Regearing 4:56 vs 4:88

[Cimmerian]

Is the JL really that much of an upgrade though, given it's issues? From a capability viewpoint, not all the added electronic crap.

 

[Ratbikerod]

Is the JL really that much of an upgrade though, given it's issues? From a capability viewpoint, not all the added electronic crap.

Yea, that was definitely one of the deciding factors when I bought my JK. I did not want all of that. My buddy bought a JL about the same time and we have both been doing typical upgrade stuff. His is 50% more difficult and costly than on my JK.

 

[pc1p]

At $10k you have to consider whether it is better to upgrade to a JL to be honest in my mind. Don't get me wrong, I bought my JK used a few years back because I did not want a JL. However, I would have loved to have the option to find a JK with an 8 speed. I do agree that it can be done for about $5-6k, maybe less.

I wonder, if we were to ping the folks who bought a new Wrangler in late-2018/early-2019, particularly those deciding between leftover JK's or new JL's, if the transmission/drivability was a major influence to their decision. I remember my first JLU rental, it was a 2019 white Sahara with the 2.0L. It felt considerably faster than the white 2018 JKU Willys I had as a rental just a few weeks prior. I couldn't tell about any gas mileage differences, since one was rented in rural Colorado (Durango) and the other in SoCal.

I don't fit well in the 2011+ JK interiors or JL interiors, so for me that was never really an option. Honestly I'd love a 392 Rubicon but I could never write a check for that much $$$ and have a vehicle I could barely drive for more than 2 hours at a time (they both kill my back/shoulders, as I'm forced to "lean" away from the door to get comfortable).

Given the cost of a JL, plus their quirks and known issues, it would certainly come down to preference, willingness to spend more $$, and consideration of money already spent. For example, if you've got a nicely built JK and are looking to extract some better drivability, $5000 is fairly inexpensive (though realistically it's probably half that for most DIY'ers). Couple that with the nightmare of selling your JK, recouping as much of a % as possible on parts you've added, then buying a JL and replacing those parts you had on the JK to get it to the same level.

At this point, I think for the money (being quoted just under $2500 for the 4:88 swap) I think I will see how that perks up the old girl.

To be fair, no engine or transmission combo will completely make up for improperly geared axles The 5.13's we put in my daughter's Islander made a massive improvement and was money well spent...

 

[tJKrider]

At $10k you have to consider whether it is better to upgrade to a JL

This is the root of my dilemma to be brutally honest. By the time I do what I want to my JK I would be better off, financially, waiting for a few years for used JL with the XR package to reduce in price a bit more. There are things I like better with the JK, however.

We're about ready to move so I have some more time to contemplate and ping pong the options!

 

[Ratbikerod]

To be fair, no engine or transmission combo will completely make up for improperly geared axles The 5.13's we put in my daughter's Islander made a massive improvement and was money well spent...

To your point, I expect the 4:88's will wake my JK up significantly. I am just gathering the funds to get it done and hope to do so this month.

I expect that most of my driving and off-roading will be improved with this change with a slight suffer on the highway at 70.

 

[tJKrider]

To be fair, no engine or transmission combo will completely make up for improperly geared axles

Going to an 8spd will to certain extent. Just look at the gear ratios in the first 5 gears for an apples-apples comparison:

Mechanical advantage improvement is as follows:
1st: 131%
2nd: 143%
3rd: 149%
4th: 167%
5th: 155%
Average is 149%. An 8spd w/ 3.73 FDR would be roughly comparable to having a 5spd w/ 5.56 FDR (3.73*1.49). Not to mention you have access to the 3 additional gears. Even if you only use the 1st gear improvement as a multiplier it would be equivalent to a 4.89 (3.73*1.31) with the 5spd.

Yeah it's not exactly the same - it will make better use of engine rpm and account for tire size increase but moves where the torque multiplication happens. That may actually help those sticking with the d44/d30 combo, however, and are only doing light off-roading.

Many of the JLs come with a 3.45, which would be like a 5.13 with a JK 5spd. No wonder the JLs feel so snappy!