Another Scrambler Purchase/Road Trip - UPDATE- BODY ON FRAME AGAIN

[spankrjs]

Incredibly nice! would you like to take mine and work on it while I drive yours a while??? Please?

I'm wondering if youve done any mileage checking with the EFI install complete and the drive to Laurel for testing? I did the efi with a 4.0 head in March and I agree with your assessment on the throttle response and driveability, I'm running an auto trans and wonder if that's what is impacting my power and mileage to where my overall performance isnt what it might be. I couldnt keep up with a stock TJ yesterday morning and she wasnt even getting into it... Like you I'm running 4.10s and 35s

Thanks

Appreciate it I can't take on any more Scramblers right now, I still have one of "JeepAddicts" refugees in my yard LOL If I get back out to New Mexico again anytime soon I will definitely let you borrow it

I have done a little MPG checking since I put on the EFI.

1) I drove from Biloxi, MS to Mobile, AL a couple of weeks back. Close to 120 mile round trip. All I10 Interstate driving, mainly flat, no real hills or grades. With light traffic, I was able to maintain a near constant speed, i.e. no speeding up and slowing down. I did not have the top or doors on. I got right at 17 MPG at 70 MPH.

2) Drove from Biloxi, MS to Laurel, MS the other day. I only kept up with the mileage on the way up there. Close to 100 miles, one way. Main route was HWY 49 to I59. Trip consisted of several red lights, one unexpected stop (problem with another Jeep), and inconsistent speed (between 65-75 MPH). This route is kind of hilly. No super steep grades, but lots of rolling hills. I had the top and doors on. I got right at 15-15.5 MPG. I think the biggest reason for the drop in mileage was the inconsistent speed.

3) When I got to Laurel, I filled up with gas. I drove around all day (from 9:30AM to 3:30PM) in the national forest. This driving consisted of hubs locked in driving, 4 wheel drive usage, extended idling, up to 40 MPH blasts down gravel roads, mud riding, etc. I did not keep up with the miles, unfortunately. But, I only burned 5 gallons of gas, which I did not think was too bad, and we did drive quite a bit on the gravel service roads, I would guess we probably drove around 40 miles.


As far as power, I can easily keep up with a stock TJ. My power feels strong all the way up to around 70 MPH. I can still pass people and go faster then 70 MPH, but the tire size really takes its toll on high speed acceleration after 70 MPH. I can comfortably pass people on the interstate, but I can definitely tell that I don't have a V8 any more LOL. Overall, I am more then pleased with the overall power, way stronger then when I had a carb. Not V8 strong, but I like this setup better, especially the MPG. My 304 powered CJ-7 was only getting 13 MPG on the highway (304, 4 speed, 3.73's and 33's), but it had loads of power.

My 4 speed manual transmission setup might give me a slight performance edge over an auto

You might need to run a scan on your EFI. I borrowed the mechanic from works scanner the other day. I only had 1 code pop up, a code 37, "Short in Torque Converter part Throttle Unlock Solenoid". I am using the automatic computer with a manual transmission. I think I might need to ground the brown wire that comes out of my EFI harness, but I am waiting to hear back from Hesco before I start grounding out wires

 

[trust]

Thanks for the update, your second mileage numbers are right in line with what I was seeing to and from Moab in April, 400 miles each way varied speeds, small towns, hills, dodging elk, all the normal stuff and I got right about 15mpg, and at 4-8000 ft asl. I guess maybe some of the people i talked to embellished some....

When you come back to NM give a shout and we'll see if there are any trees left that arent charred stumps. And you would end up with a net zero in the fleet if we just traded....

Thanks for the info, I will get the computer scanned and see what, if anyhting, shows up, I'm guessing the TC lock up error since i have a non lock up TC in mine...

 

[spankrjs]

Thanks for the update, your second mileage numbers are right in line with what I was seeing to and from Moab in April, 400 miles each way varied speeds, small towns, hills, dodging elk, all the normal stuff and I got right about 15mpg, and at 4-8000 ft asl. I guess maybe some of the people i talked to embellished some....

When you come back to NM give a shout and we'll see if there are any trees left that arent charred stumps. And you would end up with a net zero in the fleet if we just traded....

Thanks for the info, I will get the computer scanned and see what, if anyhting, shows up, I'm guessing the TC lock up error since i have a non lock up TC in mine...

No problem on the update

I was in NM last year, Santa Fe and Albuquerque area, for a friend of mines wedding. It is very nice out there, I really want to go back to do some Jeeping. I did miss all the tall trees that we have at home, though. But, y'alls 100+ degree temps are very mild compared to our 100+ degree temps. It felt like Spring to me, even though it was July

As for the MPG, you are probably right that around 15-16 MPG on a Scrambler with 4.10 gears and 35's is going to be about the max. I would be willing to bet that a drop down to 33" tires might help out the MPG situation, but the resulting higher RPM might negate the decreased rolling mass/height issue I think overdrive would be out of the question, too, it would probably cut RPM's down too much.My 15-16 MPG doesn't bother me, considering that my bone stock 2005 Rubicon (4.10 gears, 31" tall tires, and overdrive) only gets 16-17 MPG on the interstate

I talked to Hesco about my "rough idle at start" issue. They said that I will need to get a manual transmission computer By using the auto trans computer with a manual transmission, the computer is not getting any feedback from the trans telling it "hey, its in Park or Neutral, this is a cold start situation". Basically, my motor will start up, run rough for a little bit (about 15 seconds), until the computer realizes that the engine is running, then it adjusts. With my current set up, nothing is telling my computer to go to "Start" mode. I guess I will have a spare Auto trans MPI computer for sale soon

 

[trust]

Well the view from Santa Fe has certainly changed from last summer, they are still mopping up a forest fire directly west that burned about 160k acres and another near the SF ski basin that burned 10-15k...

My son was in Charleston SC last summer and is in Albuquerque this summer, I asked him about the 105* here vs there, his measure was how many t shirts did he go through in a day, here 2 there 5-6....

You're probably right, 15ish is about it. I know in mine when I had the t5 and 33s with stock gears i could do18ish if there were no uphill climbs. It really hated uphill. Then I went to the 4.10s and 35s and it dropped only to about 17ish, and still didnt like the uphills. The auto dropped it to 13-14ish so with the EFI, the head, the 4.10s and the 35s I guess I need to be happy with 15. Doesnt hate up hill but still isnt fond of them...

Let me know if you decide to change computers, I may be interested in yours as a spare if I can manage it.

 

[spankrjs]

Quick little update.

Finally bought and installed a winch. Purchased a Warn 9.5Ti and Warn mount. I had this same winch on my brown CJ7 that I sold, and I loved it. Very fast and powerful. Also, not just for show, I already had to use it on Saturday to keep from flopping my Scrambler on its side during another trail ride

My temporary bed mat. Measures 2' x 3'. Works very well. You will also see the SS eyelet that is replacing one of the roll bar mount bolts. I have one eyelet on each side. I use these as ratchet strap hold downs.

I aslo had to install a tach to help diagnose some cold start/rough idle issues. Just a cheap Autozone tach that I hose clamped to the steering column. It was just "temporary", but I might leave it.

That's it for now.

 

[Polarfire]

Great idea using the eye bolts on the roll bar. I think I'm going to steal that idea!

 

[bigwalton]

I welded nuts onto the base plates of my full cage specifically to add eyelets like that, they're VERY handy in that location!

I have that same tach and don't know what I'd do without it now, I've gotten so used to having it there.

Where's the pic of the flop avoidance?

 

[spankrjs]

Great idea using the eye bolts on the roll bar. I think I'm going to steal that idea!

Yep, the eyelets were the result of some last minute right before a ride engineering

That is the one thing i don't like about the 82 roll bar: it doesn't have the little slotted "kick ups" on the roll bar feet. Those slotted "kick ups" make great tie down attachment points.

 

[spankrjs]

I welded nuts onto the base plates of my full cage specifically to add eyelets like that, they're VERY handy in that location!

I have that same tach and don't know what I'd do without it now, I've gotten so used to having it there.

Where's the pic of the flop avoidance?

My 78 CJ-7 had the "tach hose clamped to the steering column" option, too. I thought that was just a "Mississippi thing"

I hope someone took a pick of the flop avoidance. If I find a pic I will post it up

 

[bigwalton]

Yep. While maybe not very visually appealing. That is a great functional location.

 

[dmock]

Just bought that same tach (black faced one) the other day for tune up rpms. I like the winch you added too. Awesome rig.

 

[MrBeep]

Quick little update.

Finally bought and installed a winch. Purchased a Warn 9.5Ti and Warn mount. I had this same winch on my brown CJ7 that I sold, and I loved it. Very fast and powerful. Also, not just for show, I already had to use it on Saturday to keep from flopping my Scrambler on its side during another trail ride

.

Raymond,
Read fine print in Purchase Agreement, " If Purchaser is involved in a rollover of ANY type involving this Scrambler, said Scrambler will be returned to Seller in pre-rollover condition in 7 calendar days".

Looks great my friend.

 

[spankrjs]

Yep. While maybe not very visually appealing. That is a great functional location.

Exactly, not appealing, but functional

I should have went for the 8" tach with the built is shift light. Adds 50 HP

 

[spankrjs]

Just bought that same tach (black faced one) the other day for tune up rpms. I like the winch you added too. Awesome rig.

Appreciate it

The winch has already paid for itself

 

[spankrjs]

Raymond,
Read fine print in Purchase Agreement, " If Purchaser is involved in a rollover of ANY type involving this Scrambler, said Scrambler will be returned to Seller in pre-rollover condition in 7 calendar days".

Looks great my friend.

As long as its "pre-rollover" condition and not "pre-rebuilt" condition, might be possible to get it there in 7 days

Appreciate it Toby, I am really enjoying this Scrambler, thanks for letting it go

 

[Bushmaster6]

Gents.. I had the pleasure of meeting Raymond (and his rig) over in MS last weekend... I was having a tough time finding a local (to Pensacola) body shop that was interested in my work, so he referred me to the same shop that did his.. I drug my tub over there on a trailer and got my estimate while Raymond was there.. while the work won't be cheap, it was comforting to have both Raymond's recommendation and a stunning example of the future potential of my rig parked right there in the parking lot..

let me tell you... the rig looks even more impressive in person.. it's big!

Raymond.. sorry we didn't have more time to chat.. would've taken you to lunch down at that "Dairy Dream" but know you had to get back to work.. between dealing with Will, unloading the truck, and changing a couple of diapers ( ) we were kind of rushed while there..

thanks again for your help in all of this, and for the offer of continued support while my stuff is over there.. hope we get to link up again in future visits to Vancleave

 

[spankrjs]

Gents.. I had the pleasure of meeting Randy (and his rig) over in MS last weekend... I was having a tough time finding a local (to Pensacola) body shop that was interested in my work, so he referred me to the same shop that did his.. I drug my tub over there on a trailer and got my estimate while Randy was there.. while the work won't be cheap, it was comforting to have both Randy's recommendation and a stunning example of the future potential of my rig parked right there in the parking lot..

let me tell you... the rig looks even more impressive in person.. it's big!

Randy.. sorry we didn't have more time to chat.. would've taken you to lunch down at that "Dairy Dream" but know you had to get back to work.. between dealing with Will, unloading the truck, and changing a couple of diapers ( ) we were kind of rushed while there..

thanks again for your help in all of this, and for the offer of continued support while my stuff is over there.. hope we get to link up again in future visits to Vancleave

Glad I could help

LOL, it's Raymond, not Randy

 

[Bushmaster6]

ooooops.. just finished typing a note to Randy(zzz) when I got to yours.. and I tubed your name four times in one message...yikes...that's embarassing. Edited and sorry!

 

[spankrjs]

ooooops.. just finished typing a note to Randy(zzz) when I got to yours.. and I tubed your name four times in one message...yikes...that's embarassing. Edited and sorry!

LOL, no problem

 

[gaducker]

rubi express lift, one inch body lift, I got all that, but are the tires thirty threes or fives????