An upset stomach, a cut on the leg, and a twisted ankle may be all-in-a day's-work for physician John Clouse, but away from the office, the only things this Springfield, Missouri, father and his 15-year-old son Jacob play doctor to is their '86 CJ-7. You can bet that after eight-plus years of building up their Jeep, John and Jacob have made quite a few modifications.

John is a member of the Ozarks 4x4 club, and he got a few of his club buddies to help him leave no stone unturned in revising the CJ's driveline, suspension, bodywork, and interior. The hard-working doc and his friend Chuck Summers could be found many a late night performing some assembly. While Chuck delivered the technical advice, John planned the changes and did the homework. When it came time to prep the CJ for a little "surgery," the appropriate specialists were called in, including Joe Savage of Nixa Paint and Prep and Soni Honegger of Recovery Engineering.

The body is all-metal except for the fiberglass half doors and the sport red trim by Quality Trim and Sign on the Jeep's stock cream-colored base. The powdercoated nerf bars, rollbar, and front and rear bumpers give the CJ extra protection as it plows its way through mud and water. When the weather's not so nice, the Bestop soft top keeps passengers dry, and the two KC 6-inch and two Super Offroader 1000 driving lights help illuminate the way.

What started out as a fun project spanned almost a decade. The plan was simple: build a 4x4 worthy of not only its creator but also its legacy as a do-it-all, climb-it-all, go anywhere vehicle. We think this Dr. Frankenstein's monster surely lives up to its legacy.

 

 

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