OP
Picking it up tomorrow afternoon! I'll report how it feels on the drive back. 
Modoc Guy builds a Jeep
- Thread starter Modoc Guy
- Start date
OP
Well, it’s been a while since I picked up the Jeep from the axle shop. I was anxious to run her to see how everything worked, and I got a chance on the NorCal Halloween run.
We planned on going to Cow Mountain near Ukiah, but since it wasn’t open, we headed a little north and ended up at Elk lake/Goat Mountain, then down to Nice at upper Clear Lake.
Which gave me an opportunity to run the freeway to Modesto (picked up my buddy for the day trip) then Ukiah, then back to Modesto when we finished, then back home via Reno.
All the work I did ran just fine, but one of the most pleasing things was the improvement in gas mileage with the new 4:10 gears.
Before the build, I averaged 11-12 mpg on 33’s with 3:73 gears and the 32RH automatic.
I checked my mileage on the last leg of my trip from Reno to home and got 14.85 mpg!
And it’s all freeway at 65mph with the cruise control set. There’s a mix of mountains and flat areas, and it’s 185 miles, so it’s a good mix of terrains for an mpg check.
And now with the 4:10’s it pulls the hills SO much better than the 3:73’s, there’s no comparison. Running the mountain route from Alturas to Redding was a breeze, and pulling the Donner to Reno was the easiest it’s ever been in the Jeep.
And while it’s no V-8, I’m more than satisfied with the investment in re-gearing. It’s just like @Jerry Bransford and many others said, so if you’re on the fence about re-gearing, there’s your testimonial!
Now, for the off-road portion of the trip. And while there weren’t any heavy duty rock crawls on this trip, I did get a chance to lock it up and climb a couple places and it felt pretty good. No more wheel slipping, and the 4:10’s definitely improved the 4-Low pulling power.
I could also feel the Vanco brakes upgrade in 4-Low. They do make a difference, and I can hardly wait till I get a chance to try them out crawling some rocks.
Had one casualty. I noticed the rear locker switch wasn’t lightning up halfway through my trip, and I was looking at it today and when I switched it, I didn’t hear the pump start.
I checked the fuse and it’s OK, so I’ll have to check the whole rear system. We crossed a few streams on the trails, and I’m hoping that the water didn’t damage something. I would have checked it all out today, but the wind was blowing at about 25 mph, and it was pretty cold, so it’ll have to wait for a warmer day.
We planned on going to Cow Mountain near Ukiah, but since it wasn’t open, we headed a little north and ended up at Elk lake/Goat Mountain, then down to Nice at upper Clear Lake.
Which gave me an opportunity to run the freeway to Modesto (picked up my buddy for the day trip) then Ukiah, then back to Modesto when we finished, then back home via Reno.
All the work I did ran just fine, but one of the most pleasing things was the improvement in gas mileage with the new 4:10 gears.
Before the build, I averaged 11-12 mpg on 33’s with 3:73 gears and the 32RH automatic.
I checked my mileage on the last leg of my trip from Reno to home and got 14.85 mpg!
And it’s all freeway at 65mph with the cruise control set. There’s a mix of mountains and flat areas, and it’s 185 miles, so it’s a good mix of terrains for an mpg check.
And now with the 4:10’s it pulls the hills SO much better than the 3:73’s, there’s no comparison. Running the mountain route from Alturas to Redding was a breeze, and pulling the Donner to Reno was the easiest it’s ever been in the Jeep.
And while it’s no V-8, I’m more than satisfied with the investment in re-gearing. It’s just like @Jerry Bransford and many others said, so if you’re on the fence about re-gearing, there’s your testimonial!
Now, for the off-road portion of the trip. And while there weren’t any heavy duty rock crawls on this trip, I did get a chance to lock it up and climb a couple places and it felt pretty good. No more wheel slipping, and the 4:10’s definitely improved the 4-Low pulling power.
I could also feel the Vanco brakes upgrade in 4-Low. They do make a difference, and I can hardly wait till I get a chance to try them out crawling some rocks.
Had one casualty. I noticed the rear locker switch wasn’t lightning up halfway through my trip, and I was looking at it today and when I switched it, I didn’t hear the pump start.
I checked the fuse and it’s OK, so I’ll have to check the whole rear system. We crossed a few streams on the trails, and I’m hoping that the water didn’t damage something. I would have checked it all out today, but the wind was blowing at about 25 mph, and it was pretty cold, so it’ll have to wait for a warmer day.
OP
I forgot to mention the vibration issues. 
Tony at Action Axle adjusted a lot of the vibration out of the front, but not all. I was pleased he helped me see what I couldn’t see myself, and he didn’t charge me all that much. The new front DS was more expensive than he was. Good guy.
I wasn’t comfortable driving it at freeway speed before he worked on it, but it was much better at 65 when he was done, so I figured I should kinda run it and break it in.
It vibrates a little around 55 or so, on and off. And I had it up to a little over 75 and felt a little there too. I thinking a little fine tuning finesse is what I need now.
And after the Halloween Run, it seems a little smoother. But I do plan on re-visiting the front end setup.
I need some double adjustable front upper CA’s to replace the stock CA’s and pull the bump stops back to center, then play with the pinion angle to see if I can sweet talk it into playing nice!
Then get a UFC aluminum engine skid mounted, and I think I’ll be ready for the Rubicon next spring.
Tony at Action Axle adjusted a lot of the vibration out of the front, but not all. I was pleased he helped me see what I couldn’t see myself, and he didn’t charge me all that much. The new front DS was more expensive than he was. Good guy.
I wasn’t comfortable driving it at freeway speed before he worked on it, but it was much better at 65 when he was done, so I figured I should kinda run it and break it in.
It vibrates a little around 55 or so, on and off. And I had it up to a little over 75 and felt a little there too. I thinking a little fine tuning finesse is what I need now.
And after the Halloween Run, it seems a little smoother. But I do plan on re-visiting the front end setup.
I need some double adjustable front upper CA’s to replace the stock CA’s and pull the bump stops back to center, then play with the pinion angle to see if I can sweet talk it into playing nice!
Then get a UFC aluminum engine skid mounted, and I think I’ll be ready for the Rubicon next spring.
That’s pretty cool, Modoc. Do you have an idea what your highway mileage was before? I noted that you said your average was 11-12 - so I assumed that was mixed.
And congrats on the gearing improvement. Lower gears giving more power, better mileage, and a better driving experience. Man, whodda thought?
And congrats on the gearing improvement. Lower gears giving more power, better mileage, and a better driving experience. Man, whodda thought?
OP
I think the best I ever got was 12 1/2 mpg, and that wasn’t climbing any grades.That’s pretty cool, Modoc. Do you have an idea what your highway mileage was before? I noted that you said your average was 11-12 - so I assumed that was mixed.
And congrats on the gearing improvement. Lower gears giving more power, better mileage, and a better driving experience. Man, whodda thought?
And I did always seem to get mixed results, and I attribute that to driving conditions.
And it’s not like the Jeep turned into a Hellcat, or a Prius, but it is a quite noticeable improvement.
Being the doubting Thomas I am, I needed to see it.
OP
Not yet, they got put on hold for a while, along with the engine skid.
I did play with the front pinion angle trying a couple degrees up and down from zero degrees and found it didn’t make much difference.
So I decided to set it at 1 degree up since mechanically that’s where it should run without issue.
I’ve driven it a bunch since then, and while it still vibrates at times, it’s not that bad.
I find what irritates me most about it is that it never did that before the build, and I couldn’t get it perfect when I did the work. And being a perfectionist, that’s what really pissed me off.
And it’ll probably be a while before I get back to the Jeep. I bought a Sportster, and a new house, so that’s kinda sucking up all my time and money right now.
But it’ll get done sometime this year. Moving is foremost in my mind right now.
I can imagine the irritation for a perfectionist! And This is year is a great year to put projects on hold with supply shortage anyway! Good luck with the moving.Not yet, they got put on hold for a while, along with the engine skid.
I did play with the front pinion angle trying a couple degrees up and down from zero degrees and found it didn’t make much difference.
So I decided to set it at 1 degree up since mechanically that’s where it should run without issue.
I’ve driven it a bunch since then, and while it still vibrates at times, it’s not that bad.
I find what irritates me most about it is that it never did that before the build, and I couldn’t get it perfect when I did the work. And being a perfectionist, that’s what really pissed me off.
And it’ll probably be a while before I get back to the Jeep. I bought a Sportster, and a new house, so that’s kinda sucking up all my time and money right now.
But it’ll get done sometime this year. Moving is foremost in my mind right now.
Did you buy a house in Nevada?Not yet, they got put on hold for a while, along with the engine skid.
I did play with the front pinion angle trying a couple degrees up and down from zero degrees and found it didn’t make much difference.
So I decided to set it at 1 degree up since mechanically that’s where it should run without issue.
I’ve driven it a bunch since then, and while it still vibrates at times, it’s not that bad.
I find what irritates me most about it is that it never did that before the build, and I couldn’t get it perfect when I did the work. And being a perfectionist, that’s what really pissed me off.
And it’ll probably be a while before I get back to the Jeep. I bought a Sportster, and a new house, so that’s kinda sucking up all my time and money right now.
But it’ll get done sometime this year. Moving is foremost in my mind right now.
OP
OP
Here it is. It’s too muddy to get it up to the ranch, so it’s stored at a friends house in Modesto.
I spent a couple hours putting around there getting my “bike legs” back. After about a half an hour, I was feeling pretty comfortable and was getting a feel for how it handled.
So, this summer, it’s definitely gonna a competition between which toy gets the most hours!
But I will say the Jeep’s got the edge for daily driver, I can’t carry many groceries on the Sporty!
View attachment 303588
Here it is. It’s too muddy to get it up to the ranch, so it’s stored at a friends house in Modesto.
I spent a couple hours putting around there getting my “bike legs” back. After about a half an hour, I was feeling pretty comfortable and was getting a feel for how it handled.
So, this summer, it’s definitely gonna a competition between which toy gets the most hours!
But I will say the Jeep’s got the edge for daily driver, I can’t carry many groceries on the Sporty!
I've got some good books on how to hop up the Sporty engines. I had two Buell's so I was always looking for ways to get a few more ponies out of them.
And then I'd gotten my ex into riding (when we met she wouldn't ride) and ended up buying her 3 different Sporties. I've got some parts too. Have extra stock pipes and some handlebars. I've got some mini-floorboards to replace the foot pegs too.
I don't know what else I've got without going thru all my stuff. Let me get my Jeep done and I'll look to see if there is anything you might want.
OP
I’m starting with suspension, shocks are so stiff, it’s like riding a rigid frame!
Then probably air cleaner, Mikuni hsr 42, and a more free flowing exhaust.
And thanks, let me know what you’ve got when you have time to check.
Most important thing is getting that Jeep on the road!
I might have a air cleaner for it and the exhaust I have is stock or might not be. I'll take some pictures for you when I can. If you still have carbs then some of the stuff I have might fit or not since it was made for FI.
OP
Yup, last year for a carb. And I can work on a carb easy, fuel injection not so much.
I hadn’t kept up with Harley’s in many years, and I’m amazed at how much electronics are in them now.
Mine is a 2015 and it has a TON of electronics compared to the bikes I'd worked on in the early 80's. But I ride a couch now too.
This was the ex's first Sporty.
And this was her second one.
Congratulations on the new house! Does this mean we'll have to call you "Fernley Guy" now?
OP
Nope, the family is still here at the ranch, and I’ll still be here a bunch. So I’ll keep my Modoc roots and handle.Congratulations on the new house! Does this mean we'll have to call you "Fernley Guy" now?
And while I’ll live in Nevada, all my family and friends are still in NorCal, so that’s where I’ll Jeep and ride!
Besides, Fernley Guy sounds kinda goofy, doesn’t it?
OP
Wow, those Sporty’s are decked out! They both look like XL customs. 1200’s, or 883’s?
I know you got your daughter a bike a while back, so the whole family’s on 2 wheels.
That’s pretty cool!