I would re-route the tranny fluid to its own cooler/radiator, with dedicated fan, to handle extremes (did that on my dragrace Chevelle...worked perfectly, even when "hot lapping". I also don't intend to carry a lot of gear on roof racks, maybe just side-tent and canopy, so added wind resistance, should be minimal; if noticeable, then all gear inside the vehicle.MtnDon wrote:... all the tranny heat goes through the engine water cooling radiator raising the temperature
Your statement echoes my train of thought...the old straight six sounds just right, and the knowledge database on it is all over the web, parts everywhere too. I'm not so sure of the 4.7l,relatively complicated in comparison, and more heat sensitive (per my researches). Once again, a point in favor of the XJ et al: even if I found a smokin' deal on some relatively new design, or brand (other than Jeep-or GM -I still can't abandon that search), then I'd just be asking for a new set of problems, later, when I would need help or parts. I used to poke fun at my friend, a sworn GM aficionado/master mechanic, when he'd get several Jeeps a year to work on (helping friends out,; and yes, it always seemed to be cooling related). I got a lot of experience in helping him work on them. So, I guess that's augury enough for me, allowing me to transfer some allegiance to a non-GM product!Mojave Bob wrote:I, in turn, may be stepping out of my area of expertise, and others may be able to either reinforce or refute my ideas with real facts , but based on the criteria you have suggested, I would look at the venerable Jeep Cherokee with the straight 6-cylinder engine. To meet your criteria, an infinite selection of bolt-on aftermarket parts are available, regular service parts are widely available, it is a tough-as-nails chassis and drivetrain, it is affordable, and friends who have them report reasonably good gas mileage. Part-time 4WD, decent ground clearance, Jeep pedigree, reasonable tow rating, etc.
As a tow vehicle, I would need to tow a gas tanker with me. I got GPM not MPG in this car. Believe me when I say that a metamorphosis for my car has crossed my mind a few times...I thought about pulling the BBC engine and transbraked 'glide, w/4500 stall converter and Hurst quarter-stick shifter, & delayed transbrake release switch (sell them as a unit), swap in my old 327 SBC and install a rebuilt 700r4 or 200r4 (no electronics, overdrive), reinstall the original 8.2" 10-bolt 3.36:1 open rear (after pulling the 12-bolt w/c-clip eliminators, full spool 4.88 gears and 33 spline Moser axles; I might have to pull the ladder bars also), and get cheap replacement tires/used wheels to replace the 10.5" MT slicks and two sets of front runners (all on Welds). But, then, I'd have to replace the 5 gallon fuel cell, 1100 cfm carb, regulate the fuel pump down to a trickle, put in a full exhaust for the small-block, and re-install wipers and heater. Oh yeah, I probably would want to put in a rear seat too (just in case someone wanted to squeeze in under the rollcage to sit there. I might put stereo speakers back in, since they were pulled to put in the rear firewall (aluminum). I like the two plastic racing seats, with 5-point belts, but the wife won't. I might want to replace the race shocks with normal types, as they allow too much lift & weight transfer (whoops, almost forgot to re-install the front sway bar, rear too, if I didn't sell it before). The brakes can remain (I put in manual discs up front) as can the line-lock; the manual steering might be a little tough for the wife to parallel park with, might need to install power. That will require engine driven pulleys and belts...I've been running an electric water pump with no alternator for years, have to convert back for street use?? The racing aluminum radiator with two electric fans stays, as does the dedicated tranny cooler with attached fan (but I have to move it from the right outboard headlight tunnel, and re-install a light/bucket there). Ignition is not much of a problem; the MSD capacitive discharge box (the rev limiter won't be needed) and MSD distributor can go in the SBC ok, but I'll have to change out the oil pump gear since the camshaft in the SBC will chew it up. I'll probably have to make provisions for timing advance (my distributor is locked-out). I'll probably have to re-wire the turn signals and other niceties, as they were bypassed when I put in the Painless Products toggle switch panel, for controlling start/ignition/fuel pump(s)-I experimented with NOS once/interior fan/lights/radiator fans/water pump/tranny fan. I need to install horns, too. The batteries can stay in the trunk, though I'll disable the master cut-off switch (would be too tempting for car-jackers, I bet). Did I forget that I need to install a lockable ignition? Fortunately, I never removed or epoxy-filled the slots as was suggested to me. And after all that, I'll need to install an after-market A/C, since I'm getting too old/spoiled to drive very far in an un-cooled triple black car anymore in Texas heat. Maybe if all goes right, and I sell some parts for top-dollar, and I get to work on the Chevelle for 12 hours a day on weekends, I might only spend out-of-pocket cash double what I get back and might finish getting the car streetable/inspectable by the time I'm 70. And then it will be a rough bodied/scratched paint 54 year-old beater that won't get me off-road, won't have four doors, and my wife still won't drive/ride in it (I took her for a few quick drives, with the 327-375hp engine 3.73 posi axle -at that time- 15 years ago; she will never recover). Nope, I don't think I can go that direction anymore. I'd rather it go to someone who will race it, enjoy the lope of the 14:1 compression .850 lift solid-roller cammed engine, and scare their neighbors late at night as they pull it off the race trailer, returning from battle at the strip. Time for me to try something different.kd8cgo wrote:It sounds like you need to lift the Chevelle a couple inches, put in a divorced t-case, and a front drive axle!
Rough body? Sounds like a tow vehicle!! And that would be one hell of a fast tow! I wonder what you could do with 4WD and pulling the trailer on 60ft and ET.... lol
In fact, that would be a good ultimatum for sale on the racing sites, just tell them if you don't get asking price you are going to chop it up into a trailer pulling workhorse, that should ruffle some feathers!
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