The YJ was very confused to begin with.
Picking up where I left off
- Thread starter Chris
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Fits like a glove in today’s America.
left and right in America was literally like left and right hands helping to make things better. back then at least. I probably would have voted for Eisenhower back then.
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OP
Blazin_LJ
Member
The rental Jeeps up here have the PSC Steering. It’s probably the biggest advantage they have and they’re seriously built.
they see about 13 hours per day of trail time on some of the hardest trails in so cal and that PSC hasn’t failed on any of their 6 Jeeps
OP
I’ll bet!
I love the PSC hydro-assist. Turning in the rocks is now easy as can be. Thank goodness!
OP
I think enough time has elapsed now since I've had my TJ back from Blaine that I've really had a lot of time to formulate an opinion and offer some thoughts on my rig as it sits now.
I never, ever thought a TJ on 35s with a mid-arm suspension, 5.25" of lift, a belly-up skid, etc., would drive and handle better than ANY factory TJ on the road, period.
The switch to an automatic transmission was a game changer for me off-road. Between the SwayLOC and the outboard shocks, this thing can be driven like a getaway vehicle. A number of my friends have ridden in it and expressed deep concern when going into corners as fast as I've taken it. The look on their faces when we get through said corners with little to no body roll is the best. So far almost everyone I've taken along with me can't believe it is a Jeep, it handles that damn good.
The PSC is so good you'd never know it was there. It feels like factory, but better. No longer am I blown side-to-side on the highway when encountering a big head wind at 70 MPH.
My only (and I mean ONLY) gripe about this damn thing is that it's a fucking turd when it comes to power. Which leads me to my next conquest...I need more power!
A V8 isn't in the cards for me as it's too expensive and I'm just not sure a V8 belongs in a TJ to begin with. In a perfect world I'd have a higher horsepower V6 like the Pentastar paired to an 8-speed (or similar) automatic transmission that actually knows when to shift (unlike the 42RLE).
Since that's also not possible as well, it looks like the only real options here would be a turbo or a stroker. I don't want to deal with the turbo as it's going to open a can of worms in terms of major and serious heat soak, no where practical to put the intercooler (I have Setrab transmission cooler and a PSC power steering cooler in front of the radiator, so no room for an intercooler there).
I like the idea of a stroker, but I have yet to hear of a single stroker that has made it past 30k miles without a multitude of issues. If I can find a good engine builder that can build me a stroker that will be both reliable and add some power, that would be a game changer.
My thought is that if I cold get to 250 HP at the wheels (which is roughly 100 more wheel horsepower than a factory 4.0), that would be all I need.
Golen always comes up when we talk strokers, but I don't like the fact that they're asking $6000 plus for a stroker, yet they don't even bother telling you what parts they are using. For $6000 plus, they had better be using some damn high quality, top shelf parts. Not to mention I've also heard horror stories about Golen strokers.
Anyways, this all leaves me searching for more power. A supercharger is off the table. If I wanted to go forced induction a turbo is a far better option.
It sure would be cool if there was a more modern V6 that would fit into these things easily. I absolutely loved the power of the 3.6 Pentastar in my JK Rubicon when I had it.
I never, ever thought a TJ on 35s with a mid-arm suspension, 5.25" of lift, a belly-up skid, etc., would drive and handle better than ANY factory TJ on the road, period.
The switch to an automatic transmission was a game changer for me off-road. Between the SwayLOC and the outboard shocks, this thing can be driven like a getaway vehicle. A number of my friends have ridden in it and expressed deep concern when going into corners as fast as I've taken it. The look on their faces when we get through said corners with little to no body roll is the best. So far almost everyone I've taken along with me can't believe it is a Jeep, it handles that damn good.
The PSC is so good you'd never know it was there. It feels like factory, but better. No longer am I blown side-to-side on the highway when encountering a big head wind at 70 MPH.
My only (and I mean ONLY) gripe about this damn thing is that it's a fucking turd when it comes to power. Which leads me to my next conquest...I need more power!
A V8 isn't in the cards for me as it's too expensive and I'm just not sure a V8 belongs in a TJ to begin with. In a perfect world I'd have a higher horsepower V6 like the Pentastar paired to an 8-speed (or similar) automatic transmission that actually knows when to shift (unlike the 42RLE).
Since that's also not possible as well, it looks like the only real options here would be a turbo or a stroker. I don't want to deal with the turbo as it's going to open a can of worms in terms of major and serious heat soak, no where practical to put the intercooler (I have Setrab transmission cooler and a PSC power steering cooler in front of the radiator, so no room for an intercooler there).
I like the idea of a stroker, but I have yet to hear of a single stroker that has made it past 30k miles without a multitude of issues. If I can find a good engine builder that can build me a stroker that will be both reliable and add some power, that would be a game changer.
My thought is that if I cold get to 250 HP at the wheels (which is roughly 100 more wheel horsepower than a factory 4.0), that would be all I need.
Golen always comes up when we talk strokers, but I don't like the fact that they're asking $6000 plus for a stroker, yet they don't even bother telling you what parts they are using. For $6000 plus, they had better be using some damn high quality, top shelf parts. Not to mention I've also heard horror stories about Golen strokers.
Anyways, this all leaves me searching for more power. A supercharger is off the table. If I wanted to go forced induction a turbo is a far better option.
It sure would be cool if there was a more modern V6 that would fit into these things easily. I absolutely loved the power of the 3.6 Pentastar in my JK Rubicon when I had it.
Look up Newcomer Racing and have a serious chat with them about building you a stroker. I think with the availability of one of the high zoot CBR radiators and some custom work there, that may be a solution. At least they will tell you every single part they use.
OP
I will look them up. If I’m going to spend this much money I want to know what I am getting.
Chris, since you have seemed to eliminate virtually every power adder or V-8 ( Read LS ) known , where do you go from here?
A pentastar in a TJ sounds like a weirder combo than a GEN.3 Chevy ! After all a Jk comes with that, easier to get a JK than convert a TJ.
I doubt you could get the power you want from a injected 258 conversion.
So it sounds like the only path forward with your given parameters is a turboed setup. If your thinking outside the box, and time and cash are not an issue
, maybe go with a 3.8 Buick Grand National or my suggestion would be a 4.3 Chevy turbo, ( think GMC Syclone )
Not easy, but WAY stouter than the 3.6 mini van engine. Like 280Hp, 350 ft lbs.
Good luck with this situation!
I hope you and you family are doing well !
A pentastar in a TJ sounds like a weirder combo than a GEN.3 Chevy ! After all a Jk comes with that, easier to get a JK than convert a TJ.
I doubt you could get the power you want from a injected 258 conversion.
So it sounds like the only path forward with your given parameters is a turboed setup. If your thinking outside the box, and time and cash are not an issue
, maybe go with a 3.8 Buick Grand National or my suggestion would be a 4.3 Chevy turbo, ( think GMC Syclone )Not easy, but WAY stouter than the 3.6 mini van engine. Like 280Hp, 350 ft lbs.
Good luck with this situation!
I hope you and you family are doing well !
A 3.6 pentastar would be a great option for a TJ but the exhaust routing is what would hold us up from making that a reality.
OP
I recall a conversation with Blaine in which he told me he had tried to fit a 3.6 Pentastar to a TJ but it was more work than it was worth. If it was an easy swap though it would be a great one for sure.
OP
It all comes down to the amount of time, effort, and money to do an engine swap. With my SWB TJ and the mid-arm, I would likely run into a host of issues with a V8 swap. Not to mention here in the desert the cooling system could be a big issue as well. I seem to hear a lot of stories about V8 swaps overheating.Chris, since you have seemed to eliminate virtually every power adder or V-8 ( Read LS ) known , where do you go from here?
A pentastar in a TJ sounds like a weirder combo than a GEN.3 Chevy ! After all a Jk comes with that, easier to get a JK than convert a TJ.
I doubt you could get the power you want from a injected 258 conversion.
So it sounds like the only path forward with your given parameters is a turboed setup. If your thinking outside the box, and time and cash are not an issue
Not easy, but WAY stouter than the 3.6 mini van engine. Like 280Hp, 350 ft lbs.
Good luck with this situation!
I hope you and you family are doing well !
Thanks for the good wishes by the way!
I have not, I have access to several but the exhaust manifold is part of the head and lands on top of the upper control arm in a TJ.
OP
I love me some V8 power in a Jeep (can't wait to pull the tractor motor out of my LJ and replace it with a G3!), but everyone I know that has installed a R2.8 has liked it and quite happy with the performance, gas mileage, reliability and simplicity. Not cheap but not ridiculous either (at least compared to what has already been discussed).
I know you know wright and wrong. Good and bad. I wish I could tell you to install an LS and if you did not like it I would pay for it. If I were a gambler I would go for it because I know you would be blown away.
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