| |
JP
MAGAZINE
High Clearance
: TJ Sport
| Most'
98 TJs did not roll off of the Toledo Jeep factory floor
covered in Chill Pepper Red paint. And most'98 TJs will
also never wear a sey of 39.5-inch Swampers let alone,
custom high-clearance, high-pinion WMS 9-inch axles, but
Casey Groth's '98TJ does. Why? Well as part of the vrew
at the Wagoner Machine Shop (WMS) in Claremore, Oklahoma,
Casey neesd a Jeep that can not only help him get around
town, but also serves as a play toy on the weekends, and
reflects how WMS can modify a Jeep. The result is Casey's
Chilly Pepper Red98 TJ that sports some serious tires,
and some damn trick axles. |
| CHASSIS
& DRIVELINE |
| In
order to retain the reliability of the 4.0L and
the automotic transmission Casey left them pretty
much alone with the exception of a K&N air filter
ans an exhaust system from Flowmaster. The NP231
was modified for 2-Lo, and a slipyoke eliminator
was added to allow for the greater driveline angles
that are necessary planted in the transfer case
to keep the crawl ratio low enough for driving on
the rocks. Both front and rear axle housings were
built by WMS. WMS cut the housings as much as possible
to provide the most ground clearance without getting
in the way of the ring gears. Both axles were then
filled with Currie highpinion 9-inch hog's heads.
Which were filled with 4.56 gears and Detriot Lockers.
|
|
| The
axleshafts are custom units from Moser., with the
front axles spinning 297 U-joints and Dana 44 outers.The
frame of the TJ was kept relatively stock with the
exception of the suspension mounting points, which
were modufied for the custom WMS 8-inch long-arm
TJ suspension. The lift is achieves with 6-inch
Rubicon Express coils, and some trick custom spring
brackets that WMS used on the axles. Damoening of
the big Swampers is done by a set of adjustable
Rancho RS 9000 shocks. To protect the driveline
internals from Oklahoma rocks, Casey added a custom
WMS skidplate that offers tons of clearance and
rock-stopping construction. |
|
|
| Hard
Facts |
| Vehicle
: |
| 98'
TJ |
| Engine |
| Stock
'98 4.0LI-6 |
| Transmission
: |
| NP231 |
| Suspension
: |
| 8-inch
WMS custom long arm, 1-inch body lift. |
| Axles
: |
| WMS
high-clerance 9-inchers, Detroit Locker, 4.56 gears. |
| Wheels
: |
| 15x10
Rast Wheels with Swampers |
| Built
For : |
| Oklhoma
rockcrawling and daily driving. |
| Value
: |
| $35,000 |
|
|
| BODY
& INTERIOR |
| The
Chill Pepper Red paint is unmosified from the factory
with the exception of custom scratches care of the bushes
and branches that line the Oklahoma stomping grounds of
this Wrangler. Casey added a M.O.R.E. rollcage a Sony
CD player to keep the Jeep's occuoants safe and happy.
A 1-inch body lift was also added to keep the Swampers
from mangling the body during compression. To further
protect the body. Casey added Currie bumpers, rocker guards,
Off your Rocker corner plates, and a Warn brushguard. |
|
| WHEELS
& TIRES |
| The
15/39.5x15 TSL Super Swampers are held onto to the TJ
with a set of 15x10 32-bolt Fast Wheels bead locks. The
type of rockcrawling Casey does in Oklahoma is tough on
tires. You need thick sidewalls, low pressure, and tires
that stick to the jagged sharp rocks. |
| GOOD,
BAD, & WHAT'S IT FOR |
| This
TJ fills several duties. Casey drives it around town on
business calls during the week, and hits the trails on
the weekend. It also serves as a paltform for testing
new WMS products. |
|
| WHAT
WE THINK |
| We
dig thise axles. Unfortunately, Casey tells us that they
are better suited for 36-inch tires, and by the time your
read this Casey should have a set of WMS shaved Dana 60s
under the TJ. The big Oklahoma rocks require big tires
and big tires are tough on drivetrain, and apparently
Casey has grown tired of trailside repaires and sold the
nines in favor of some Dana 60s. |
|
º·¤ÇÒÁ¨Ò¡
JP MAGAZINE : January 2002
º·¤ÇÒÁ©ºÑºÂé͹ËÅѧ
|
|
