Good timing, I spoke with him yesterday to get a PCM ordered soon for my 06 LJ auto and TJ manual. He did mention a tuned version being available but first asked if my state had emissions or inspections. I'll be ordering one from him possibly this week, more likely in a couple weeks. The shift points and known the stock PCM has problems is the main thing keeping me from putting many miles on the LJ
NSG370 vs 42RLE
- Thread starter OutdoorEd
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Good timing, I spoke with him yesterday to get a PCM ordered soon for my 06 LJ auto and TJ manual. He did mention a tuned version being available but first asked if my state had emissions or inspections. I'll be ordering one from him possibly this week, more likely in a couple weeks. The shift points and known the stock PCM has problems is the main thing keeping me from putting many miles on the LJ
Ooh! I'd like that. I've found myself flipping the OD on with the WF tune just to see how it performs over the whole range and I personally like it more (though my gearing is insufficient at 456 and 35's, but I'll get harmonic vibes at 67mph if I regear to 513, so that's my story there).
I understand if you don’t want to do it, but running manual hubs up front makes it feel like I’m riding on rails (compared to when the front end is engaged). Im happy I did the hubs even though my front vibes aren’t as bad when engaged compared to other rigs I’ve felt with the front engaged.
Also, my front TW driveshaft has taken a beating in the trails and it simply doesn’t matter since it’s turned off when I’m on the road.
I did the hubs before the automatic. Even then, it was a nice change for the street where the front was just noticeable as being a freer to roll and turn. I can tell when the hubs are locked or not.
It was nice to not have much concern with the auto and 5.38 by having hubs already in place.
Oh, I want to do hubs. Problem is it slows my build progress down for more than two years. It would cost $5500 to get back to where I am because my beadlocks are 3.75” BS and hubs would take me to ~2.85” (which is unacceptable, and my wife bought the beadlocks for me for Christmas, so I can’t justify selling them). I’m pretty happy with my 0-60mph time being 12.5-13sec right now (though I would like to change the shift points of my WF PCM as you described), and right now my goals are rear outboard, shock tuning, and upgrading my steering with PSC. I have more big plans after that, so I’m not sure how far I want to go. I’m thinking about getting into knife making, so I’m researching that, which I think would end my Jeep journey here, though I doubt I will do it. It’s very interesting, but the amount of time it would take to develop the skill would be on the order of years.
As awesome as Chris's Jeep was, I knew I'd be paying for his seats that didn't fit me right and his beadlocks that I'd need to sell...when installing manual hubs for a regear to 5.38s since his rig had 4.88s from before the auto swap.
I simply couldn't justify paying for a nice rig like that only to gut and replace parts for an additional $10k. I had also just paid for a full RJ kit, so I know what you mean about not wanting to throw money away.
I was fortunate this winter to find a set of 5 like-new 5x5.5" TR BLs in all black on Facebook. They weren't a screaming deal, but they did save me money over getting them at retail.
I usually take the deals when I see them on marketplace. You understand where I am and what I’m trying to do. It amazed me about two years ago when I realized that the next steps for my nice short arm 35’s Jeep were more expensive than all the previous steps. I’m still twiddling my thumbs, but at least this year I completed the auto swap and snagged some beadlocks. Soft top project near completion too.
I thought I emptied every pocket a while ago...boy was I wrong.
yeah, once you hit a certain point...it gets VERY expensive, VERY quickly. 200 dollar projects become 2000 dollars.
The question used to be, “How much to run 35’s?” The answer used to be $10k if done “right.” But if you really want it done right the answer is $20k+. Part of that is about how many “do-overs” am I going to have to “do-over?”
It’s just money and it’s been slow and steady for me. At times I lose interest, and I’m sure I’ll hit the end zone some day and say “that’s it.” Then what? Something else will come along. Always need a project. Something to think about and learn and mostly “do”. Money well-spent.
I still think the 10k number would work to do 35’s “right.”
Once you start adding the “nice stuff” like hydro-assist, really good shocks, full armor, etc. you’re blurring the line between road car and race car. We just don’t think of them as race cars, cuz they slow…
But the parallels exist with SCCA racing and drag racing. Cost vs performance is not a linear graph…it’s exponential
The curious thing about these "nice stuffs" is that they can be done in a way that makes the TJ into a surprisingly nice road car that is also capable of all the exciting things people tend to associate with an off road Jeep. Except that those things are also a lot nicer than expected.
The evolution of mine over the last couple years has turned it into a very odd and interesting vehicle.
I see that over and over. People build their ultimate 4x4 that's too big to be driven anymore economically or practically. They plan destinations that don't happen since their "wheeler" isn't suited for daily driving anymore.Then sell x amount of years after disuse.
I'm limiting mine to 33's so cost of maintenance and operation is under control. I drive it every chance i get.trips to the beach,fishing or just dates.
The modifications are fun,but daily driver is my priority
Some days I wish I was still on 33’s. I daily it on 35’s, if you can call 1,900 miles since Feb 21 a daily driver. I use it for date night and errands on Thursday-Saturday, which are few. The rest of the time it sits and gets tinkered with. My wife said tonight, “I love this Jeep! Don’t ever get rid of it. We’ll just get you another car for running around in.” I said, “yeah, like an older Ford Ranger or something.” She looked at me like I was crazy. She said she wants me to have a nice truck. I said, “You know me. I’ll make it nice.” She was good with that. If I gave the Jeep up I would have to find another project/hobby. I’ve been looking into knife-making. A lot to chew off there. I kinda admire guys who go through car after car modding along the way. I don’t know how they do it. I get attached.
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I have this battle at times too. My brother and dad are into older c10s now. My brother use to wheel with me. Lately work and life has been stopping the wheeling for me on just about every scheduled trip with buddies.
I get attached to rigs too and have buddies who will buy, mod and flip 5 rigs before I'm done with 1. The thought of moving on from wheeling after it's been a big part of my adult life for years is a bit sad too.
For now, we love the jeep and just cruising so that is enough. After I fix and the ac
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Give me a blank sheet of paper and the ability to do whatever I want, it won't be a build on 33's for any reason especially cost of maintenance because that is pretty much a wash.
You have to regear, same cost.
You may have to get a hub kit, same cost.
Tires and rims are scant few percentage points in cost apart.
If you wheel it, you still need a raised belly, armor, bumpers, a winch, and recovery gear. Even more so on 33's since you'll lower and more likely to get hung up.
What line are you seeing that is the big cost difference between a nice 33" tire build and a nice 35" tire build? Or are we just sticking to street driven daily and dirt roads as the wheeling level?
I have this battle at times too. My brother and dad are into older c10s now. My brother use to wheel with me. Lately work and life has been stopping the wheeling for me on just about every scheduled trip with buddies.
I get attached to rigs too and have buddies who will buy, mod and flip 5 rigs before I'm done with 1. The thought of moving on from wheeling after it's been a big part of my adult life for years is a bit sad too.
For now, we love the jeep and just cruising so that is enough. After I fix and the ac
Hopefully life and work will slow down for you at some point and you can get back to wheelin. I’m pretty much facing the same thing you are right now. My oldest daughter got married last week, and it was in TX 2000 miles away from where we live now. I’ve got four more kids. One is probably getting married next year. Not only is this all expensive, but we’re getting to meet their spouses and it’s all just a lot. Job is easy now, I’m only working two jobs. Come end of August I go back on three jobs til next May, so I’m going to be swamped. I’m still planning some winter projects though! Hang in there, and don’t sell your Jeep!
Over on the Gladiator forum I saw countless people putting in $10K+ lifts to never use them. Of course there are a handful that do almost every weekend, but the majority never used the high end components they purchased. I opted for the AEV option due to weight and wanting to retain stock handling characteristics, and man I got a lot of naysayers, people telling me using stock arms was crap and I'll never get extreme flex - but they never could wrap their brains around the fact my use case was NOT rock crawling.... Kinda mind boggling how different use cases can be so overlooked. But it did everything I needed and more with great comfort and practically no maintenance needed (bonded rubber bushings). For that reason I wont be going over 31's and a maximum of 2.5" lift on either the TJ or LJ. Even just stock form is honestly more than sufficient for 90% of the FS roads in my area anyway.
I recall a super cool video I watched some years ago about I think 5 CJ's that crossed the Darian Gap, and did other trips, and they were bone stock (well, suspension, engine, trans anyway). I think they only had a slightly larger tire than stock. All for easy repairability.
You either!
I'll make time to get the jeep and family out. I built with the goal of double duty family adventure rig to national/state parks and rock crawler for solo trips.
So far it's meeting that goal but ironing out a few kinks now after a big jump in the build. DS vibes around 45 and past 70mph and ac condenser. Should have those worked out here soon though!
Back on topic though, my 6 speed is loudest manual I think I have ever had. It's definitely a box of rocks and there is no speed shifting it. I love the ratios though.
