Got My New Whip!

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 8:27 pm

I would avoid wal-mart batteries if you're planning on letting the truck sit at all. I had to replace each that I have in my truck twice in a year after it sat for 4 months. The batteries were disconnected and still discharged. I haven't had an issue with batteries from Advance.

I'll send you info on the CUCV.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:05 am

i will take ur offer Rant

and will hook me up with a turbo and im game haha

Post by **jac6695** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:36 am

tsmall07 wrote:I would avoid wal-mart batteries if you're planning on letting the truck sit at all. I had to replace each that I have in my truck twice in a year after it sat for 4 months. The batteries were disconnected and still discharged. I haven't had an issue with batteries from Advance.

I'll send you info on the CUCV.

FYI most batteries sold at retail outlets are made by Johnson Controls. A list of them can be found here:

http://www.autobatteries.com/brands/Index.aspx

If you had one or more Walmart Bateries discharge just sitting disconnected then it was a bad battery (perhaps shorted internal). They seem to have a fool proof warranty so you should have returned it.

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:00 am

jac6695 wrote: If you had one or more Walmart Bateries discharge just sitting disconnected then it was a bad battery (perhaps shorted internal). They seem to have a fool proof warranty so you should have returned it.

There is another company that makes batteries. I don't remember who makes what but Sears and Advance batteries are not made by the same company that makes Wal-Mart batteries, IIRC.

If you really read my post, I did return them. Several times... They replaced them with no issue but it was a PITA to have to return 2 heavy ass batteries every time I wanted to start the truck.

I'd always rather pay more for a quality product that will last.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:50 pm

hijackers haha jk.

I got the rear axle off except for one PITA ebrake cable that i broke 5 hose clamps on over thanksgiving.

My original plan was to do the bronco build over xmas but i think i will concentrate on getting the jimmy blinged out so i can do the bronco build up here next semester.

Ill take lots of pics as to what i do when i start and make a little build thread (im mad i didnt document the broncos resurrection from the grave).

wish me luck. hopefully ill be rolling up here in jan with an almost one ton tow/support rig

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:55 am

I was looking at some specs and info on the 6.2 L Detroit Diesel tonight and I looked at several websites and saw that this engine only produces 143 HP and 257 ftxlbs, this seems awful low to me esp since they use this engine in the armored Humvee and I've heard that these engines are workhorses. I also read somewhere else that it produces 170 HP and close to 400ftxlbs. Those latter numbers seem more reasonable to me, but that was only one site compared to three with the lower numbers. Also, my 351 gets 200 HP and 310 ftxlbs and that just seems dumb that the diesel gets so much less torque.
So, what do u guys think? Does anyone have experience with this engine that can provide me with subjective and/or objective feedback?
If the low numbers are true, i dont know about my plans to make this a tow rig. I realize that a naturally aspirated diesel sucks on power, but I dont mind that. With 4.10 gears I think that I would be fine on pulling capability,but it might just be too anemic to be useful pulling a large load (Bronco) on the highway. Tell me what y'all think and what you would do in my shoes. I dont have the time or money to do much now, but I dont want to get myself too far in this project if im not going to be satisfied. The previous owner says this trucks is a hoss but im beginning to question that now.

Thanks

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 7:29 am

I've never owned or worked on a 6.2, but EVERYONE I've ever talked to about them says they're gutless. The 6.5TD was a significant improvement, but doesn't come close to the power of modern diesels.

With that said, I would be leary of using a K5 as a tow-rig in the first place. It has the running gear, but is lacking in the wheelbase department. Hell I've towed with a Yukon in the past that was shady in that regard.

I'd be looking for a suburban or a pickup personally.

YouTube · Post by **TerryD** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 8:00 am

First things first here. 70's and 80's vintage diesels were not designed or purchased for power. They were for fuel economy and longevity. They 6.2L has a similar power output to a 350/5.7L of the same era, but should get better fuel mileage.

Secondly, if I were you, looking at the vehicles you have, you are going about this backwards. The Jimmy already has a solid front axle, which is much better for offroading. TTB and IFS (the same but different) both limit flex due to design. In either situation, when one wheel travels up to flex, it pushed down on the suspension on the other side, causing both sides to compress. With a solid axle under the front, when one wheel travels up, it pushes the other side down, increasing flex. Also, the Bronco has EFI and I'm sure is in better condition than the Jimmy. I'd tow with the Bronco and wheel the Jimmy, or maybe hock the Bronco for a GM pickup of some form to pull the Jimmy with.

Post by **willhf1011** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:04 am

I haver a 6.5TD and I don't enjoy towing with it, it really lacks the horsepower to get rolling. Its got tons of torque and plows/pulls logs great and all, but newer vehicles run away from it at any kind of speed with a load behind it. I think the higher numbers you are seeing are more like what the 6.5 is supposed to be putting out, I doubt you would see those numbers out of an unmodified 6.2

Also the wheelbase would be a big concern of mine as well. Being that your bronco is heavy I would want a good wheelbase to to with. After doing most of my towing over the past year with an extended cab long bed, towing with a regular cab even feels a little squirrely.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:54 am

alright thanks guys, I knew from the get go that this was not at all the ideal truck to tow anything with but it was free and I liked the idea of a diesel Jimmy. I guess ill just fix it up and sell it.

Post by **willhf1011** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:15 am

I think wheeling it would be cool. It wont be super light obviously, but it would be torquey enough and with solid axles I think you'd really like it. Keep the bronco a little cleaner and wheel the piss out of the jimmy!

Post by **Steinberg** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 4:44 pm

An old friend of mine towed with an old 6.2. He put a banks turbo kit on it and loved it. It got great mileage... 24mpg unloaded, but I'm not sure if that was before or after the turbo, or if the turbo even affected the mileage.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:19 pm

well, thats more encouraging steinberg

and Will, im going to get it running, drive it around and evaluate its performance myself. If i dont like it for what I had originally planned, Ill fix it up a bit and wheel it into the ground. Im just worried cuz the bronco was in better shape when I got it and its taken me a good bit of money and almost 2 years to get it reliable and get all the bugs out. and without a trailer and tow rig and this Jimmy in worse shape than the Bronco was when I purchased it (I would have never wheeled it hard), I feel that Id be breaking more things and fixing stuff than enjoying wheeling it, but we'll see soon enough. I wouldnt complain about having two trail rigs.

97JEEPTJ · Post by **97JEEPTJ** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:26 pm

While towing either one with a trailer behind the other is unrealistic, you could still set them up for flat towing..... I'd imagine they would be fine for getting you around.

Post by **Steinberg** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:34 pm

buy the tow dolly!