Awesome Oklahoma Wheeling: Uncommon Ground
44-inch Twisters Hit Disney
By Wendy Frazier
Photography by Wendy Frazier
Casey Groths CJ Engine 94 350 throttle body Transmission Turbo 350 Transfer case NP203 to Dana 300 (with WMS adapter) Front axle Rockwell 21/2-ton, 6.71 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle Rockwell 21/2-ton, 6.71 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension Front spring-over 4-inch/ rear WMS custom three-link Meats 44x15x18.50 TSLs Wheels 15x12 bead lock wheels with WMS custom centers More Hydraulic steering, custom WMS pinion brakes | 
Jerry Cantrells 56 CJ3A
Engine 93 Camaro LT1 Transmission TH350 Transfer case Atlas II 4.3 Front axle Dana 60, 5.38 gears, ARB Rear axle Dana 60, 5.38 gears, ARB Suspension Custom coil three-link and a 3-inch body lift Meats 44-inch Boggers Wheels Weld Scorpions with Champion bead locks | 
Phil Beauchamps 73 CJ-5
Sideshow Phil decided that the extreme trail wasnt radical enough for his 73. He wanted to make it a little more challenging, so he tossed the little CJ into a trailside rock ravine. The only misadventure of the trip took a 10-minute quick winch recovery session and a few frazzled nerves (primarily of those who were watching), and everyone was back to screamin down the trail in a matter of minutes. | 
Engine AMC 360 Transmission Ford T-18 Transfer case Atlas 4.3 Front axle WMS Dana 60, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle WMS Dana 60, 5.38 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension Customs three-link coil suspension, dual Rancho RS 9000s in each corner 2-inch body lift Meats 44-inch Boggers Wheels 15x12 MRT with 36-bolt bead locks More Everything is owner-built out of home garage. Heavily reinforced frame, and stretched 10 inches for a 110-inch wheelbase. Sixteen-point rollcage, front bumper with industrial series Warn 9000 winch, rear bumper, 22-gallon fuel cell, engine-driven compressor with dual 2.5-gallon tanks. Spare axles, U-joints, tie-rods, driveshafts, and full tools always on board. | 
John Sumners 82 Scrambler Engine 89 GM TBI 350 Transmission TH700-R4 Transfer case 203 to 203 to 205 yielding a 7.84:1 low range Front axle 14-bolt front, 4.10 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle 14-bolt rear, 4.10 gears, Detroit Locker Meats 44-inch Swampers WheelsSumner-made bead locks More Do you need more? | 
Tim Sims 80 CJ-7 Engine 76 Chevy 383 Transmission TH700-R4 Transfer case Dana 300 Front axle Sunray Engineering hybrid 609, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle Ford 9-inch, 35-spline, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension Warn/Black Diamond Coil Over Kit with a 2-inch body lift Meats 39.5-inch Boggers Wheels Marsh Racing bead locks More Holley Projection, wheel- base stretched 8 inches. | 
Doug and Tadgy Stacys 82 CJ-8 (With 93 YJ Front Clip)
Engine Chevy 383 with TPI 10:1 compression, Crane cam, and roller rockers Transmission NV4500 6.34:1 First gear Transfer case Atlas II 4.3 Front axle WMS Dana 60, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle WMS Dana 60, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension Custom three-link, 2-inch body lift, custom progressive coils by Valley Spring Meats 44-inch Boggers Wheels 15x12 Fastwheels with bead locks More 12,000-pound Warn | 
Chris Duffys 87 YJ Engine LT1 350 Transmission TH700-R4 Transfer case 241 Front axle Ford/D60 Ryno 4WD hybrid, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle Ford 70U hybrid, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension Alcan 5-inch springs with a spring-over Meats 39.5-inch TSL Wheels 15x12 Fast Wheels and Ryno 4WD bead locks More AGR Rock Ram steering, Ryno 4WD front bumper, Ramsey Platinum 9500 | 
Marc Combs 93 Wrangler
Engine 4.0L straight-six Transmission AX15 five-speed Transfer case NP231 TeraLow 4-to-1 Front axle Dana 60 reverse rotation, 5.13 gears, ARB Rear axle Corporate 14-bolt, 5.13 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension 5 1/2-inch spring-over with 4-inch Trail Master leaf springs, and a 1-inch body lift Meats 39.5-inch TSL Wheels 15x10 MRT More 104-inch wheel- base, WMS hydraulic assist steering, track bar, axles, and custom fuel cell | 
Jason and Sheri Barletts 87 Wrangler
Engine 91 Chevy 350 TBI Transmission TH700-R4 Transfer case Dana 300 Front axle Dana 60, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker Rear axle Dana 60, 4.88 gears, Detroit Locker Suspension 1-inch spring-over in the front and 6-inch lift spring-under in the rear, 1 1/2-inch body lift Meats 39.5-inch TSL Swampers Wheels Eagle with Champion bead locks |
The suck zone. Its basically the point when you get sucked into the twister. And right now, the suck zone for four-wheeling is in Oklahoma. Our trip to the Disney/ Clayton trails was just a walk in the park for the boys at Wagoner Machine Shop in Claremore, Oklahoma. We were sucked into their zone when we first met them in Moab. John Sumner, WMS owner, thinks its his eyes that wow the ladies, but its really his triple transfer case, 14-bolt front and rear, three-link custom suspension, and 44-inch Swampers. WMS co-conspirators Mark Jensen and Casey Groth have recently one-upped Sumner with their own bad-ace rigs. After an evening 4WOR/WMS adventure planning summit at the WM Shop, we drooled over huge axles, multitransfer-cased rigs, three-link/coil suspensions, all sorts of machinist equipment, and Johns custom new bead locks. Day OneGrand Lake, OK The Disney area is full of waterfalls and inverted rock structures just right for sick wheeling. Big tires and big axles are what it takes to traverse the playground. Day TwoClayton, OK This day included trails like the Snake Pit, Jim and Juanitas, and the Powerline. Oh, and one more thing: The monkeys at WMS all have at least 44s, so they expect that everyone else should too. If you want to run with the monkeys on a 44-plus trail, then give them a call at 918/341-1722.
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