Ok, I've been reading and reading and reading, and I think I'm more confused than I was before. Kind of like knowing just enough to be dangerous......sometimes it's better to be clueless, maybe?
Between this thread and my suspension thread, I realized that I'm piecemealing my questions, and losing sight of the overall build, which I need to step back for a second and make sure I'm not spending bad resources (time, money, thought, stress) before spending good resources. Let me collect some thoughts:
What I need:
- Reliability - The most important thing it can do is start when I turn the key, and stay cool, even if it means not making it up whatever big bad obstacle is in its way.
- Driveability - Tons of off-road capability doesn't do me any good if it's a handful on the highway. It needs to do double duty, bit not just be "ok" at both, it needs to be good at both, not great at one, and mediocre on the other.
What I want:
- I want to run 35s. The wheelbase, breakover angle, capability, and not going to lie, looks....I think the LJ is "right" with 35s
- I want to regear for the 35s
- I want to freshen the current suspension, leading candidates are Currie short arm, and Savvy Mid-Arm
- I want better clearance in the belly area, as there is no free lunch with the gift of wheelbase
What is concerning me:
- Running 35s - I have no issue with the gearing and even beefing the drivetrain. But it's becoming very clear that simply making room for 35s is only the beginning.
- The most popular (arguably) formula of 4" suspension and 1.25" body lift seem simple enough, but now that there's a body lift, I'm tempted for a flat belly. Well, that's not so easy as it requires modifications that start to get the snowball rolling down the hill.
- There's no MM lift for the Hemi, but I have some wheelbase, is that going to be enough, or am I going to start down the path of nitpicky behaviors, which fly in the face of the two "needs" listed above?
- Maybe I use a skid similar to the tummy tucker on my short wheelbase (SWB) AEV Tj, which isn't pefectly flat, but it's pretty well tucked up, and pretty stout? Are there other options out there besides the now defunct Nth degree (UCF? Other>)? Do I steal it from my SWB, and potentially lessen the value of the sale of my SWB?
- Do I look for one of the lifts greater than 4" and forego the body lift? Well, those lifts are quite expensive, and seem to be geared towards offroad, which would take away from the "driveability" bullet above.....or would it?
- Cooling - The cooling issues are well addressed in this thread, but I am now realizing it's not a simple answer. Am I going to run a flat belly? Am I going to run a body lift? Am I going to raise the drivetrain, am I going to throw in the towel and just run 33s?
- Electric fan will accommodate angles, raising/not raising the drivetrain, etc. but:
- AEV swears by the mechanical fan setup, with OEM TJ shroud on a custom radiator, with the OEM fan and clutch.....but they didn't run body lifts, even on their 35" tired builds
- AMW's current swap kit uses electric
- Many current and defunct "kits" out there use(d) electric fans....was that out of convenience or performance?
- Daubie's hemi swap, which is as clean and "OEM like" as could be possible seems to be running all OEM cooling components, with mechanical fan and he has ZERO cooling issues. However, I don't believe he's running extensive suspension or body lift?
You'll notice I only have one primary bullet under "concerns" as it all stems from wanting to run 35s. If I was simply going to run 33s, I'd just replace the radiator and run the current Spal until it fails, and then address it then. However, if I go that route, will I always be saying "I should have just bit the bullet?"
As you can see......my head's spinning, and that's with having received tons of excellent of advice on these threads. Big picture is the key.....is the status quo good enough? If not, then I should endeavor to do this once, and do it right.
