A Custom-Built, Highly Capable Jeep with Hot Rod Style

Purpose-built rigs can be found all over the country these days, from overlanders to full-on race trucks. But not often do we come across a vehicle so custom, so capable, and with an owner not afraid to drive the wheels off as we did when we laid eyes on Winston—the Jeep YJ owned by Nick Sessions, owner and operator of Session Motorsports in Laporte, Colorado. What a treat it was to spend a couple of hours pouring over the details of this rig and getting to see just how capable of a rig Nick built as the ultimate off-road machine, with a hot rod style and details to boot!

“Underneath the gorgeous all-metal body is a full custom tube chassis which has been matched with a AR500 skid plate with UHMW coating to protect the undercarriage from any damage.”

Nick is a long-time competitor in the off-road world, competing in everything from rock crawling competitions to endurance races like King of the Hammers. Along the way, he figured out what worked and what didn’t given each platform he competed in. So when he set off to put together the ultimate ride, he went into the build with the knowledge and intent to build a Jeep that could not only trail ride and crawl decent-sized obstacles, but do just about everything he could ever want a rig to do. This started with a custom chassis and only got better from there.

Built From the Ground Up

The base of the Jeep is a 1992 YJ, but there’s not much more than a couple of things that have remained stock to the model on this beauty. Underneath the gorgeous all-metal body is a full custom tube chassis which has been matched with a AR500 skid plate with UHMW coating to protect the undercarriage from any damage—no matter what Nick throws in front of the Jeep.

“Under the hood of the Jeep, you’ll find nothing less than a 540 ci Chevy engine built from a Merlin Big Block!”

Giving Winston superior flex capabilities while also drastically improving the ride quality are Sway-A-Way bypass air shocks and bump stops up front, while the back features Sway-A-Way 2.5-inch RaceRunner rear coilover bypass shocks. All four corners are outfitted with PRP limiting straps. But suspension can only get you so far when it comes to building the ultimate off-road rig, so Nick opted to take the build to an even higher level when it came to the engine and drivetrain.

Chevy Power and Everything to Back It

Under the hood of the Jeep, you’ll find nothing less than a 540 ci Chevy engine built from a Merlin Big Block! From the block up, every inch of the engine was meticulously put together for the ultimate power numbers and bullet-proof durability, including top-notch components like Callies connecting rods, JE 11:1 pistons, a Callies rotating assembly, Lunati camshaft, Brodix heads, and a Merlin intake manifold. The engine’s Holley EFI fuel system features custom fuel rails, and is fed from a one-off 22-gallon TIG welded fuel tank. Other impressive components include a custom Dan Olson 9-quart oil pan below the engine, which is fully baffled and features five trap doors, a crank scraper and screen, as well as a custom exhaust system featuring 2 1/8-inch primary headers leading into 3 ½-inch secondaries, and dumping into 3 ½ -inch dual exhaust tubes.

Backing the Big Block is a fully upgraded TH400 transmission tied to an Atlas II transfer case with a 3.0 low-range gear ratio. The Atlas pushes power to the 40-spline, 14-bolt front and rear drive axles by way of 1410 front and rear driveshafts. Each axle spins by way of custom 4-inch axle housings with Spidertrax outers and 5.38 gears. Up front, a spool differential gives Nick ultimate control over wheel spin, while the rear is outfitted with an ARB locker. Stopping power for the Jeep comes from 14-inch Wilwood brakes with 6-piston calipers both front and rear, while additional cutting brakes allow for superior brake control for crawling applications.

Planting the Jeep to the ground are one-off 17×9-inch Walker Evans OG wheels wrapped in 40×13.50R17LT Nitto Trail Grappler M/T rubber.

Dressed to Impress

Building the ultimate off-road machine doesn’t always have to include good looks. But when it came to Winston, Nick did not cut any corners!

Everything on this Jeep is custom made – from the tube chassis to the expertly squared body panels. Up front, the Jeep features a custom cowl hood with one-off bullet details machined by one of Nick’s long-time friends and mentors, the late Chuck Campbell. Just these pieces alone catch the eye and lay the groundwork for what else the Jeep has to offer aesthetically. The front also features a Jeep YJ grille, paying homage to the once factory origins of this build, and Quake LED headlights. At the rear, Nick added a custom tube shelf with a handmade, built-in toolbox. Even the door latches and the protective latch guards on the Jeep are handcrafted.

“One look at Winston freshly painted and cleaned up, and you might question just how much dirt this Jeep sees, but rest assured, it has already proven itself on several local wheeling trails.”

Adding even more splendor to the Jeep is the BMW Austin Yellow Metallic paint scheme, laid by Nick’s brother Cort Sessions of Altered Kustoms out of Salt Lake City.

Inside the cab of the open-air Jeep is a fully custom 1 ¾-inch to 2-inch DOM cage wrapped around a custom interior, which features PRP seats with gray ostrich and suede upholstery, matching custom door panels and headliner, and an all-custom dash and center console upholstered to match. Speedhut gauges give Nick access to vital readings on things like oil temperature and speed, while a detachable OMP America steering wheel makes for easier access to the driver seat with added comfort and control at his fingertips whether at high speeds or slow crawling paces.

The details in the cab of the Jeep are infinite, from custom etched stars on the ratchet shifter and custom passenger grab bar done by Ryan Boyd, to the small nods to Nick’s upbringing in Wyoming. Even the badging both inside and out on the Jeep are works of art.

One look at Winston freshly painted and cleaned up, and you might question just how much dirt this Jeep sees, but rest assured, it has already proven itself on several local wheeling trails. This Jeep sees a lot of adventures with plenty more to come this Colorado wheeling season!

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UPGRADES

1992 Jeep YJ

OWNER: 

Nick Sessions
Laporte, Colorado 

Chassis & Suspension: 

Full custom tube chassis; 109-inch wheelbase; Sway-A-Way front bypass air shocks and bump stops; Sway-A-Way 2.5-inch RaceRunner rear coilover bypass shocks; PRP limiting straps; AR500 skid plate with UHMW coating

Wheels & Tires: 

One-off 17×9-inch Walker Evans OG wheels; 40×13.50R17LT Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires

Engine & Drivetrain: 

540 ci Big Block Chevy engine; Merlin block and intake manifold; Callies connecting rods and rotating assembly; JE 11:1 pistons; Lunati camshaft; Brodix heads; Custom Dan Olson 9-quart oil pan fully baffled and featuring five trap doors, a crank scraper and screen; Holley EFI fuel system; Custom fuel rails; Custom 22-gallon TIG welded fuel tank ; MSD ignition; Custom 2 1/8-inch primary, 3 ½-inch secondary headers; 3 ½ -inch dual exhaust; Fully upgraded TH400 transmission; Atlas II transfer case with a 3.0 low-range gear ratio; 1410 front and rear driveshafts; 40-spline, 14-bolt front and rear drive axles; 5.38 gears both front and rear; Front spool differential; ARB rear locker; Custom 4-inch axle housings with Spidertrax outers; 14-inch Wilwood brakes with 6-piston calipers on front and rear; Cutting brakes

Body & Paint: 

Custom cowl hood with custom bullet details machined by Chuck Campbell; Jeep YJ grille; Quake LED headlights; Custom rear tube shelf with handmade, built-in toolbox; Custom door latches with custom metal guards to protect the body of the Jeep; Custom badges machined by Ryan Boyd; BMW Austin Yellow Metallic paintby Cort Sessions of Altered Kustoms in Salt Lake City, UT

Interior & Sound: 

Fully custom 1 ¾-inch to 2-inch DOM cage; PRP seats with gray ostrich and suede upholstery; Custom dash, center console, door panels, and headliner with matching gray upholstery; Custom-etched ratchet shifter and fully custom passenger grab-bar machined by Ryan Boyd; Speedhut gauges; OMP America steering wheel

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Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in TREAD July/August 2024