Mvigo's '04 Rubicon

[Midnight LJR]

I got to check out your Jeep today.

Cool Rig!

 

[mvigo]

I got to check out your Jeep today.

Cool Rig!

Thanks! I am glad I did the work, but I am thankful and very appreciative @mrblaine took me on and dialed me in and reworked my mistakes and I am very happy he did the outboard work. He went over and above what he thought he was getting. Top shelf guy he is...

 

[mrblaine]

Thanks! I am glad I did the work, but I am thankful and very appreciative @mrblaine took me on and dialed me in and reworked my mistakes and I am very happy he did the outboard work. He went over and above what he thought he was getting. Top shelf guy he is...

Fortunately I was able to move some stuff around to ease the schedule conflict and that allowed me to concentrate and I really needed to be able to concentrate on this one.

 

[mvigo]

Fortunately I was able to move some stuff around to ease the schedule conflict and that allowed me to concentrate and I really needed to be able to concentrate on this one.

Believe me when I say I learn from mistakes but what I am really learning is I should stick to my day job! Thanks again for your flexibility...I owe you one (or 2 or 5...!)

 

[mrblaine]

Believe me when I say I learn from mistakes but what I am really learning is I should stick to my day job! Thanks again for your flexibility...I owe you one (or 2 or 5...!)

Like I explained, they are only mistakes if they fail. They didn't.

 

[mvigo]

Roadtrip over.

Yesterday, I drove down and picked up my TJ from @mrblaine as he completed the front and rear outboard for me. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I was hoping to have this box checked by year-end and that there was only one guy I wanted to do it.

I couldn't be happier...

Plenty has been said about @mrblaine here on this forum. I was drawn to him years ago due to his matter of fact speak, his very dry wit humor, and practical thought process that resonated with me. Throughout my life and career, I have always learned from and respected someone who doesn't beat around the bush and calls a spade a spade. Someone who continually questions you, not to make you feel inadequate, but to drill down and make sure that the answer you arrive at is crystal clear.

I reached out to him via email earlier this year asking if he would outboard the shocks on my TJ, he didn't know me at all, we had never met. He agreed to perform the work a few weeks back. The guy in person is as humble as they come. I don't know where he gets the energy to answer our phone calls or emails, offer up his knowledge on this forum all while running a business and enjoying his life. You don't always have to agree with him but know this: the thought that he puts into everyone of our questions is not some flippant, off the seat comment. He is methodical, deliberate, passionate and truly cares about our beloved TJ's, how they work and, most important, how they can be improved. Shade tree mechanic? Redneck engineering? no fucking way. He is to the Jeep world what Clessie Cummins was to the diesel motor or Phil Remington was to the Shelby Cobra. His work is impeccable.

Thanks, @mrblaine, I have a huge smile on my face and it is a pleasure to get to know you...

rear outboard:

front:

if you know, you know:

 

[Alex01]

Roadtrip over.

Yesterday, I drove down and picked up my TJ from @mrblaine as he completed the front and rear outboard for me. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I was hoping to have this box checked by year-end and that there was only one guy I wanted to do it.

I couldn't be happier...

Plenty has been said about @mrblaine here on this forum. I was drawn to him years ago due to his matter of fact speak, his very dry wit humor, and practical thought process that resonated with me. Throughout my life and career, I have always learned from and respected someone who doesn't beat around the bush and calls a spade a spade. Someone who continually questions you, not to make you feel inadequate, but to drill down and make sure that the answer you arrive at is crystal clear.

I reached out to him via email earlier this year asking if he would outboard the shocks on my TJ, he didn't know me at all, we had never met. He agreed to perform the work a few weeks back. The guy in person is as humble as they come. I don't know where he gets the energy to answer our phone calls or emails, offer up his knowledge on this forum all while running a business and enjoying his life. You don't always have to agree with him but know this: the thought that he puts into everyone of our questions is not some flippant, off the seat comment. He is methodical, deliberate, passionate and truly cares about our beloved TJ's, how they work and, most important, how they can be improved. Shade tree mechanic? Redneck engineering? no fucking way. He is to the Jeep world what Clessie Cummins was to the diesel motor or Phil Remington was to the Shelby Cobra. His work is impeccable.

Thanks, @mrblaine, I have a huge smile on my face and it is a pleasure to get to know you...

rear outboard:
View attachment 184266

front:
View attachment 184267

if you know, you know:
View attachment 184268

Looks great. Cant wait to hear your next trail report with them.

 

[mrblaine]

Roadtrip over.

Yesterday, I drove down and picked up my TJ from @mrblaine as he completed the front and rear outboard for me. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I was hoping to have this box checked by year-end and that there was only one guy I wanted to do it.

I couldn't be happier...

Plenty has been said about @mrblaine here on this forum. I was drawn to him years ago due to his matter of fact speak, his very dry wit humor, and practical thought process that resonated with me. Throughout my life and career, I have always learned from and respected someone who doesn't beat around the bush and calls a spade a spade. Someone who continually questions you, not to make you feel inadequate, but to drill down and make sure that the answer you arrive at is crystal clear.

I reached out to him via email earlier this year asking if he would outboard the shocks on my TJ, he didn't know me at all, we had never met. He agreed to perform the work a few weeks back. The guy in person is as humble as they come. I don't know where he gets the energy to answer our phone calls or emails, offer up his knowledge on this forum all while running a business and enjoying his life. You don't always have to agree with him but know this: the thought that he puts into everyone of our questions is not some flippant, off the seat comment. He is methodical, deliberate, passionate and truly cares about our beloved TJ's, how they work and, most important, how they can be improved. Shade tree mechanic? Redneck engineering? no fucking way. He is to the Jeep world what Clessie Cummins was to the diesel motor or Phil Remington was to the Shelby Cobra. His work is impeccable.

Thanks, @mrblaine, I have a huge smile on my face and it is a pleasure to get to know you...

rear outboard:
View attachment 184266

front:
View attachment 184267

if you know, you know:
View attachment 184268

Thank you for the kind words. Go shake it down and let me know how the shocks feel. That always helps me figure out the next tune so we can keep improving.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Roadtrip over.

Yesterday, I drove down and picked up my TJ from @mrblaine as he completed the front and rear outboard for me. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I was hoping to have this box checked by year-end and that there was only one guy I wanted to do it.

I couldn't be happier...

Plenty has been said about @mrblaine here on this forum. I was drawn to him years ago due to his matter of fact speak, his very dry wit humor, and practical thought process that resonated with me. Throughout my life and career, I have always learned from and respected someone who doesn't beat around the bush and calls a spade a spade. Someone who continually questions you, not to make you feel inadequate, but to drill down and make sure that the answer you arrive at is crystal clear.

I reached out to him via email earlier this year asking if he would outboard the shocks on my TJ, he didn't know me at all, we had never met. He agreed to perform the work a few weeks back. The guy in person is as humble as they come. I don't know where he gets the energy to answer our phone calls or emails, offer up his knowledge on this forum all while running a business and enjoying his life. You don't always have to agree with him but know this: the thought that he puts into everyone of our questions is not some flippant, off the seat comment. He is methodical, deliberate, passionate and truly cares about our beloved TJ's, how they work and, most important, how they can be improved. Shade tree mechanic? Redneck engineering? no fucking way. He is to the Jeep world what Clessie Cummins was to the diesel motor or Phil Remington was to the Shelby Cobra. His work is impeccable.

Thanks, @mrblaine, I have a huge smile on my face and it is a pleasure to get to know you...

rear outboard:
View attachment 184266

front:
View attachment 184267

if you know, you know:
View attachment 184268

Well said. Congrats on the upgrades!

 

[mvigo]

Drove about 40 miles today on freeway, residential roads and dirt roads, Jeep feels secure, solid, stable at any speed. My jeep testing grounds I've used for the last 10 years. I couldn't do this before...now, if there was something reasonable I could do to get more power out of the 4.0...

 

[mvigo]

these Fox shocks came with the Savvy mid-arm kit. The fronts have about 6000 miles on them, the backs less then 1000 miles. In the spirit of paying it forward, PM me if YOU could use them, you pay shipping (I won't get a quote either), unless your local to SF Bay Area and we can arrange a pickup.

EDIT: BOTH THE REARS & FRONTS HAVE BEEN PASSED ON!

 

[rasband]

Drove about 40 miles today on freeway, residential roads and dirt roads, Jeep feels secure, solid, stable at any speed. My jeep testing grounds I've used for the last 10 years. I couldn't do this before...now, if there was something reasonable I could do to get more power out of the 4.0...

View attachment 184359
View attachment 184360
View attachment 184361

This is a great build, it’s always impressive how much Blaine can elevate a build that’s already good. I plan to go this direction over time hoping I can emulate many of the good parts.

 

[mrblaine]

Drove about 40 miles today on freeway, residential roads and dirt roads, Jeep feels secure, solid, stable at any speed. My jeep testing grounds I've used for the last 10 years. I couldn't do this before...now, if there was something reasonable I could do to get more power out of the 4.0...

View attachment 184359
View attachment 184360
View attachment 184361

How is the ride quality? Small event harshness gone now?

 

[mvigo]

How is the ride quality? Small event harshness gone now?

So far I love the ride quality, there is NO small event harshness, the tune appears to be spot on. I have some slightly potted, wash board dirt roads where I live and the difference over that surface is night and day. Freeway, the ride is stable at all speeds. Confidence level is way up driving it in terms of response and predictability. I am looking forward to seeing how it performs on the trail. That won't be until end of September as of now.

The downside of outboarding in my mind, and I never thought I would say this, is how it has accentuated the glaring lack of power in these 4.0's!

 

[mrblaine]

So far I love the ride quality, there is NO small even harshness, the tune appears to be spot on. I have some slightly potted, wash board dirt roads where I live and the difference over that surface is night and day. Freeway, the ride is stable at all speeds. Confidence level is way up driving it in terms of response and predictability. I am looking forward to seeing how it performs on the trail. That won't be until end of September as of now.

Well, not that you would but you can sling that thing around corners now with little issue. It handles well.

The downside of outboarding in my mind, and I never thought I would say this, is how it has accentuated the glaring lack of power in these 4.0's!

I didn't check but what gears do you have?

If you are somewhere around 4.88 then that is just the 4.0 in all of it's glory. It's reliable. The rest is pretty much bullshit and I am always astounded over how acceptable that is. It doesn't do anything very well, it doesn't do much that is terrible.

 

[mvigo]

Well, not that you would but you can sling that thing around corners now with little issue. It handles well.


I didn't check but what gears do you have?

If you are somewhere around 4.88 then that is just the 4.0 in all of it's glory. It's reliable. The rest is pretty much bullshit and I am always astounded over how acceptable that is. It doesn't do anything very well, it doesn't do much that is terrible.

Slinging around corner years are behind me.

I re-geared to 4.88's so I know what I am up against. My CJ7 is the same way. I know I am driving 2 bricks on top of 4 wheels with the inline 6 powering down the road, been doing that since I bought my CJ7 in 1996. Tradeoff is the low torque, very reliable motor. I would rather have that than a testy, high powered engine. If I were to do anything, it would have to be reliable. I don't think I want to supercharge, I don't want to engine swap. A stroker project is the most interesting route to me, I just haven't looked into costs and reliability. Just as I enjoyed my mid arm upgrade for a couple of years, I am now going to enjoy the outboard for a couple of years.

There is the tortoise, and then the hare. For now, I am resigned to being the tortoise..,.

 

[Midnight LJR]

......
The downside of outboarding in my mind, and I never thought I would say this, is how it has accentuated the glaring lack of power in these 4.0's!

Yup, Blaine is responsible for research into a stroker motor.

When mine didn’t use to drive anywhere near this good I was always like “why would you need more power in a Jeep?”

 

[5632]

Yup, Blaine is responsible for research into a stroker motor.

When mine didn’t use to drive anywhere near this good I was always like “why would you need more power in a Jeep?”

So you can make a JK or JL assumed.

 

[mvigo]

So you can make a JK or JL assumed.

????

 

[5632]

So you can make a JK or JL assumed.

Not assumed. I misspelled. Correct word is ashamed. I apologize.