Xtreme 4x4 Expedition Jeep Grand Cherokee

bldeagle10

Explorer
that is true, that gearing is an abomination lol. the 4.0 is great but if he is worried about highway just do a 4.7 stroker build, way more power from the straight six and I have seen many in XJ's that get same or better MPG than the 4.0 axles would have to be upgrades, at LEAST a 8.25/d30 but since the name of the game is overbuilt for his rig id do 44s geared at 4.56 with arbs, chromos, 33s.

I want to over engineer certain aspects of my rig like I want my axles to be bullet proof, and strengthen where needed on the unibody frame rails, and a bit of internal motor work to make sure its a stout little motor that will spin like a top all the way to the north pole and back...
 

DrMoab

Explorer
So I finally watched the video and it only confirmed that those guys are complete idiots! ****** are they thinking running 4.88 gears with 33's, do they not realize the engine will cruise at around 3k rpm with that setup? Sure, let's make our gas mileage even worse and increase vibration in our expedition rig....

You are absolutely completely 100% dead wrong. I used to think just like you but I was schooled big time. 4.0L engines, 33 inch tires and 4:88s are the perfect combo. I have an XJ with 4:56 gears and several of my buddies do too. Several of my buddies are also running 4:88s with 33s and guess what... Every single one of them are getting about 2mpg more than those of us with 4:56 gears. It's even more pronounced for those of us pulling trailers. That engine likes to rev more than most people give it credit for. Also, with a trailer and 4:56 gears the transmission is always hunting for a gear. You are either in 4th and its shifting down over every overpass or you are in direct all the time and the engine is screaming. You don't have this issue with 4:88s.
 

bldeagle10

Explorer
^^^true story, makes sense. my XJ (stock 3.55's 235/75r16) is an oddball with mpgs, I went on an elk hunt and got better MPG going up from 1500ft to 7500 ft than my dads '11 stock JK 6spd. just a bit better, but better. on the way back hauling a 16 ft trailer loaded with about 30 gallons of fuel, and most of the camping gear my mpg really didn't suffer. maybe .5 difference, and for the most part I had to deal with climbing to the other side of a mountain range, then in town 100 miles of very slight uphills so it was in 3rd/2nd most of the time. cant complain, 17mpg from an old 4.0 with 330,000 miles and in need of some head work while towing some weight...
 

jeep-N-montero

Expedition Leader
You are absolutely completely 100% dead wrong. I used to think just like you but I was schooled big time. 4.0L engines, 33 inch tires and 4:88s are the perfect combo. I have an XJ with 4:56 gears and several of my buddies do too. Several of my buddies are also running 4:88s with 33s and guess what... Every single one of them are getting about 2mpg more than those of us with 4:56 gears. It's even more pronounced for those of us pulling trailers. That engine likes to rev more than most people give it credit for. Also, with a trailer and 4:56 gears the transmission is always hunting for a gear. You are either in 4th and its shifting down over every overpass or you are in direct all the time and the engine is screaming. You don't have this issue with 4:88s.

I guess you missed the part where he states in the video that they are swapping in a v8.... How many Grands have you owned with 4.88's? I have both a 4.0 and a 5.2 in the driveway with 4.56's and 33's, I would be hating life if either had 4.88's. The 5.2 will be on 35's soon to get the rpm's back down.
 

DrMoab

Explorer
I've watched that show enough to know that if they put a v8 in it, they will swap axles. Right now it has a 4.0L and the gears are spot on for that. Now the rear axle on the other hand....
 

DrMoab

Explorer
One. It was a 5.2 and no, I wouldn't have put 4:88s in it. But this jeep didn't have a V8.

But honestly what difference would it make what shell the drive train was wrapped in? A 4L is a 4L is a 4L. You made the blanket statement that "even in the rock crawling world, nobody runs 4:88s and 33s"

That statement is so far from the truth it's laughable.
 

DrMoab

Explorer
****** are they thinking running 4.88 gears with 33's, do they not realize the engine will cruise at around 3k rpm with that setup? Sure, let's make our gas mileage even worse and increase vibration in our expedition rig....

Just one more comment, Then I'm done. No reason to kick a dead horse but I just asked my buddy who runs 4:88s in his XJ. At 70MPH he is running at 2500RPM. Not even close to 3K. Thats only 200 RPM more than mine with 4:56 and right in line with what it should be. This guy also knows his stuff. Check his build thread. He would wipe the floor with those dudes on Xtreeme. http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=913774
 

K2ZJ

Explorer
What transmissions are you guys talking about?

42RE
1st: 2.74
2nd: 1.54
3rd: 1.00
4th: 0.69

AW4
1st - 2.804
2nd - 1.531
3rd - 1.00
4th - .753

AX-15
1st 3.83
2nd 2.33
3rd 1.44
4th 1.00
5th 0.79

AX-5
1ST 3.93
2ND 2.33
3RD 1.45
4TH 1.00
5TH .85
 

Frank

Explorer
good show, his fabrication skills are good too, but its a show, so it is overbuilt, he isn't a guy that spends hours a day on EXPO researching everything he can to build his rig into a super reliable rig that will travel around the world, get good MPG and be capable off road, he comes from the crawler world and it shows that he is still stuck with that mentality. I feel like he is overbuilding the rig in the wrong areas...

I would have to disagree. A very fast phone call to someone like Scott or opening one of the recent Jeep magazines would have done wonders for himself and the overland community as a whole.

A small lift -maybe 3.5", a decent tire, roof rack, lights, a fridge/freezer, trasharoo, bumpers winch, drawer system, snorkel...done deal.

I do agree Ian's stuff is top notch, for those wheelin' kinda guys.
 
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bldeagle10

Explorer
it bugs me that so far the only thing that has an expo feel so far is the trailer, we will have to see where it goes though. he should have done more research. and given more of a history on the lifestyle. but, nobody is perfect. again, we will just have to see where it goes.
 

Frank

Explorer
Ill tell you where its going to go. -Its going to end up being high end axles, air lockers, he already has the huge lift, massive bumpers....I will bet money he wont even outfit it with a spare tire. Any takers?
 

BlaZeJeep

New member
Ill tell you where its going to go. -Its going to end up being high end axles, air lockers, he already has the huge lift, massive bumpers....I will bet money he wont even outfit it with a spare tire. Any takers?

He already put the air lockers in the D30/35's, near the end of the first episode. Not really a bad combination, people everywhere really hate the D35. Mine has 240,000 trouble free miles on it of mild wheeling and highway use. Granted 35's on the rocks and alot of the right pedal and it will grenade for sure, but 33's and light wheeling and easy on the pedal they will last.
 

TRegasaurus

Adventurer
I think you'all are right about their being too set in the rock crawling scene to be really objective about overlanding in general.
 

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