disappointing dauntless

to put this thread back on track....

I just got my new battery in my 3-day owned jeep, took it out for it's first real jaunt.. IT HAULS.. I wasn't expecting that kind of power at all.

I love my :v6:

 

and we have another happy dauntless owner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Starting with larger gas tank in newer jeeps. Just because a top is fiberglass, doesn't make it lighter. My metal top is lighter than buddy's YJ. The frame and body are longer. More glass in newer jeeps. Lastly the brakes DISC brakes are heavier than DRUMS!

 

Sway bars, Air box, dash pad, heater box, knobs , controls, carpet, roll bar, pad on roll bar, seat belts, back seat, leaf springs, 25% more steel in them, quick disconnecton on front axle, linkage, plastic glove box over cardboard. My dash is metal and weighs about 9 1/2 lbs, you have more than 20lbs in yours and that doesn't count the gauges, and its plastic.
By the way a corvette made of metal would be lighter than its counterpart.
Sparky my point is this, if you take a brand new f150 and compare it to the first year Ford built the F150 and then take this years, look at the weight difference and then figure in that most old trucks had iron everything versus aluminum now and it really is amazing at the weight gain I mean most transmissions and tranfer cases now are lighter than there predecessors so the weight comes from all the other crap added on the truck. Jeeps are a bad comparsion but cars and trucks are a huge difference. Most v8 powered trucks motors are lighter by a 100lbs or more but the overall vehicle is heavier.

And the Highjack continues.

 

Airbags, radio, cd changer, seat belts, headrests.

 

Larger bellies due to eating more fast food....... R)R)

 

and larger seats to handle the larger people...

 

OK, just so EVERYONE that is a member has input to this thread I'll add this; I had a stock '69 dauntless and it had plentey of power to pull through the Alabama pulp road mud. I never pulled the front end up, but then I'm wondering; Jeep, Wheely...?? To address the original thread, it sounds like there may have been some over expectations. 67CJ5 wouldn't be the first to do a sbc swap, sounds like thats what he's looking for anyway, so go for it; should be fun.

 

i know where there is a 350 right now :evil:

 

Well i have read all the suggestions and I thank you for the help. i have already completed most of this. I have already checked the exhaust temps at the headers and it is consistant throughout, I have tried other timing indexes previously as well. I have ran it around short runs with the air breather removed to check restriction. I have a large air cleaner with plenty of flow via K&N, It runs great, hits on all six, just want more power. STORY OF MY LIFE IN FACT. I believe i will be looking for a chevy v8 to cure my woes. I swapped to my 538 geared axles and it pulls alot harder, but what motor doesnt with shorter gears.I am gonna dink with it some more this weekend, but i think you guys might be right, i probally wont be happy until I swap it out. On another note, I trashed the second gear syncronizer last weekend trying to speed shift. I got it all back together today and let me tell you I am not at all impressed with the internals of a t86 gearbox. This is truely my weakest link. Looking for a stronger gearbox now. Maybe a t 18. any suggestions.

 

If you put a small block in it just put in an sm420 or sm465 since they will bolt right to the chevy bellhousing, the sm420 has the lowest 1st gear of any truck 4 speed out there, 7.05:1 thats quite a bit lower than a t18 and it is just as strong of a tranny although it is quite a bit older in design, it was replaced by the sm 465 in 1968, but they are still pretty plentiful. I have one to go behind my Buick motor in the next year or so.

 

I have a 283 backed by an SM465 and a Dana 18. Works really nice for me. The tranny bolts right to the Chevy, but you'll need an adapter (readily available) to bolt the Tcase to the tranny.

 

Tough to power shift the 465 R)

 

Well i tried a different carb ORIGIONAL 2 barrel and cast intake. Ran the same.Not really an issue now since I just purchased a 1984 chevy 3/4 ton with a 350 engine in it that runs good. I will be pulling it in a week after my brother leaves from visiting. We went out on the dunes today with my friend and his 46 willys with a 304 in it. He has a few upgrades as well , but he can run all day in high range with 34 inch swampers. I can barely get it to push this deep sand in high. . When I go into low range I can get a little speed and float across it. It ran strong however and never stumbled. Seems like a great LITTLE engine to me, just doesnt fit my needs. We run his jeep striaght up huge sand hills and only stalled it once when we were almost vertical. I just want that kind of power and since I am a DIE HARD chevy guy, my cool little jeep is gonna get some serious power . Anyone know where I can get a t18, or 150 near oregon? Anyone need a dauntless? Trades considered

 

Just as tough to powershift a T18 or any truck tranny. If you want to power shift consider a super T10.
Good Luck with the small block, I guess its all in what you use it for, for me the v8 would cause more problems in the tight woods where I live and the rocks I play in because of the excess power and the loss of low speed torque and the higher rpm to claim it back. But for the dunes it probably is the best bet!!

 

Wow what a response to this thread. Alot of info. I appreciate all the posts and emails. I have committed to the v8 swap now and will keep you posted on this. I will be posting again soon as I will be looking for adapters fot whatever new trans I get.Thanks again.

 

are you sure its a 225 odd fire and not a 231 evenfire i am running a 225 with the dyno says 265 hp 500 cfm headers and mallory dual point dis