The 2026 Easter Jeep Safari (EJS) in Moab, Utah, inspired the build of this time-capsule 1975 Jeep J10. Owner Ryan Kennelly of Ogden, Utah, says, “Since it was the 60th anniversary of EJS, we thought we would show up in a Jeep.” Getting the truck ready was no small task, but the finished product turns heads everywhere it goes.
A Facebook Marketplace Find, Pulled From The Bushes
Just three months before EJS, Ryan rescued the Jeep, a Facebook Marketplace find, from a patch of bushes in Winnemucca, Nevada. He bought the rig after its 258-cubic-inch I6 developed internal problems and the owner decided to move on. Ryan hauled it home to Utah and immediately got to work.
He says, “We wailed on bodywork, peeling 50-year-old woodgrain, moved crossmembers, built gas tank mounts, and welded up rust holes. Just days before leaving for Moab, we were still wiring the LS swap. It was a fun challenging build that ended up with a great survivor becoming a great daily driver.”
LS Swap, Backed By A Five-Speed Manual
Under the hood sits an LQ9 6.0-liter engine. Ryan scored the powerplant from a seller on Facebook Marketplace after it was pulled from a wrecked air-conditioning company van. The engine remains largely stock but breathes through a custom exhaust built from 2.5-inch-diameter tubing that merges into a Y-collector before exiting through 3-inch-diameter tubing and a glasspack muffler. Keeping temperatures in check is a clutch fan and a Champion radiator for a 1966 Chevy Impala mounted to a modified core support. Supporting the fuel-injected engine are a custom battery box and a 20-gallon fuel tank sourced from a 1994 Ford F-150.
Power is routed through a Jeep Wrangler TJ-sourced NV3550 five-speed manual transmission equipped with a Silver Sport Transmissions LS bellhousing, a Novak Conversions adapter, and a McLeod Adventure Series clutch with a hydraulic conversion.
Another Facebook Marketplace score, a Dana 300 two-speed transfer case from a Jeep CJ-7, sends power to the axles. Ryan upgraded the transfer case with a 32-spline output, JB Conversions 4-To-1 LoMax gears, and twin-stick shifters.
Dana 44s For The Win
Up front is a wide-track Dana 44 axle equipped with disc brakes and an ARB Air Locker. Out back is another Dana 44 fitted with a Trac-Lok limited-slip differential. Both axles retain their original 4.09:1 Spicer ring-and-pinion gears.
Balancing Lift Height And Ride Quality
When it came time to dial in the J10’s suspension, Ryan wanted the right mix of lift and ride quality. Up front, he started with a set of Rough Country 4-inch-lift leaf springs and removed several leaves. The result was about 3 inches of lift and a smooth ride.
Out back, the changes were minimal. Ryan added custom-made aluminum blocks between the factory leaf springs and the axle. The blocks provide 2.5 inches of lift and feature an offset that slightly repositions the axle to better center the tires in the wheel openings.
The tall, skinny Milestar Patagonia XT tires measure 285/80R17, which works out to roughly 34 inches tall and 10.5 inches wide. They’re mounted on 9-inch-wide Fuel 702 wheels with 4.5 inches of backspacing.
Vintage 1975 Camper Shell
One of the most eye-catching features of the J10 is its vintage Caravan Camper Tops Manufacturing Company camper shell. It was installed new at the dealer in 1975 and it’s one of Ryan’s favorite features of the truck. He says, “The model is called Super Trotwood. It’s just weird enough, with jalousie windows, that it compliments the ugliness of the J10’s quirky style.”
Narrowed Winch, Reproduced Woodgrain, And More
One of the many cool custom touches Ryan added to the truck is a modified Smittybilt XRC Gen 2 winch. To squeeze it between the frame rails and steering box, he narrowed the drum by 4 inches and shortened the unit’s driveshaft.
Other exterior upgrades include custom mirror brackets that mount Jeep Wrangler TJ mirrors, bumper-mounted 6-inch KC SlimLite lights, and KC Gravity Series headlights. And in some of these photos you can see the newest lighting addition, KC’s new SlimLite LEDs on the outside rearview mirrors.
Additional upgrades include an ARB brushless onboard air compressor. Ryan also recreated the truck’s woodgrain trim, giving it the appearance of factory-original.
Unique Vehicle For The Win
Ryan has more than 35 years of wheeling experience and a passion for unique vehicles, so this J10 was a natural fit. “I love obscure vehicles, and this is about as weird as it gets,” he says.
Photos by Ryan Kennelly
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