When you search for “restorod," it's always muscle cars with LS-swaps. Synergy Manufacturing did more than a swap with Jeep's original muscle car.

Life for this 1971 Jeepster Commando wasn’t easy. Dave Schlossberg – President and CEO of Synergy Manufacturing – came across it when he was searching CraigsList for a new project. He wanted to showcase their products and purchased it for $2500. Unfortunately, it needed a lot of work to make it look passable.

That’s when he and his team over at Synergy came up with a plan: remove the cancer, work the body, and install a brand-new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK frame. No, this frame didn’t come from another wrecked JK nor did they salvage one. They called up their local dealer and ordered a frame straight from Jeep. You can do this, too, just be prepared to shell out about $1200 or more. Your mileage may vary.

Before We Go Further

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Frame Mods

You can't just swap a new JK frame on an old Jeep body without some cutting and welding

It would have been awesome if you could just plop a brand new JK frame under an old Jeep, let alone a Jeepster Commando. However, they needed to shorten it to fit the 101-inch wheelbase. Even as you crawl under it, you can’t tell how it was done. Well, if you’re not a JK enthusiast, anyway.

Body Mods

Bigger wheels means bigger wheel openings, so the Synergy team needed to make modifications to the body, including the fenders

With the metal already cut up to fix rust, the body was further modified to fit the larger, 35x12.50R17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. The wheels used for mockup were just a set of 17-inch JK Unlimiteds, but it properly sits on a set of Wheel Vintiques 17x9 Smoothie wheels with custom red pinstriping work done on their lips.

Though, the body work done to the Jeepster looks nearly factory

Once the body was finished, it was sent to San Luis Autobody in San Luis Obispo, California and sprayed in Firecracker Red.

The Finished Product

Even the bumpers were modified to fit the look and feel of this mix of modern and retro

The custom front bumper houses a set of Baja Designs LED lights, with their Squadron-Rs flanking each side of the Warn Industries Zeon 8-S winch. The rest of the front body is old Jeepster, but the Be Cool custom radiator hints at what’s lurking under that classic Jeep grille.

Restorod Worthy Engine

The heart of many restorod builds, a GM LS-based V8 engine. In this case, it's the LQ4

Open that Jeepster’s hood, and you’ll find the GM Vortec 6000 LQ4, a generation three V8 iron block with a displacement of six-liters when it was stock. Fitment required extra sheet metal work done to the firewall, but as you can see, it was well worth it. A custom, straight intake leads to the GM factory intake manifold.

The engine was basically refreshed on the inside by Roslan’s Performance, but the heads were replaced by a better flowing set from Texas Speed and Performance. Rocking their valve springs open is a Tooley Racing camshaft and the Hooker Headers send those spent gasses through a custom, side-exit exhaust system.

New lights and electrical options requires a modern battery with current-state controls

In front of the Optima Redtop Battery is a Switch Pros SP8100 system to control the lights, fridge, Accuair on-board air compressor, and other switchable components.

Driving Comforts

The goal of the Synergy Jeepster is to make it look like it's a classic Jeep without the issues of a classic car or truck

Making sure to keep with the updated, but classic appearance the interior was fully redone using the original seats with custom leather. Even the doors are still factory with roll-up side and pop-out quarter glass windows.

A new engine needs new gauges, but Auto Meter knows how to make them look right

Sitting in the driver’s seat, you’re greeted by a wood-rimmed Grant steering wheel on a Flaming River steering column. The classy looking gauges are modern Auto Meter parts while an Alpine Audio system installed by Drive Customs tries its best to drown out the roar of the LQ4.

It may look simple, but a diamond double stitch also just looks classy

The diamond double stitch on the seats was done by San Luis Auto Interiors. It may appear to be a manual transmission, but that is a Lokar shifter with matching transfer case shifters for the Advanced Adapters Atlas II.

Under Chassis

It's hard to beat the strength and aftermarket support of a Dana 44, especially if they are grabbed from a stock JK Rubicon

Stock JK Rubicon Dana 44 axles are used both front and rear, even retaining the stock electronic lockers with 4.10 gears, but are upgraded to handle the abuse like a proper off-road truck should. The front axle has a Synergy Manufacturing truss spanning to each spring seat. A Nitro Gear front cover adds strength over the original Dana 44 front cover.

Fox Racing Shocks makes more than just dampers and the Synergy Jeepster uses their steering damper to keep steering movements under control

A Synergy Stage Three suspension system is used on both ends of the chassis with the Fox Racing Shocks steering stabilizer smoothing out the motions of the Synergy Heavy Duty Tie Bar and High-Steer kit.

Even if it's a front straight axle, a set of CV joints isn't a bad change over the standard universal joints you'll normally find

A set of RCV Axles axle shafts offer more steering angle and strength over the Dana set. Torque is sent from the transfer case through a pair of JE Reel drive shafts.

Front Suspension

More Fox Racing equipment keep the front axle in check

Proper ride and height is accomplished by a combination of Synergy Manufacturing three-inch springs and Fox Racing Shocks 2.5-inch diameter shocks that feature remote reservoirs and dual-speed adjustable compression adjusters.

Under Body Armor

A custom oil pan offers flexibility in mounting a modern GM V8 engine

Protection of critical components, like the Tilden Motorsports oil pan, are all done by Synergy Manufacturing skid plates. Even the Gearstar custom-built GM 4L80E and Atlas II 4.3 transfer case gets protection from rocks and trail debris.

Rear Suspension

Wheels Vintiques wheels wrapped in Nitto Tires are another great combination of modern and classic parts

Moving to the back – while also admiring the custom Wheels Vintiques and Nitto Tires – we find another stock Rubicon Dana 44 and Synergy Truss System. The Synergy Stage Three kit includes an adjustable track bar and relocated mount for the axle. Heavy-duty shock mounts also allow the longer Fox Racing 2.5 shocks to fit properly under the modified JK frame and Dana axle.

Aftermarket differential covers offer extra convenience of locating the drain hole as low as possible for cleaner maintenance

You’ll also find another Nitro Gear differential cover and just see the Synergy gas tank skid plate protecting the custom fuel tank from Tanks, Inc.

It’s The Definition of RestoRod

You'll be hard pressed to find a better looking Jeepster Commando, let alone a restorod

While Camaros, Mustangs, Challengers, and even the odd Model T will get the restorod treatment, it’s great to see something different. The truck and Jeep worlds need more builds like this. While the ratrod desert truck and overbuilt mall crawler are cool, old trucks with off-road and hot rod modifications like the Synergy Jeepster Commando deserve the same attention.

Thanks to Synergy Manufacturing for allowing me to photograph this amazing Jeepster restorod

I think the world needs more builds like this and hopefully we’ll see more.

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