1986 Wagon Project

[attemptnumber2]

IMO, your RPM range should match or be slightly above the factory RPM Range. For instance, you want drive to match drive not drive to match overdrive. this is so when pulling sumething you put it in D and pull it and it is just like it was designed. when DD'ing you put it in OD and away you go. OD was not meant to be used to tow until around 2000'ish. with electronic control, solenoids and what have you being fine tuned manufacturers have it down to science.

[Nightpath]

I don't tow, just my daily driver.

I've been asking the Jeep guys who have the same ride what they think. It's the same with them, 3.07 would work as long as I don't go too large of a tire. I think it'd work with the AW4, but with 27"ish (P205 60 R15 maybe) tires...I'd like to rock out 29"ish (P235 75 R15) since they are uber common around here and look really nice on the Eagle with Jeep rims.

[carnuck]

Don't limit yourself though. Keep your eyes open for ZJ (Grand Cherokee pre '98) 16" rims and you may be able to go 235/85/16 which is also common on newer trucks.

[Draekon]

Don't limit yourself though. Keep your eyes open for ZJ (Grand Cherokee pre '98) 16" rims and you may be able to go 235/85/16 which is also common on newer trucks.

235/85/16 is around 31.7".  Way too big for most eagles.

[Nightpath]

I think I'll stick to the 15" rims...maybe 16" but the tires will not be really large.

The raging debate between 3.07 gears and 3.55 is still happening. Heck...in this post alone I have 2 people saying either is good!

[attemptnumber2]

My opinion but 3.55 if you do any in town driving. I Had 3.08 in a 3 speed auto truck with 35's and quickly toasted the transmission. OD and less than 3.50 gear ratio will be really hard on powertrain.

[Nightpath]

Did you drive with smaller tires? 35", 3.05 and OD no wonder...you must have been ridiculously low in regards to RPMS.

When I do the checks with 3.07 vs 3.55 and a set of 29" tires it seems that the rpms are around 1650-1700 in OD. 3.55 is around 2000-2100.ill be leaving the stock axles in after the swap (for testing purposes). Depending on the rpms range I get with 2.73 and p205 70 r15 it might help me make up my mind.

[attemptnumber2]

at what speed? i had 30-31" tires on it initially and it was at 24-2600 highway speeds and not having a lock up converter.

overdrive is ~.70.
the way i look at it is your engine is putting ~220 hp out to the flywheel at 2200 rpms. by the time it makes it through to a .7 ratio it puts a lot more stress on transmission.

turn the driveshafts to the ring and pinion. a 3.07:1 ratio vs a 3.55:1 ratio  puts you at a 2.149:1 vs 2.485:1. theoretically you now have 330.946 hp vs 382.69 hp.,

turn the axles to the tires. 29" tires sets the torque finally at 136.941 hp vs 158.352. 22 hp difference is pretty noticeable by the time you break it down through the system.

I realize these cars dont have 220 hp but just used it as a reference number. I could be wrong but i am pretty sure hp is more applied to actually driving down the road than torque.

also i did not figure in lost power due to resistance. at 1600 rpms you are not in a power producing area of the engine. at 2000 i feel like you would be.

[Nightpath]

I was rooting around at different ideas for the past few days. I think what I will do is stick with 3.55 and run a bit larger tires.

Down the road I'll probably snag a throttle body spacer and upgrade the distributor to run hotter. IA what was suggested to me on another site... For a bit of extra it ought to give me 20-23 mpg easily, and the car isn't a brick like the Cherokee.

I am mighty tempted to keep my stock transfer case though. Having full time 4x4 is so so tempting.

[Nightpath]

I have a lot of pics to post, but here's a video. Not sure how to embed from Photobucket 

[mudkicker715]

Just embed your pics here without photobuck. Underneath your reply box hit attachments and other options. Select yoyr photo from your device whereever it is stored and it is here. Than you can do whatever to that photo, like move it, delete it whatever. Its still here.

[Jurjen]

When I click on the video link above, I can see all the pictures as well.

[eaglefreek]

I see a video. Sounds good.

[Nightpath]

It's been a long time since I've posted about my Eagle.

Since last March, I've had a lot of ups and downs. The original fuel tank was blocked at the vents so it didn't pressurize properly, then the fuel pump burnt out...it stopped me on the side of the road about 20 times until if finally croaked in front of the Wing Commander's house on the main drag at 3:00 on a warm sunny long weekend Friday afternoon.

Yup, I was THAT lucky.

At this point in time I parked it in my driveway and gave it the middle finger. I went to the bank, got a loan and purchased a Jeep TJ which I enjoyed. I did a bit of work on it and drove it, enjoyed it.

I decided to wash the Eagle with a pressure washer from a friend before I tucked it away in my garage (this was in July or so). Huge chunks of paint sloughed off onto the ground...I'm talking dinner plate large, 3 huge chunks. I almost cried. At this point I started to look at buying a deck sprayer and giving it the olive drab + satin black treatment and make it a badass looking rig.




I tucked the Eagle in my garage for several months until I decided to get it running first, so I wasted a bit of money then got smart and I bought a Cherokee XJ tank and sender. I pulled my old tank, cut out the fill hole, had it welded to the XJ tank and slung it up underneath. This was in February/March when I got it running again. After it smoothed out I was pretty ecstatic to have it running.

I pulled all the interior out (well..still need to pull 2 more pieces but oh well), outside trim, and whatever else. I decided to get it painted properly so I sold my Jeep TJ and started to make things happen. I called around until I settled onto a buddy of my brother in law. It's now sitting at his house getting a nice new paint job. I have a tub full of suspension components, a box full of new electronics (speakers, wiring, amp, sub, etc). I cut out the cancer in the rear and had it fixed.

So now I sit, waiting to get it back from paint so I can reinstall all the trim, etc and get it inspected.

[rollguy]

That's looking awesome!  Two thumbs up!