This 1986 Jeep J10 Packs A 406 Stroker And Decades Of Family History

Jason Helbig of Prineville, Oregon, says this 1986 Jeep J10 chose him.

“There’s always been a Jeep in the family somewhere, and Grandpa was a man of his word after promising me this truck from a very young age. In 2008, he drove it up from his home in Paradise, California, handed me the keys and title, and the rest is history,” Jason says.

Family Off-Road Roots

Jason’s off-road roots run deep. As an infant riding in a car seat, he was already on the Rubicon Trail with his parents and grandparents. Countless miles spent riding in his grandpa’s Jeep trucks cemented a lifelong passion for four-wheeling. His grandpa owned this J10 for most of its life, and Jason has been around the truck since he was 11 years old.

Since his grandpa handed over the keys, the J10 has evolved into an even more capable trail rig as Jason has made functional modifications through the years.

406 Cubic-Inch V8

The truck’s factory 360-cubic-inch V8 has been stroked to 406 cubic inches. The work was completed by S&J Engines in Spokane Valley, Washington, and the engine now features a variety of Comp Cams components, including roller rockers, valve springs, lifters, and a Magnum camshaft. Up top is an Edelbrock 1406 four-barrel carburetor, while exhaust duties are handled by a dual 2.5-inch-diameter system with Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers. Engine temperatures are kept in check by a three-core aluminum radiator paired with an electric fan.

Bolted to the engine is the truck’s stock TorqueFlite 727 three-speed automatic transmission. Power is routed to the axles through the factory NP208 two-speed transfer case.

Dana 44s, Chromoly Axleshafts, 4.56s, And More

The factory Dana 44 axles are still in place, but Jason has thoroughly upgraded them. Up front, he installed an Auburn Grip-N-Loc limited-slip differential, RCV Performance chromoly axle shafts, and Warn Premium manual locking hubs. The rear axle received an Eaton Detroit Locker, chromoly axle shafts, and an aftermarket differential cover. To help maximize performance on and off the trail, both axles were regeared to 4.56:1 using Nitro Gear & Axle components.

Four-Inch Lift And 37s

Jason had his sights set on 37s, which meant making room for more tire and suspension travel. To clear the larger rubber, he installed a 3-inch body lift and Rancho 4-inch-lift leaf springs. The added altitude allowed him to squeeze in 37×12.50R15 Interco IROK Radial tires mounted on 8-inch-wide Western Cyclone wheels. Supporting the setup are Rancho RS9000XL shocks along with DIY Offroad spring mounts and shackles.

Upgraded Front Bumper, Winch, Rock Lights, And More

One of Jason’s favorite upgrades is the Buckstop Truckware Vintage Series No Grill front bumper, which houses a Warn Zeon 10-S winch. Other notable additions include an sPOD BantamX touchscreen controller and strategically placed rock lights.

Inside, Jason wanted to modernize the truck without sacrificing its original character. He achieved that balance with new Auto Custom Carpets carpet and fresh seat upholstery. Additional upgrades include heated seats and an Auto Meter tachometer.

Carrying On The Tradition

Jason says his 1986 J10 has become both a conversation piece and a tribute to his grandpa’s legacy. In fact,In an effort to carry that tradition forward, he recently acquired another Jeep as a father-daughter project.

He says, “Adding to the Jeep arsenal is her 1973 Jeep J4000 so we can continue the family tradition and create those memories together.”

Jason has spent more than 48 years exploring trails behind the wheel. His adventures have taken him through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Oregon Coast Range, central Oregon high desert, Moab, and many more places. That exploration shows no signs of slowing.

Photos by Jason Helbig