Just installed 4.88 gears with 35s. I have a six speed and it is still underpowered. I have 900 miles on my Jeep, anybody experience more power after the engine breaks in?
I'm going to eventually do something, maybe a Hemi or at least a supercharger, but until I have the cash I'm stuck with this setup..... I've been told that the power will improve after about 3000 miles. Anybody else have that experience? I'm already turning about 2500 RPM at sixty, a higher gear ratio would seem to be too much........

 

You certainly wasted no time in modding the hell out of it... DId you drive it much before you changed gears? It's not that powerful an engine to start. The 4.88's will bring it back to about stock, but that's no race car.

 

Well, it ain't no muscle car. I know some people were running more extreme gear ratios with 35's at one point.

I actually drove my friends' TJ the other day for the first time. I didn't realize how anemic the jeeps had gotten! What an engine that was! Reved up when you hit the gas, you could hear the engine in the jeep.... and boy was it peppy. I asked him to trade keys with me!

It seems a hemi is the best option long-term. Although, it does take some time for the v6 to wake up and break in. So give it some time...

 

What vehicle did you previously own?
I can from an 4cyl 05 Auto Tacoma, and my 6 speed X seems more than powerful enough?
I have the standard wheels that came with my X (the larger nicer ones) and 3.21 gearing and it seems plenty powerful enough.

 

Power? are we talking about hwy or what the jeep is for trailing off roading enjoying the elements with the top off. By the time you swap a hemi you could buy a vette or a new camaro

 

All that gear and additional weight sounds like a home for 5.86s for D60s.

Any idea how much your Jeep weighs now?

 

It's not a race car and YES the Engine will break in right around 3K I just put 35's on and have teh 3.73s with 6spd and actually don't think it's as bad as I thought. I can still move off an exit ramp into traffic pretty good, just got to rev it out more. I use 6th gear on flat highways around here everyday. Offroad it should be fine...I am gonna do 4.88s when the time comes. I have an 86CJ in teh garage with the straight six, 35's and same rear 3.73 D 44. it has a ton more torque low end but I never used 5th gear in it for the last 10 years....Gas mileage is nowhere near the JK either. Give it some time, it will wake up a bit....Maybe you should have drove it with stock gears a while w 35's before you got the 4.88s, you probably would not have posted this topic

 

It seems that the general consensus is that the JK is for rock climbing only and that the engine is suitable. The only real problems with the JK is it is under lifted, under geared and too small tires.

 

You will definately see more power as the miles up. A CAI helps a lot, and some report good gains with a Cat back.

The computer is taking its time learning and will figure you out in the first few thousand miles.

Its all relative though...I went from a TJ that I thought was a dog, and my second car was a Vette. If I compared it to the TJ I was happy. If I compared it to the Vette I was mad.

Don't expect a hotrod and you will be happy.

 

X many, like everybody else said give the motor time to break in and the computer time to learn. It like a child knowing mostly nothing.