uae455 wrote:Hi all, hope all are fine and having fun in the desert. So here is a list of all the upgrades I have done after the initial test of my 2012 JKU HEMI in Sweihan. Last week was the first time I was able to use the car since I got it in from the US in July, been so busy with work and weather was not suitable. So I took the family to the our farm in Sweihan and spent the weekend there. Took the jeep out and tested it and I was not even close to happy the reasons are :

1- With the 2012 don't even bother to do an engine swap coz it has enough power with just re-gearing and an air filter IMHO. (What was I thinking when I did it).
You did not have first hand experience with the pentastar JK ... and still ... the 3.6 engine needs to be kept above 3500 rpm not to bog down ... a V8 produces more torque and hp under much lesser engine load! (but the 5.7 truck or 6.0 engine are known for better torque characteristics off road. The 6.4 is a on road race engine where torque comes quite late)
2- The 6.4 overheats (Luckily i had a upgraded heavy duty radiator) and can't handle the power (475 HP). But still the marker crossed the 3/4 temp so I had to ease off.
The Mopar HEMI engines are known for that! Especially the bigger displacement engines in the tight JK engine compartment.
3- AEV 3.5" lift with Bilestein shocks really suck, either I have to change the shocks to coilovers or replace the bumpstops coz it was not comfortable.
??? I rode in a 2 door JK with AEV/Bilstein lift and it was nice, firm, stable, good dampening on road ... I did not check for travel characteristics off road, but coils and shocks felt so much better than the famous OME or Teraflex combos...
I am running 2" OME coils and 5160s for 3" lifted TJs and they are nicer on and offroad than anything I have experienced on a TJ before ... (well, admittedly I must say that there are some more tweaks to it: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/proth ... st14419242 ... contact AnTrax/Hani for more details
4- When you get slightly stuck you get a HOT OIL warning that was the 1st time I ever saw in a jeep.
hmmm ... you have a auto transmission? without SEPARATE beefy ACTIVE transmission oil cooler? like e.g. this one in the last two pics of this post?: http://www.ad4x4.com/club/viewtopic.php ... 05#p236512
5- Need to add an auxiliary fan to keep the car cool when needed.
be careful with that ... an aux pusher fan in front of the radiator is going to restrict airflow for highway use! The best electric puller fan with the most CFM and the most powerful motor is an old 2 speed Lincoln Mark VIII (8) fan ... it pulls a lot of current though and needs really hefty relays ... next would be a Ford Taurus fan ... do some googling
6- Worst part is the traction control, DANGEROUS in the desert if you think side sloping/cresting even when you switch it off , there's automatic override coz it's not 100% off. ( I had them install a kill switch to make sure it's %100 off) then I felt the car was alive and roaring nothing slowing it down.
This is a known JK "issue" for sand driving and "fixable" at the dealer for quite some time now
7- My Nitto Dune Grapplers were awesome with 20psi in them only but I might need to get bead locks just incase I have to turn faster and not worry about the tires coming off.
yea ... with that much power you might spin a wheel inside the rubber (I was using 9 psi last trip in razeen with normal wheels, it was great) But you might want to check the Hutchinson Rock Monster DOUBLE beadlock wheels which are even road legal (in the US!) http://www.rockmonsterwheels.com/
8- Looking for Coil-overs and bump stops , I was told there's a shop called Mebar in Dubai . Any recommendations that would be nice.
Yes MEBAR are great ... and high end everything. But you might want to let AnTrax/Hani check your suspension first. He is workshop manager at Princess Cars as well (besides being the club manager and JK suspension guy in ad4x4 and AD in general)
9- Our farm is No.1 when heading towards Sweihan from Abu Dhabi so if any members are around your more than welcome to pass by for some tea also you might see me paramotoring over the area and maybe i take an aerial picture of you guys.
Thank You Saeed for the friendly invitation! Will try to make it next time ... Are you coming to the Wrangler Jamboree as well???
10- I wish i was able to write this much in school, be safe.

Forgot to mention, added a trektop nx top.
coool !

Saeed Alfahim
0502929291

Arabia wrote:Ciao Saeed
Are you the one with the Wild Boar Roof for JKU ?

Very very very cool !!

F

uae455 wrote:WoW that was a clear technical reply. I should've gone with the truck engine swap at burnsville offroad in the US as it was listed but 6.4 HEMI attracted me more. My engine is still there , but will definitely contact Hani and Rashad for some feed back as I really want to ride rough with no worries. Also I forgot to mention once I return from a trip I See the coolant coming out I guess it's from the high pressure, high temperature or both, no idea.


Saeed Alfahim

uae455 wrote:When is the Jeep Jamboree ????


Saeed Alfahim
0502929291

uae455 wrote:Went doorless in the desert, nice, lightweight,safe and the best part is you get sand in....




Saeed Alfahim