Baystate Jeepers

ZAEDOCK wrote:I know all about valve float. Started in drag racing prior to Jeeping. I used to shift my small block powered Malibu at 6,000 rpm. The valvetrain uses solid lifters and high pressure valve springs.

I've looked into the mopar stage 2 cam for the 2.5L. It moves the torque curve up in RPM and would make trail performance suffer. If you don't have the gears to be happy now, adding this kit would actually make it worse.

If you were to get the kit, the rebuild on the 2.5L will cost you about $1500.00 assembled. Having the machine work done and assembling it yourself would save a ton of money. Still, I think a supercharger (even at $3K) would give much better performance tossed on a stock engine than having a custom grind cam in an N/A motor.

I have three small block Chevy's in my shed and the right bellhousing to mate it to my SM420. I'm just not ready to take the plunge in my YJ. My little 2.5L sucks on the highway, but I always make it back to camp after a run. Even though it sucks, it has a character than can not be described. Having to floor it so I can make the hills in western MA or NH still puts a smile on my face. The trail performance is pretty good (except maybe deep mud), and I think I use much less gas than a 4.0L (less load due to gearing helps).

I'm going to get my fun with a V8 though, as I've finally decided on a drivetrain for my buggy. It will include a 350 Chevy ('carbed), SM465 tranny, and either a NP203 or NP208 Tcase. The rear axle will be a 14 bolt and the front a Dana 60. These are all going into a TJ carcass.

wesley4x4 wrote:

ZAEDOCK wrote:I know all about valve float. Started in drag racing prior to Jeeping. I used to shift my small block powered Malibu at 6,000 rpm. The valvetrain uses solid lifters and high pressure valve springs.

I've looked into the mopar stage 2 cam for the 2.5L. It moves the torque curve up in RPM and would make trail performance suffer. If you don't have the gears to be happy now, adding this kit would actually make it worse.

If you were to get the kit, the rebuild on the 2.5L will cost you about $1500.00 assembled. Having the machine work done and assembling it yourself would save a ton of money. Still, I think a supercharger (even at $3K) would give much better performance tossed on a stock engine than having a custom grind cam in an N/A motor.

I have three small block Chevy's in my shed and the right bellhousing to mate it to my SM420. I'm just not ready to take the plunge in my YJ. My little 2.5L sucks on the highway, but I always make it back to camp after a run. Even though it sucks, it has a character than can not be described. Having to floor it so I can make the hills in western MA or NH still puts a smile on my face. The trail performance is pretty good (except maybe deep mud), and I think I use much less gas than a 4.0L (less load due to gearing helps).

I'm going to get my fun with a V8 though, as I've finally decided on a drivetrain for my buggy. It will include a 350 Chevy ('carbed), SM465 tranny, and either a NP203 or NP208 Tcase. The rear axle will be a 14 bolt and the front a Dana 60. These are all going into a TJ carcass.

well i didn't want to start a war just a discussion on the topic and just post my readings butttt... thats going to be one sick buggy cant wait to see the finished product

schwalby wrote:I found the biggest gain in HP after I had the computer on the Jeep unplugged for over a month. Granted no testing what so ever was done to come to this it is purely based on my arse dyno. It seems a lot better now though.

Frank wrote:Wrong : After you diso the GROUND cable for at least 1 min. The computer starts at its base line so how you drive it is what it learns. FjR68

wesley4x4 wrote: yeah an ECU Reset... helps your jeep relearn everything due to engine upgrades (intake, exhaust, bigger throttle body's) or driver habits,

anyone know the proper procedure to resetting the ECU on the wranglers?

Carl McFly wrote:Engine management settings are stored in non-volatile memory and you'd need something like that COOL PROGRAMMER THAT TIM WON to change them

Carl McFly wrote: Engine management settings are stored in non-volatile memory and you'd need something like that COOL PROGRAMMER THAT TIM WON to change them

nostaw wrote: Carl -

Modern ECUs do "learn" from the driver and adjust over time. Resetting the computer (e.g. disconnect it from power for 10-15 mins) will clear the "learned" behavior that isn't from the factory back to a baseline (which is from the factory). Not all years do this, and I'm not sure when it started in the Jeep computers, but it was probably sometime in the mid / late '90s models.

I know my Subaru's ECU does "learn" how you drive... I've talked to the service guys at the dealer about it.

JW