12' Gecko Build

Welp got about 500 miles on the new motor now and all I can say is it's a riot! 460 hp in a 2dr is an absolute blast and the 10 speed really keeps the power going well past as fast as I like to drive it. 100% the 6.2L is more power than you need but absolutely the power you want and I still can't stop laughing like a child while driving it. And on dry pavement you can in fact chirp 37s relatively easy. I do think the 4.88s are a little tall for it, it could be loaded down a bit more. Off roading in 4lo it's got plenty of low end. 95% of my offloading experience is with a manual trans so hard to really compare going to the automatic and the V8 and I still don't have too much wheeling time with it since the wife is 8 month pregnant.
Few small bugs still to work through as expected but overall very happy with my purchase. Motech does great work and I can't overstate how much fun it is to drive a 2dr with 460hp. So much so that my wife was skeptical spending so much money for it to not be that much different than the 4dr with a 5.7 hemi and agreed it's a world of difference and a massive step up.
I need to take some video of it, the launch with soft suspension is quite comical to watch. But 100% recommend if it's something you want the 6.2L and 10 speed is an absolute blast
 
desertrunner said:
Welp got about 500 miles on the new motor now and all I can say is it's a riot! 460 hp in a 2dr is an absolute blast and the 10 speed really keeps the power going well past as fast as I like to drive it. 100% the 6.2L is more power than you need but absolutely the power you want and I still can't stop laughing like a child while driving it. And on dry pavement you can in fact chirp 37s relatively easy. I do think the 4.88s are a little tall for it, it could be loaded down a bit more. Off roading in 4lo it's got plenty of low end. 95% of my offloading experience is with a manual trans so hard to really compare going to the automatic and the V8 and I still don't have too much wheeling time with it since the wife is 8 month pregnant.
Few small bugs still to work through as expected but overall very happy with my purchase. Motech does great work and I can't overstate how much fun it is to drive a 2dr with 460hp. So much so that my wife was skeptical spending so much money for it to not be that much different than the 4dr with a 5.7 hemi and agreed it's a world of difference and a massive step up.
I need to take some video of it, the launch with soft suspension is quite comical to watch. But 100% recommend if it's something you want the 6.2L and 10 speed is an absolute blast
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Dang! This is my dream lol, one day I'll be handing over my 2 door JK Sport to MoTech. Congrats to you and can't wait to see more of it!
 
desertrunner said:
Welp got about 500 miles on the new motor now and all I can say is it's a riot! 460 hp in a 2dr is an absolute blast and the 10 speed really keeps the power going well past as fast as I like to drive it. 100% the 6.2L is more power than you need but absolutely the power you want and I still can't stop laughing like a child while driving it. And on dry pavement you can in fact chirp 37s relatively easy. I do think the 4.88s are a little tall for it, it could be loaded down a bit more. Off roading in 4lo it's got plenty of low end. 95% of my offloading experience is with a manual trans so hard to really compare going to the automatic and the V8 and I still don't have too much wheeling time with it since the wife is 8 month pregnant.
Few small bugs still to work through as expected but overall very happy with my purchase. Motech does great work and I can't overstate how much fun it is to drive a 2dr with 460hp. So much so that my wife was skeptical spending so much money for it to not be that much different than the 4dr with a 5.7 hemi and agreed it's a world of difference and a massive step up.
I need to take some video of it, the launch with soft suspension is quite comical to watch. But 100% recommend if it's something you want the 6.2L and 10 speed is an absolute blast
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Glad shes working out Trevor, was actually gonna send you a text to check in. 😎
 
LS JK said:
Glad shes working out Trevor, was actually gonna send you a text to check in. 😎
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It's amazing you guys really do good work and this thing is a blast to drive. Worth every $. And yeah I'll send you a message here soon got a few questions on some small stuff
 
"the launch with soft suspension is quite comical to watch"

Crouching Lion, Hidden Dragon?...

Nothing like feeling a Big Eight thru the soles of your feet...
 
Pretty badass. Reminds me of a guy I knew back in the day had a CJ5 with a ridiculously built 401 in it. It would change lanes when he floored it and pull the front wheels off the ground from a standing start. It was awesome., especially since it was driven by an immature jackass like the rest of us back then....

Since Brute can't do a burnout looks like you're the guy to bug from now on. So let's have it.....
 
Ddays said:
Pretty badass. Reminds me of a guy I knew back in the day had a CJ5 with a ridiculously built 401 in it. It would change lanes when he floored it and pull the front wheels off the ground from a standing start. It was awesome., especially since it was driven by an immature jackass like the rest of us back then....

Since Brute can't do a burnout looks like you're the guy to bug from now on. So let's have it.....
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Short wheel base and that much HP I had a quick awakening when the road was a little wet yesterday and ended up in the other lane haha.
I would love to do a burn out video but I sure as shit am not Burning up my 37s they are too damn expensive. Maybe some stock take offs on the cheap would be a option and then pray the rear D44 holds up haha.
 
Got the new ARB dual fully installed. Did my best to do it right making the wiring harness all wrapped and hidden under the trim. Air lines ran under the seat and out the drain hole on top of the gas tank. Had to weld some extra bar steel to my corbeau seat brackets but that was easy and holds the compressor just fine. Think this set up is gonna work out nicely. Excited to not have a 3+ min per tire air up now and the lockers all still work everything held air no leaks. Left the compressor on for 30+ mins with no recharge on the compressor.
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desertrunner said:
Got the new ARB dual fully installed. Did my best to do it right making the wiring harness all wrapped and hidden under the trim. Air lines ran under the seat and out the drain hole on top of the gas tank. Had to weld some extra bar steel to my corbeau seat brackets but that was easy and holds the compressor just fine. Think this set up is gonna work out nicely. Excited to not have a 3+ min per tire air up now and the lockers all still work everything held air no leaks. Left the compressor on for 30+ mins with no recharge on the compressor.
View attachment 393302View attachment 393303
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Isn't the compressor pretty noisy given that it is inside the vehicle?
 
Welp it's official, the next big step to end goal items have been ordered.
1 tons are on their way. Thanks to Dan over at fusion helping me figure out what would work best for me and I landed on their 60/14 bolt set up in 72" and the 40 spline upgrade for the rear. Based on some other recommendations and talking to Robbie at motec I went 4.88s again that I'm hoping will work well for the new 38s coming and eventual 40s down the line with the 6.2L 10L80 combo.
In addition since I needed new wheels I went with fusions wheel and tire package with 17" KMC grenade wheels with 4.75" backspace and 38x1350 trail graplers.
Wish I could have jumped to 40s right away but the jeep truly won't fit in my current garage if I did that right now. I also wanted to stick with the 1350 width so the 38s made sence in my head until I can do some major suspension overhaul.

It's possible my dad ends up buying my current dynatrac trail leader package but if not those, along with my 37x1350 cooper's and trail ready 17" beadlocks will be for sale soonish once I find the time to start tareing it down
 
Jsouder53 said:
Congrats on the new purchase!!! I’m looking forward to hearing what you think about the fusion axles!
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Thanks! I'm excited. It's a little different than the UD60s or the dynatrac but I'm excited to see how the kingpins shake out and I like the added strength of the 14 bolt with better clearance running the V8. Time will tell but I think it's gonna be a great fit for me.
The 72" was kinda the only "we'll see" decision I'm gonna be quite wide to start with but knowing the end goal is a stretch and big coilovers I wanted the extra length and Dan agreed that it will make my life easier down the road
 
desertrunner said:
Thanks! I'm excited. It's a little different than the UD60s or the dynatrac but I'm excited to see how the kingpins shake out and I like the added strength of the 14 bolt with better clearance running the V8. Time will tell but I think it's gonna be a great fit for me.
The 72" was kinda the only "we'll see" decision I'm gonna be quite wide to start with but knowing the end goal is a stretch and big coilovers I wanted the extra length and Dan agreed that it will make my life easier down the road
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You'll love those axles. Mine have been trouble free since I installed them over 2 years ago. Dan is great to work too, not only during the purchase process but during setup as well. I needed the 72" for my setup and it worked out perfect.
 
Ddays said:
You'll love those axles. Mine have been trouble free since I installed them over 2 years ago. Dan is great to work too, not only during the purchase process but during setup as well. I needed the 72" for my setup and it worked out perfect.
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Dan was awesome so far. I feel bad I've called him like 6 times over the last month to make sure I get the set up right. But I don't plan to buy axles ever again and I'm confident this set will be great for me
 
desertrunner said:
Dan was awesome so far. I feel bad I've called him like 6 times over the last month to make sure I get the set up right. But I don't plan to buy axles ever again and I'm confident this set will be great for me
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Yup, Wish I'd have gone that way from the beginning.
 
Ddays said:
You'll love those axles. Mine have been trouble free since I installed them over 2 years ago. Dan is great to work too, not only during the purchase process but during setup as well. I needed the 72" for my setup and it worked out perfect.
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You need to update your Gruff build thread. I didn’t know you had Fusion axles now, what changed?
 
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