Rock Krawler JK-R Code Name "Petey"
 

Most of you on the forum have all seen a few of our big project vehicle builds. We sold our last race LJ to Proving Grounds racing so we could build another car. This car started life as a JK 2 Door Chassis. From there it was taken to the next level, far beyond our LJ. The goal for this rig is to run in the Legends class at KOH and push our JK products harder than ever before. We reached out to a great local company, Liquid Iron Industries, in New Jersey. Tim, the owner builds their own designed chassis called an "Eliminator." He and a few others run that chassis in Ultra 4, the mint 400, and also Dirt Riot race series. We asked Tim and the gang to graft an Eliminator Chassis on top of our JK 2 Door Frame. We this will give us a great starting point for our build.

Here are a few pics of the amazing work Liquid Iron Industries has done...

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...IMG_0428-L.jpg

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...IMG_0444-L.jpg

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...IMG_0443-L.jpg

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...IMG_0446-L.jpg

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...IMG_0445-L.jpg

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...IMG_0463-L.jpg

We will be grafting our Rock Racer kit into this beast. Since it is just tube and tin, it will be abused at every event and race we attend. We are also testing new products with this project and we assure you, it will be the hardest test to date. We want to prove our off the shelf products can handle the abuse.

RK

A word about the code name - "Petey"

Pete Trasborg was a good friend of ours. He was the editor of JP Magazine who died suddenly at a very young age. It was extremely sad and we lost a great Jeeper. He is deeply missed. We are dedicating this build to him. He will always be a part of Rock Krawler. To you Pete! Love Ya and Miss Ya.....

https://pix-rockkrawler.smugmug.com/...XL/pete-XL.png

RK

Cool. Is it going to look like a jeep or a buggy?
A great memorial no matter what!

This will be badass!

Subscribed. Will love to follow this build. Kudos for dedicating to Pete.

Will absolutely follow this build!

This is going to be a hybrid of both. We are taking a factory frame with off the shelf suspension parts and welding a cage to it. Basically it will be 3/4 chassis Jeep with an eliminator chassis grafted to it. This will allow us to punish the suspension further than what any consumer would. Then again, we have seen some of you drive so, we might be behind a few of you on the crazy scale!!

The idea is to have a safe vehicle that we can push and test products in an environment the factory body would get destroyed.

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psahkxcehd.jpg
The LS3 is finding a home in the chassis. Since we are using the factory JK chassis we need to make sure the headers, driveshaft, and control arm links all clear. Very tight fit but looks like it will all clear.

Work has been slow but we were able to set the drive train into the car. Along with this we are working on link mounts, drive shaft length/placement, and interference issues that come with fitting an LS3 in a Liquid Iron Industries Eliminator chassis that was grafted to a JK.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psbkclgmss.jpg
Drivetrain: Fresh from Summit Racing LS3 with 500ish horse power.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psnnnctasz.jpg
Transmission: 4L80E with some tricks and tunes.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psdgvodtm7.jpg
T-Case: Atlas. Axles: Currie Rock Jock 60 Front and Rock Jock 70 rear.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psikbgfm4y.jpg


We are shooting to get more done after Jeep Beach, Stay Tuned in

The suspension is starting to fall into place. Frame side brackets are tacked in and now we are checking clearance on components. For the front, we will largely be using off the shelf JK brakets on the frame side. As said prior, this is proof of product as well as a race vehicle.

For the rear we will be doing a modified version of our rock racer systems. However, since the frame was disposed of behind the rear seats and there is no longer a gas tank on the passenger side, we have decided to make use of the space. We integrate our rear upper bumpstops into the the rear upper link mounts. You can see we reinforced the landing pad for just this purpose.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psr14jrkn4.jpg

Now, if you're scratching your head at that link mount, don't worry. Similar to the rock racers we'll be running a reverse triangulated upper system. Instead of using the wishbone like the rock racer we instead opted for a traditional four link. Once again, no packaging restrictions so we simplified and made use of space. Here is the rear upper chassis side bracket:

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psxttpgzug.jpg

Finally, for the rear lowers we will be using a similar trailing arm setup that is in our rock racer kit. Once again to make a competitive car we will be using a longer arm but the same joints that you would find off the shelf in one of our kits.

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psm6i1sfib.jpg