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too much horsepower take II

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by dunl, Jan 25, 2010.

  1. Jan 25, 2010
    dunl

    dunl Member

    Sylvan Lake, Alberta
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    Can anyone could ballpark, in their opinion, where you are at the point of diminishing returns for horsepower? At what point, considering that it is driven intelligently, would you consider that a vehicle with an sm420/Dana 20/3.54 gearing will have too much horsepower?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 25, 2010
  2. Jan 25, 2010
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Guess I'm just a power junky. My definition of too much is when you start breaking stuff off idle. Biggest factors will be tire size, weight, and driving style. Well built 44's and your combo should have no problem with 400 if you keep to less than 35's and do not get carried away with the skinny. It is really nice having 200 ft lbs plus at 1000 rpm, something you usually only get with some reasonably big displacement.
    That said, with big enough tires and really low gears, you can probably break anything with a 4 cylinder. Sort of like using a Snap-On 1" drive torque multiplier with your 1/4 drive sockets.
     
  3. Jan 25, 2010
    OrangeCJ5

    OrangeCJ5 Sponsor

    Taylorsville, UT
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    I would say that if you have some well build dana 44 axles, the weakest link in that drivetrain would be the transfer case outputs. I am not sure what the stock dana 20 outputs are rated for but I know that you can get a big 32 spline upgrade for the rear output.
     
  4. Jan 25, 2010
    dunl

    dunl Member

    Sylvan Lake, Alberta
    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2006
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    Here's the specs copied and pasted:
    - SM420, Dana 20
    - Dana 30 front, AMC 20 rear both with ARB lockers and disc brakes
    - Yj seats
    - heater
    - tilt steering
    - power steering conversion
    - new Best top Tiger top and doors still in box
    - Warn 8274

    So not the strongest axles, and lockers to boot. I'm looking for the hp more for the road...with the 34" Narrow SS Super Swampers, it idles through a lot of stuff.
     
  5. Jan 25, 2010
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    what Jeep?
     
  6. Jan 25, 2010
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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    my 5.0 has about 225hp....more than enough for DD duties and cruizen the HWY or the trails.......much more and I think I'd be inclined to get myself in trouble :)
     
  7. Jan 25, 2010
    dunl

    dunl Member

    Sylvan Lake, Alberta
    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2006
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    Let's say it's a 1979 CJ5....cause that is what the 1948 Willys CJ2A body is sitting on. :)
     
  8. Jan 25, 2010
    Corveeper

    Corveeper Member

    Chanute, Kansas
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    I must have missed something. What motor?
     
  9. Jan 25, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    I think that's what he's trying to decide...
     
  10. Jan 25, 2010
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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    forget hp, torque is where it's at unless your in the sand.run a Olds 455.
     
  11. Jan 25, 2010
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Depends where and how you jeep.

    In my case, anything more than a four banger is at a disadvantage due to excess weight. About 72 HP is just right, strangely enough.
     
  12. Jan 25, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Even though the F head weighs almost as much as a small V8?
     
  13. Jan 25, 2010
    modified

    modified Member

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    :iagree:
    V6 oddfire weighs less too.
     
  14. Jan 25, 2010
    dunl

    dunl Member

    Sylvan Lake, Alberta
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    I'm looking at a 4.1 Buick V6 to replace the 3.8. My terrain is normally the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, but it is usually 1-3hrs drive highway. Trailering is not an option, as I don't have room for one. Everyone drives fast up here, so I need to keep it to a safe speed instead of being underpowered. So I am looking at highway driveability as the major factor....the sm420 works well offroad, and I am going to try and do a Bronco/Jeep Dana 20 mod with the Dana 18 gears for even lower.



    500hp is too much...but it'd be nice to get more than 125. I hope I am making some sense here. :?
     
  15. Jan 25, 2010
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I just knew you guys would say that about the weight of an F-head....
     
  16. Jan 25, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    :shrug:
    Just stating fact.
     
  17. Jan 25, 2010
    dunl

    dunl Member

    Sylvan Lake, Alberta
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    Helps keep the nose down. lol
     
  18. Jan 25, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    <trying to resist boat anchor comments>

    :D
     
  19. Jan 25, 2010
    dunl

    dunl Member

    Sylvan Lake, Alberta
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    Here she is:


    [​IMG]
     
  20. Jan 26, 2010
    DrDanteIII

    DrDanteIII Master Procrastinator

    Milford NJ 08848
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    Well I've managed to snap driveshafts and blow up D44 spider gears with a stock 304 v8 through a 3 speed trans backed by a tera-low'd t-case (about 150hp net). I can't see needing more power than that old AMC throws out unless you are doing gigantic hills, running mud, or sand dunes.
     
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