Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

[Wildman]

I'd do what Hooker and Stage 8 say.

That was my thought also.

I'm back thinking I'm going to have to cut the ear off the transmission bellhousing. There just isn't room to snake the exhaust around everything.

 

[mudmaster]

That was my thought also.

I'm back thinking I'm going to have to cut the ear off the transmission bellhousing. There just isn't room to snake the exhaust around everything.

Wouldn't bother me if doesn't compromise the trans

 

[Wildman]

If I could figure out how to shift the transmission from the rear like they do on the TF727 I could run the exhaust like this.

This would drop it right where I need it for the cat to be in front of the pan.

I need to find those parts that came with the shifter and see if I could modify it to work.

 

[Wildman]

Here's how the TF727 is setup. Somehow I need to make this work on the 545. Shifting it from rear might work but I would have to figure out how to route the cable from the other side and clear the exhaust then on the passenger side.

Going to have to go spend some more time under the Jeep and LOOK and think.

 

[mudmaster]

Here's how the TF727 is setup. Somehow I need to make this work on the 545. Shifting it from rear might work but I would have to figure out how to route the cable from the other side and clear the exhaust then on the passenger side.

View attachment 554811

Going to have to go spend some more time under the Jeep and LOOK and think.

Taking your time now to figure it out will pay dividends later.

 

[Wildman]

Taking your time now to figure it out will pay dividends later.

Yep.

As usual I'm the guinea pig for this stuff... Just need to figure out how to make the exhaust and transmission shifter cable both work together. I'll keep playing with it.

 

[Wildman]

A little more looking and I might have a solution.

If I move the shifter cable out as close as possible towards the driveshaft it'll give me room for the exhaust.
I'll have to remake the bracket so it's sitting about here.

Then I can snake the exhaust through here.

I might have to remove a little of these ribs.

And grind this down a little bit more.

But then the exhaust would come out here.

 

[mudmaster]

A little more looking and I might have a solution.

If I move the shifter cable out as close as possible towards the driveshaft it'll give me room for the exhaust.
I'll have to remake the bracket so it's sitting about here.

View attachment 554845

Then I can snake the exhaust through here.

View attachment 554846

I might have to remove a little of these ribs.

View attachment 554847

And grind this down a little bit more.

View attachment 554848

But then the exhaust would come out here.

View attachment 554849

I assume you have a protection plan for the cable from the exhaust or maybe it's not as close as the pics suggest?

 

[Wildman]

I assume you have a protection plan for the cable from the exhaust or maybe it's not as close as the pics suggest?

No it's going to be pretty close but I've got some the heat wrap for cables and hoses to put on it. I'm going to have to wrap the transmission cooler lines on the other side too because that is where the passenger cat is going to sit. I might have to get the wrap kits they make for cats too for both of them.
Everything I've read says you can't wrap the cat completely but you can do 50% of it. So on the passenger side I'd do the side facing the transmission and floorboard and on the drivers side one I'd wrap the side towards the transmission pan.

I've got to get the shifter cable bracket redone first and then I can go from there.

 

[Sj's TJ]

Yes Rick! I'm pumped you found a solution and are puzzling it all together. Are you running cats because you need the rig to pass inspection or some other reason? I don't have a cat on mine and I'm thinking about adding one to cut down on the exhaust smell.

 

[Wildman]

I've got this thermal beerier wrap that I was going to try on the shifter cable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096RRFMH4?tag=wranglerorg-20

And this too. I'm thinking I might double it up? Put the sleeve on first & then the wrap?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJJZW6C?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Wildman]

Yes Rick! I'm pumped you found a solution and are puzzling it all together. Are you running cats because you need the rig to pass inspection or some other reason? I don't have a cat on mine and I'm thinking about adding one to cut down on the exhaust smell.

I'm running the cats because the Hemi or the PCM wants to see them from what I understand. I'm not sure if it's even possible to not run without them. But I figured the old exhaust had cats and all the swaps I've seen had them. I can fit them it's just going to be tight.

Edit: I should add that I might have a solution to the puzzle but that I've still got to move the shifter cable over and see if I can make it work. As Mudmaster pointed out the exhaust down pipe is going to be REAL close to the shifter cable. But at this point I haven't been able to figure any other option to make this work.

 

[Sj's TJ]

I'm running the cats because the Hemi or the PCM wants to see them from what I understand. I'm not sure if it's even possible to not run without them. But I figured the old exhaust had cats and all the swaps I've seen had them. I can fit them it's just going to be tight.

Edit: I should add that I might have a solution to the puzzle but that I've still got to move the shifter cable over and see if I can make it work. As Mudmaster pointed out the exhaust down pipe is going to be REAL close to the shifter cable. But at this point I haven't been able to figure any other option to make this work.

Got it on the cats. Maybe wrap the shifter cable in thin heatshield like aluminum, then wrap in heat tape? Not sure such a thing exists or if there is enough room for that. Just trying to help out where I can.

 

[Wildman]

Got it on the cats. Maybe wrap the shifter cable in thin heatshield like aluminum, then wrap in heat tape? Not sure such a thing exists or if there is enough room for that. Just trying to help out where I can.

I'm new to this whole heat wrap stuff too. I'm also wondering if I could use header wrap on the section that is going past the cable?

I just ordered two of the cat wraps.

Figure it's a can't hurt type thing.

 

[Sj's TJ]

I'm new to this whole heat wrap stuff too. I'm also wondering if I could use header wrap on the section that is going past the cable?

I just ordered two of the cat wraps.

View attachment 554865

Figure it's a can't hurt type thing.

Sweet. I may check those out as well to wrap my exhaust near the were the trans hoses come out.

 

[Daubie3]

I'm new to this whole heat wrap stuff too. I'm also wondering if I could use header wrap on the section that is going past the cable?

I just ordered two of the cat wraps.

View attachment 554865

Figure it's a can't hurt type thing.

I like those, where did you order them from?

 

[Wildman]

One of the little things I needed to take care of was the York clutch wire insulation was starting to crack in a few spots and even though the York doesn't run a lot I didn't want to chance it arching on a bare spot.

Added a length of heat shrink to it and it's all better.

I like those, where did you order them from?

Summit Racing. They offer kits that just have the bands or ones that have the clips that rivet to the mat & then you use bailing wire to hold it on. Not sure which is the better way. I'm trying the straps first.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/heatshield-products/department/exhaust

https://www.heatshieldproducts.com/

 

[JMT]

Got the new LED bulbs for the dash cluster. Not sure if it's the sockets that the bulbs go into or the "cheap" Amazon bulbs but half of them don't work.

View attachment 554347

I'll try ordering some better ones but these work for now.

Super bright LED’s are the only good ones.

 

[Wildman]

Super bright LED’s are the only good ones.

I forgot about them. Will go look. I'll see how long these Amazon ones last.

 

[lBasket]

I've got this thermal beerier wrap that I was going to try on the shifter cable.

View attachment 554863

I'm using a sleeve similar to this for a coolant hose I've got running along a header.

And also hell yeah dude. Killer thinking outside the box! If the exhaust don't fit make room!!