When Frank Berrian of Terre Haute, Indiana, scored a rust-free, bone-stock 1982 Jeep CJ-7 in New Mexico, his plan was simple: refurbish it and keep it stock. But one thing led to another, as it often does in 4×4 building, and soon Frank went all in on a high-end build packing big power, stout running gear, and a mind-boggling list of upgrades.

We heard the Jeep’s loping idle long before we saw it at the 2025 Fall 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Danville, Indiana. The sound coming from under the hood sounded furious—one of those engines that makes you grin the moment it fires.

427 Cubic-Inch Powerhouse

The Jeep’s V8 was built by Wallace Custom Motors, starting with a Dart Machinery Little M2 block bored and stroked to 427 cubic inches. Inside are a slew of mods including a Callies billet crank and rods, a Howards cam, and Edelbrock’s Pro-Flo EFI system. Additionally, Frank upgraded the injectors for more horsepower and reworked the engine map to match. Spent gases exit through Sanderson headers and a custom 3-inch stainless steel exhaust.

Cooling duty goes to a triple-pass radiator backed by a Derale 20-inch fan. Fuel comes from a 12-gallon ATL fuel cell, while a pair of Optima YellowTops and a 320-amp Mechman alternator handle the electronics. The engine sits in the stock frame—reinforced in all the right places to increase its strength.

Heavily Modified TH400 Transmission, Behemoth D300 Colossal T-Case, And More

Bolted behind the V8 is a battle-ready TH400 automatic, built to take a beating. Frank didn’t cut corners—he wanted a transmission that could handle big power without flinching. Smith Racing Transmissions in Edinburgh, Indiana, delivered the goods with a billet case, manual valve body, and a trick pan that clears the front driveshaft.

From there, torque runs through a Behemoth Drivetrain D300 Colossus transfer case loaded with JB Conversions LoMax 4:1 gears. It’s fitted with beefy 1410-series drive flanges and 32-spline input and output shafts. Control falls to custom billet twin-stick cable shifters.

1-Ton Running Gear

The CJ rolls on axles built by Ouverson Engineering. Up front, a Dana 60. Out back, a GM 14-bolt. Both came straight out of military surplus—originally designed to drag aircraft tugs across carrier decks. Now they’re re-tubed and trussed.

The Dana 60 packs RCV Performance Products 40-spline 300M shafts, PSC Motorsports hydraulic steering, and Solid Axle Industries high-steer arms and knuckles. Out back, the 14-bolt spins Ouverson 300M shafts. Furthermore, both ends are locked down with Strange Engineering differential spools and 5.38:1 gears.

Four-Link With Coilovers And 46-Inch Stickies

The CJ’s flexy four-link suspension runs Fox 16-inch remote-reservoir coilovers, TMR limit straps, and Fox bump stops. Busted Knuckle Off Road billet-aluminum link arms, each fit with beefy 1.25-inch Heim joints, tie it all together.

For bite, Frank bolted up 46×15.5-17 USD Stickies wrapped around 9.5-inch Raceline Wheels Monster beadlocks.

More Modifications

Frank hand-built the bumpers, while Built By Beck fabbed the front stinger, rollcage, and exhaust. Up front, a Warn ZEON 10-S Platinum winch stands ready, and underneath, 16 rock lights overall turn night trails into daylight.

Inside, it’s just as wild—Auto Meter gauges in a custom dash, Corbeau buckets with RJS Racing five-point safety harnesses, and a Winters Performance Products Sidewinder shifter at the ready. Tunes blast from a monster system with twin 15-inch subs, while a Midland GMRS radio keeps Frank in communication while on the trail. Finally, the outside of the CJ wears a pile of custom functional mods.

Sounds Like A Beast, Is A Beast

Frank’s CJ not only sounds like a beast, indeed, it’s built like one, too.