Currie Enterprises' all-out Wrangler

The Jeep 4x4 YJ/Wrangler's popularity continues to rise, and Currie Enterprises has taken serious stock of the truck's potential. An avid family of off-roaders, the Curries have applied their high-performance engineering prowess to a series of Jeep-oriented components.

Frank Currie focused on an '88 Wrangler as a test bed for new product development. The 4.2L six gave way to a Rodec 350 Chevy block with a potent 383 stroker kit. Brodix heads and a '90 Corvette TPI induction system keep the truck motivated, while on serious trails, custom cooling by Y.L. Radiator takes the heat.

Art Carr built a 700R-4 automatic overdrive to harness the horsepower and transmit it to the stock transfer case. From the transfer case outward, the Currie Enterprises, success formula takes shape.

Gone is the Wrangler's OEM semi-floating front wheel-bearing system and lighter axle. The new Currie Enterprises front axle is a Ford 9-inch unit with a 4.11 gearset, Detroit Locker assembly and aluminum gearcase housing. The Curries fitted '86 CJ steering knuckles, hubs and disc brake rotors and added Superwinch locking hubs.

A 9-inch Ford axle also prevails at the rear, with a Detroit Locker doubling up the traction. The weight-saving aluminum gearcase and heavy-duty housing take the stresses of desert pounding and trail running. Forged alloy 31-spline axles and a Lincoln disc brake conversion bear the mark of Currie stamina and fine craftsmanship.

Unitrax built the driveshafts, while suspension relies on Rancho RS5000 shocks. Greaseable shackles by Currie Enterprises and custom spring plates by Frank Currie add durability. Re-arched stock leaf springs (three-inch lift front/two-inch rear with a torque leaf added at the rear) are the handiwork of Vehicle Spring Service.

ALWAYS ROOM FOR ACCESSORIES

For utility, the '88 Wrangler benefits from a Warn winch and Tank Tough fuel tank. The Curries carry HI-Lift jacks, and final traction comes from BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires mounted on Center Line wheels.

At the custom-built rear bumper, the Curries included a receiver mount. A stainless steel bumper enhances the front view of the Wrangler's bold styling. The custom paint work by Miracle Design gives the truck its show-winning looks.

Like other areas of the truck, the engine bay furnishes a test ground for new concepts. The aircompressor assembly is a Currie prototype. After thorough testing in the real world, the compressor will become a "kit" in the Currie Enterprises product line.

TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT

The Currie Enterprises' Wrangler is a welcome concept. Since 1987, the Wrangler has been a great truck in need of specialty equipment. As a successor the CJ, Wranglers now have support from quality aftermarket suppliers and equipment manufacturers like Currie Enterprises.

Currie Enterprises has many years of experience with high-performance axle design. As a producer of rugged, race-proven axle hardware, the Curries know machinery. Their interest and research about the Jeep Wrangler provide a real service to consumers.

Wranglers have the looks, frame, body style and comfort that make an off-pavement winner. Currie Enterprises can now provide the rest. Thanks, Curries, for your personal interest in off-roading and commitment to improving our trucks!

Bauer Junior II Portable air compressor

JUNIOR II-G SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum pressure 5,000 psi

Maximum RPM 2,300

Changing rate 3.9 to 4.3 scfm

Time to fill an 80 cu. ft. tank 18.6 to 20.5 minutes

Weight 92 pounds

Dimensions 30 by 15 by 16.5 inches

Construction Air cooled, 3 stage, 33 cylinder, high pressure compressor

Drive motor options 5.5 hp gasoline engine or 3 hp electric motors in single or three phase

So, you and your dive buddies are headed for Baja. You've planned your long-awaited dive/camping trip to the last detail. You're geared to go from fins to faceplate. Each diver has two scuba tanks filled to maximum pressure. Congratulations, that gives each of you a whopping two dives before someone has to drive from your remote camp to the nearest town big enough to have a dive shop. Two dives? That's hardly worth the effort.

But hold on. Here comes the cavalry. One of your buddies caught a break on his taxes this year and invested this small sum wisely - in a Bauer Junior II-G portable air compressor! As he pulls up with it in the back of his SUV, the rest of you begin to cheer. You know your trip will be a success now.

Handy Power

The Bauer Junior II-G, equipped with the 5.5 hp Honda engine, has a free air delivery of 3.6 cubic feet of air per minute at a maximum of 2,300 rpm. It can fill an aluminum 80 scuba tank from 500 to 3,000 psi in approximately 18.6 minutes. That's enough to keep you and your buddies in full tanks for as many dives as you can safely make each day.

You won't have to worry about maintenance, either. This dependable four cycle engine won't give you any trouble and will operate for about 2.6 hours before its .95 gallon tank needs a fill of regular unleaded gas. There is also an automatic engine shutdown feature should it ever run low on oil.

The entire compressor and engine system measures only 30 by 15 by 16.5 inches and weighs 92 pounds. With the convenient safety bar/handle, one or two divers can easily carry it from camp to seashore. The rubber "feet" on the bottom of the unit cushion vibrations and will protect surfaces it is placed on (such as a boat deck, if one of your other buddies got an even bigger tax refund!).

The five foot long fill hose has a line valve, scuba yoke, bleed valve and large pressure gauge, marked in psi and bars and protected by a rubber boot. DIN fittings are available.

Pure Air

The Junior II-G's air purification begins with a dust filter at the intake. (A three foot long, telescoping intake tube ensures the intake opening is placed well away from the engine exhaust.) The Bauer P0 breathing air purification system at the compressor's outlet converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and removes odors, oil and water. Your breathing air is always dry and super pure.

The compressor is air-cooled and is rated to a maximum operating pressure of 5,000 psi. It has a three-stage design featuring three cylinders, three intercoolers and three condensate drain valves. All three stages of the compressor are equipped with blow-off valves for safety. The maximum pressures for the first two stages are set at the factory. The third stage blow-off pressure is set for your application - most likely 3,200 psi for diving. An attractive aqua-blue plastic shroud covers the drive belt and fan.

Your Trip Saver

The Junior II-G portable air compressor could make your diving adventure dreams come true. It has a one-year warranty. Equipped with the Honda gas engine, it has a suggested retail price of $3,340. This includes the intake extension, P0 purification system and fill hose assembly as standard equipment. If your needs require electric motors, the Junior II-E1, equipped with a three hp, single phase motor, is available for $2,970. The Junior II-E3, with a three phase motor (also three hp), is $3,080.

Air compressors and air tanks: have air, will travel: onboard air systems

Being prepared for a mechanical breakdown is vital to the enjoyment of the 'wheeling experience. While you certainly can't anticipate every possible vehicular problem that may occur on a trail ride, it's wise to carry a supply of tools and general repair items that can be used during a field fix on your truck. Certainly, flat tires because of punctures or a popped bead are a concern, and carrying an onboard air supply of some type is paramount if you want to fix a flat.
An onboard air system is also handy if you lower the tire pressure for the tough stuff, since that allows you to air up the tires before you hit the highway. Another excellent use for an air compressor or air storage tank is to provide air for air-powered tools, though some enthusiasts consider packing air tools for a trail ride a bit extravagant. Whatever the use, an onboard air supply is so handy, versatile, and useful, it should be a part of every serious 'wheeler's stash.



* Oasis Off-Road Manufacturing has introduced its latest, greatest, onboard air compressor, the Trailhead, which was designed to be way-powerful and totally stout. The Trailhead's secret is the electric motor that powers the heavy-duty York OE-style compressor. The 5hp motor equipped with thermal-overload switch was originally designed as a winch motor, so powering an air compressor pump hardly taxes it at all.
Because of the powerful motor and the York air pump, the Trailhead doesn't use an air storage tank, yet it's powerful enough to run air tools or quickly inflate a large tire. How quickly? In less than 1 minute, a Trailhead compressor can inflate a 35x12.50 tire from 15 psi to 30 psi. For comparison, a typical 5hp shop air compressor with a 60-gallon tank will inflate the same tire to the same pressure in approximately 55 seconds. The Trailhead system is complete with 4-gauge power cables, a solenoid, air line fittings, an air filter fur the pump, a dipstick, and oil. The Trailhead will typically produce 125 psi when its motor is wired to run on 12 volts; for more output, the Trailhead can be set to accept 24 volts of juice, sending its max output to an impressive 175 psi.You can see the other compressor at my website.


* VIAIR manufactures an onboard or portable air compressor fur virtually every application, including compressors strong enough for fleet or tow-truck use. Although many of the smaller-capacity VIAIR compressors are perfectly adequate fur off-read use, we concentrated on VIAIR's big 500C unit for this article. Designed fur heavy-duty mobile applications, the 500C is loaded with performance and functionality.
The 500C generates a max pressure of 150 psi, draws less than 30 amps of electrical energy, is completely sealed against dirt and moisture, is fitted with a 1-1/2-feet-long stainless braided air hose, and includes an air filter on the compressor's air inlet. A gearless direct-drive electrical motor with an automatic thermal overload switch powers the compressor pump. That air pump is stout, using an oil-less design for low maintenance, and stainless steel valves, a (Teflon) PTFE-coated piston ring, and an anodized aluminum alloy cylinder for long service life. Note the trick cooling fins on the 500C's tank as well as the stout mounting feet. The VIAIR 500C is available with either a 3- or 5-gallon tank. The fill rate (from zero to 150 psi) fur the 3-gallon tank is 1 minute, 30 seconds.

* Advanced Air Systems doesn't manufacture air compressors. Instead, AAS takes a different approach when it comes to onboard air systems, using an extremely pressurized tank of C[O.sub.2] to provide air for all manner of uses, AAS offers two styles of air tanks: the original Power Tank and the new Power Shot.
The tanks share the same concept for supplying pressurized air: an aluminum cylinder (tank) fitted with a 250-psi SuperFlow regulator valve is filled with liquid C[O.sub.2], which creates an interior gas (air) pressure of 700-800 psi. When the valve is opened (to fill a tire), a small amount of C[O.sub.2] vapor gas (air) is released and used as compressed air.
After C[O.sub.2] is released from the tank, the chemical nature of liquid C[O.sub.2] causes a regeneration of vapor gas inside the cylinder, thus repressurizing the cylinder to 700-800 psi. By the way, C[O.sub.2] is completely safe as an air supply, as it's nontoxic, inert (non-flammable), and non-corrosive.
The DOT- approved, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy tanks are conservatively rated at 1,800 psi, with a burst pressure of 3,000-plus psi. The Power Tank is available in 5-, 10-, and 25-pound models and includes an adjustable (zero to 150 psi) SuperFlow regulator.
The Power Shot tank is available in the same sizes as the Power Tank' but uses a SuperFlow regulator that's factory set at 250 psi. In use, the Power Tank is impressive: the 10-pound bottle has enough pressure to air up a 33x12.50 tire from 20 psi to 20 psi in 30 seconds and enough capacity to air up the same tire 38 more times. Air tools can also be powered from the Power Shot or Power Tank, and the 150 psi produced really makes an air ratchet zing.