Nwgs Jeep'n Thread

[RedRocker]

I'd be interested in knowing how your Sprinter tows that rig.
My CJ was Sublime Green, like the color.

[cbolling]

Took our TJ out for some light off roading on Horsepasture Rd in upstate South Carolina Yesterday. The road is only open a few months a year.

[cbolling]

[cbolling]

[cbolling]

[cbolling]

[goodcat8]

Anybody gone from the pre '12 3.8 JK to the 3.6 Penstar?
I ready 82 more HP?! And slightly better mpg. Any input?

[Carlo Muro]

Originally Posted by goodcat8

Anybody gone from the pre '12 3.8 JK to the 3.6 Penstar?
I ready 82 more HP?! And slightly better mpg. Any input?

All I have to offer is that I drove that 3.6 VVT in a heavily loaded Caravan back in the summer months and was VERY IMPRESSED. My butt dyno says bottom 15's to high 14's in the 1/4. That thing will flat fly for a fully optioned van.

I think the Wrangler has a wee bit more HP still

26 mpg driven hard too

[Bueller]

Originally Posted by goodcat8

Anybody gone from the pre '12 3.8 JK to the 3.6 Penstar?
I ready 82 more HP?! And slightly better mpg. Any input?

Yep, just went from a 2009 Rubicon to a 2013 unlimited Rubicon. The new engine is a little better in normal driving. Less flywheel effect, a bit more power, and at least during the break in the 4 door is getting about the same mileage my 2 door 3.8 got.

But when you step on it and wind it up, somewhere north of 4500 rpm as the cam timing changes it flat out flies for a big box. Some idiot in a Bonneville brake checked me yesterday. When I went to pass him in the right lane of a long merge he tried to hold me off. The wrangler smoked him to about 80 mph when he had to let off to avoid hitting the barrier. Winning a drag race against anything is an application wranglers certainly aren't known for in a 2 door application I'm sure it would be even better.

The power delivery of this new engine is great and with the 4.10 gears in the Rubicon is more than sufficient for 35 inch tires, but the location of the powerband isn't necessarily well suited to the Wrangler's intended usage. It is a large step up from the 3.8, but if I'd had a choice I would have preferred the torque delivery of the diesel over the stratospheric horsepower of the Pentastar.

[goodcat8]

Awesome info. A friend at work test drove a 2012 JK (he has an 09 JKU) both the manual and automatic and said it was really quick ("wicked fast dude") and had noticeable torque ("pulled like a lion, especially the stick version!") So he ordered a 2013 Commando.

[longtallsally]

Plenty of torque with the 3.6. I had my foot on the brake when climbing some obstacles on its namesake in first gear the gearing is so low and more than enough torque.

Look back a couple pages and you'll see what we've done with ours.

In reference to the 3.8, we drove one in '07 or '08 and I thought the thing a bit gutless and the interior a bit plasticy for the price tag. We first drove an '11 and loved the interior. Then I test drove an auto '12 and was completely sold as the thing ran like a scared rabbit. Ours is a stick on principle, though.

The best part? Under 70 mph I can still get 20 mpg even with the 300 lbs of armor and winch I put on. Great machine.

[goodcat8]

Originally Posted by longtallsally

In reference to the 3.8, we drove one in '07 or '08 and I thought the thing a bit gutless and the interior a bit plasticy for the price tag.

The best part? Under 70 mph I can still get 20 mpg even with the 300 lbs of armor and winch I put on. Great machine.

That's been my only gripe withy 07 JK. For the price I expected more. On my TJ everything made sense, because it cost around 18 grand less. I'm hearing about a 2014 Scrambler, but either way ill be trading in the 07 for a 12/13 this year.

[ducnek]

Soggy ride over the weekend, got stuck a dozen times, lost, mechanical problems, destroyed a strap, good times!

[Jeffy]

Originally Posted by ducnek

Soggy ride over the weekend, got stuck a dozen times, lost, mechanical problems, destroyed a strap, good times!

Is that the Qtec/ARB bumper on the front?

[ducnek]

Originally Posted by Jeffy

Is that the Qtec/ARB bumper on the front?

Its the ARB Bull Bar.