This Blacked-Out, 8.3-liter Dodge Viper V10-powered, 1984 Jeep J10 Is Straight Wicked

You don’t see this every day, or maybe ever. This savage 1984 Jeep J10 packs a 506 cubic-inch V10, 1-ton running gear, a killer suspension, and lots more. The truck looks pretty darn good, too.

It Began With A Bone-Stock Six-Cylinder Truck

Derrick Hodson always had his sights set on a J10. When he found one, it was a stock, six-cylinder truck with a five-speed. That didn’t last. An engine swap happened early, and things escalated fast.

Much of the work was handled by Cameron Chin and his team at Nefarious Kustoms. With locations in Las Vegas and Houston, the shop has built a reputation for wild off-road and custom rigs. In a video, Cameron sums the build best: “He asked me to build the most ultimate J10 ever, and we’ve done that.”

Viper 8.3-Liter V10 Powerplant

The 8.3-liter V10 came from a wrecked 2004 Dodge Ram SRT10 and from the factory it was rated at 500 horsepower. It breathes through a custom dual-filter intake and kept cool with a bed-mounted crossflow radiator and dual electric fans. Fuel is handled by a 32-gallon JAZ Products cell.

Power runs through a 48RE four-speed automatic with a billet torque converter into an NP273 two-speed transfer case sourced from a Dodge truck.

Dana 60 Up Front, Ford 10.25 Out Back

The front axle is a Ford high-pinion Dana 60 that was acquired from a salvage yard vehicle. It’s fitted with Warn Premium manual locking hubs and 4.56:1 Yukon Gear & Axle gears. Steering is precise and reliable thanks to a RuffStuff Specialties crossover steering kit and PSC Motorsports cylinder assist.

The rear axle is a Ford 10.25-inch unit acquired from the same donor vehicle as the front axle, and it’s fitted with a RuffStuff truss, 4.56:1 Yukon Gear & Axle gears, an Eaton Detroit Locker differential, and a disc brake conversion.

Custom Coilover Suspension

The suspension is designed to perform well on- and off-road. Up front, a radius arm setup uses Radflo 2.5 remote-reservoir coilovers, Swift Springs USA coils, and Radflo triple-bypass shocks. The modified arms are fitted with Heim joints.

The rear uses a triangulated four-link with Radflo 2.5 coilovers, Swift coils, and Radflo triple-bypass shocks. The shocks upper mounts pass through the bed and fasten to the custom back-half chassis. RockJock Antirock sway bars are installed at both ends. Cameron notes that travel measures about 14 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear.

The truck rides on 37×13.50R20LT Nitto Mud Grapplers mounted on 9-inch-wide Fuel Trophy wheels.

Custom Bodywork, Matte Clearcoat, No Chrome

The custom back-half structure was designed, fabricated, and installed by Nefarious Kustoms. It is made from 1.75-inch-diameter DOM tubing, and among other things, it serves as a mounting point for an easy-access spare tire.

Exterior modifications to the truck include 6-inch-wider stepsides, custom electric side steps, and a custom aluminum bead-rolled rear roll pan. Also included is a plate steel front bumper with a flush-mounted LED light bar and prerunner bar. Additionally, the truck has a Gladiator Rhino grille conversion, HID and LED forward-facing lights, and tinted Jeep Wrangler JK taillights.

Matthew Miller of Nefarious Kustoms painted the rig Opal Blue Metallic with an Eggshell Matte clearcoat. Another notable exterior feature is that all the truck’s trim is blacked out.

Modern Amenities Inside

Inside, the truck uses the factory Viper gauge cluster and steering column. Passengers sit on SRT10 power bucket seats, and there is a custom leather-wrapped console and dash pad. Modern amenities abound and include power windows and locks, along with Old Air Products air conditioning. Other interior features include a Lokar transmission shifter, an audio head unit with Bluetooth, and push-button start.

Next-Level Result

In the end, this J10 is a fine example of how modern tech, creative engineering, and raw power can be combined with a vintage truck to create something next level.

Photos: Nefarious Kustoms