a-half months.
It was clear for Logan that the CJ's
body had to be cut up and modified significantly. The extensive bodywork was
combined nicely with the custom-built tube frame setup to provide the needed
strength. The home-built suspension in the rear consists of a heavy duty wishbone,
while the front features a custom three-link. All four corners are equipped
with dual Rancho 5000 shocks and full air ride suspension from a semi truck
that can be regulated from the driver's seat. The front and rear air bags can
be controlled independantly - the two front bags are connected and so are the
rear. This allows air flow from one side to the other during axle articulation.
A pair of steerable two-and-a-half-ton Rockwell axles reside under the rig and
are stuffed with 6.72 gears and Detroit lockers. This setup is strong enough
for the 44 inch tires - Super Swampers in the front and Boggers in the rear.
To make sure these big rubbers keep rolling a Vortech 350 engine was set in
the custom engine bay mated to a Turbo 400 Transmission, and an Atlas III transfer
case distributes the power to the axles.
A front tube bumper is included in the tube frame and carries a Warn 8000 winch
to help in those rare cases when the Jeep gets stuck. The rear bumper also protects
the tail lights and sports the motto of this rig "OVER KILL".
Logan also put some thought in the
interior of his vehicle:
A stainless steel dashboard features Autometer gauges and the switches for the
air suspension. Driver and passenger sit comfortably in Corbeau seats and the
easily reachable shifters received a nice touch. A bikini top spans over the
roll cage to keep occupants out of the sun (and rain) and half doors match the
exterior paint. In the bed of the rig a fuel cell provides food for the engine
and an air manifold guides the air where needed. A huge air tank hangs off the
buttom of the truck between the tube frame rails. Also bed mounted in the very
back is a boat seat which serves as a license plate holder.
To make an appearance everywhere he goes, Logan had the vehicle painted in Montecarlo
Chrome Yellow.
This truck proves extremely capable
on different kinds of terrain and is very manouverable for its size due to the
four-wheel steering. A creation noticed by many not only for its color but its
attention for detail and the built-up concept not seen every day.
Not bad for a fourteen-year old…