I don't have anything, the air dam was a later thing. Definitely '80s, Idk if you could get it with the bumper change in '79 or not.
Well, every other time I've asked about stuff like this, I get "it doesn't matter drive it how you want to and forget about trying to help the mileage." And people tell me to go buy a '90s Honda. I wanted it to be clear that that was not what constructive to what I'm getting.tgreese wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 3:01 pm Wow, a preemptive rant. No need to get defensive.
My feeling is the edges and frontal area of the Wagoneer are a bigger aerodynamic problem than the flow underneath. I presume the air dam is meant to direct air around and over rather than under. However, surface turbulence makes drag. You might read a bit on laminar flow and the transition to turbulence. Turbulence thrashes the air to make it change direction rapidly, which requires energy.
Anything to smooth the flow will make an improvement, although making a significant improvement may take a lot. I can imagine modern smooth mirror housings, recess the door handles, remove the drip channels, stuff like that. If that's something that you want to do, I'd suggest figuring out an accurate way to measure the effect of your changes. Maybe not a wind tunnel, but is there a way to make streamlines with smoke and box fans or something? I wonder... I'd think you could make a metered gasoline rig like was used on Mythbusters to test mileage. See the episode where they compared pickups with the tailgate up, down and missing.
Despite your rant, I'd mention that my KL gets 26-27 on the highway at a steady 70 mph. Equivalent or better in terms of off-road performance, though the entry fee may be too high for you. Not live axle, and no frame, but a 60:1 low range, 4-wheel traction control, and e-lockers front, rear and middle. For less money, ZJ and WJ GCs push 20 mpg, are affordable, and roll on live axles. The Quadradrive system on the WJ is perhaps the finest passive 4WD system ever built. Might be a way to make a big gain affordably and not compromise too much. Won't look like a Wagoneer though.
Interesting about the very good mileage for a V6, I really never looked at newer jeeps, but recently drove a 18 GC trailhawk with 100Kmiles, impressive, but may not make it on our poorly maintained forest roads, unless I remove the bumpers, which seems like the weak point of most SUVs, unless you buy a pick up ...tgreese wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 3:01 pm
I'd mention that my KL gets 26-27 on the highway at a steady 70 mph. Equivalent or better in terms of off-road performance, though the entry fee may be too high for you. Not live axle, and no frame, but a 60:1 low range, 4-wheel traction control, and e-lockers front, rear and middle. For less money, ZJ and WJ GCs push 20 mpg, are affordable, and roll on live axles. The Quadradrive system on the WJ is perhaps the finest passive 4WD system ever built. Might be a way to make a big gain affordably and not compromise too much. Won't look like a Wagoneer though.
My KL is pre-FCA. Made by Chrysler LLC, post Daimler. And what's wrong with the Dart? Apparently it's the other recipient of the 3.2L V6. I drove one on a trip to the Everglades, and it seemed fine. We saw crocodiles!sierrablue wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 3:50 pm ... Ah yes, the Fiat (fix it again Tony) of the Jeep world. A Dart on stilts? ...
Oh. Maybe it's before all of the reliability issues I've heard about...tgreese wrote: ↑Sat Mar 11, 2023 1:32 pmMy KL is pre-FCA. Made by Chrysler LLC, post Daimler. And what's wrong with the Dart? Apparently it's the other recipient of the 3.2L V6. I drove one on a trip to the Everglades, and it seemed fine. We saw crocodiles!sierrablue wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 3:50 pm ... Ah yes, the Fiat (fix it again Tony) of the Jeep world. A Dart on stilts? ...
Sounds like you need a 2.5/5-speed XJ with 4.56s lol. It wouldn't be fast but it'd get 23 mpg+. Our 2.5 2-door XJ gets about 22-23 in the summer, and it has a non-overdrive automatic.candymancan wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:13 pm My wagoneer went from sagged slrings 3 in hs lower to the ground using street tires.. getting 13.5mpg on the interstate.. To 13.5mpg with new springs plus 2 inchs of lift.. So i gained 4 inchs nearly after it settled.. over sagged springs.. i also gained 2 inchs of ride height using 31s over the 28 inch tires it had. I added brush guard.. 7 offroad round lights.. 5 on a roof rack that sits on my roof rack...
In all i added 1000 lbs over stock weight.. lights on top adds drag.. increase in height added drag.
And i lost 0mpg litterally 0. Its weird actually.
I got 11.5mpg last weekend going 180 miles at 70mph driving up to the mountains going up hill. So honestly it seems these engines dont really lose gas mileage for added weight and drag.
As for other Jeeps..my 5.9 limited ZJ gets about 18 mpg on the interstate at 55-60mph if its a strsight not going up mountains. Like the interstate 95 in northern va to say d.c or md. But if i get on interstates with 70-80mph speed limits i get about 15mpg. City the thing barely pushes 11mpg with stop lights everywhere.
My moms 4.0 ZJ with now 400k miles. Gets 21mpg highway even at 75mph.. its crszy actually how good the fuel mileage on this old Jeep. In the city i easily get 16mpg.
Honestly. I dislike any newer Jeep from 2005 on up.. Ive been thinking of getting myself an XJ cherokee/commanche. Or another ZJ with the 4.0 to use as my (hooptie) for better gas mileage.
Everyone tells me to get a cheap car so i csn get better mileage. But na i love Jeeps too much... so a nice 500-1000$ ZJ with a 4.0 i can repair as i know them in and out. Would be a nice money saver. My waggy uses way way way too much gas for any long trips.. It needs 93 as well or it pings. My 5.9 limited zj.. same thing. 15mpg interstate sucks. And it needs 93 as well.
So im getting terrible mileage on both Jeeps AND i have to pay like 70 cents more per gallin thsn everyone.
So ya 21mpg on a ZJ using 87 octane would be so much nicer. And i still get to drive a Jeep i prefer and rely on.
You wont catch me in a wrangler. Or 4 door wrangler. Or any pentastar v6 or 5.7 hemi lifter ticking peice of crap fiat stellantis Jeep. Ive seen far too many 2005-2017 Jeeps with lifter ticking at 100k miles. Theyre junk vehicles. If i offend anyone. I dont care. Grow some skin its just my opinion. New Jeeps the milege didnt change much either.. so you get 26 mpg vs 21mpg. The percentage from that to say 15 and 21 is lower. So it isnt a big Jump to justify the cost of buying one
The other reason i dont wranglers.. Is it just a total meme now for women to drive them. And men who pay to have mods put on. Dont wanna break a nail doing it yourself now do we. Also everyone has one. I like to be a little unique. No one has a wagoneer. No one has a ZJ or XJ anymore they have practically disapeared on the road. Or a 5.9 limited like i do. Its just something to set you apart.
Hell the 5.9 limited is now becoming ( collectors) aparently the hipsters are making videos of them on youtube as the Jeep to buy and collect.. lol
Call me a snob but ya.
Stock? No. It'll move but that's about it. Ours has the Chrysler fuel injection, a 4.0L throttle body, and a home-modified YJ 2.5 header (which, now you can buy shorty 2.5 headers on eBay pretty cheap, which would be my recommendation). High flowing exhaust and stuff--if you're not on pavement it'll spin the 30x9.5 BFGs. Empty, with the lighter weight of the XJ, it'll pretty much keep up with our 4.0 ZJ. Only thing is if you run the A/C it quite literally cuts and gives you power to the point that you can feel it surge forward/slow down. More of an HP thing than torque tho.candymancan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:51 pm Well what i mean is 5 yesrs ago they were ALL over the road.. now ? They barely are in the junkyards.. As 4-5 years ago the salvage yards were PACKED with xj and ZJs.. now that theyre gone.. only the few diehards drive em.
Im noticing a influx of wj and wks now in the yards. The cycle repeats.
How does the 2.5 drive ? I saw a 2.5 comanche f9r sale.. but i dunno.. tje 2.5 in a pickup that id use to haul many 50lbs hay bails and stuff.. Does it have any power ?