Still in love!!!

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 04, 2013 9:52 am

Well, since my issues last year, mostly caused by the lack of maintenance with the previous owner, I have logged in over 25000 successful miles this year. That includes about 3000 towing my new camper. This spring, before towing my camper for next season, a new torque converter will be needed, as I notice with the last trip with the camper, it is easier to get it to shudder. I got over 115K on it right now.

I know I haven't been much of a contributor as of late. Family and work are tops on my list. But I still peek in occasionally.

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 04, 2013 9:10 pm

What torque converter are you planning on!!!

Mike92104 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:40 pm

What camper are you towing?

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:51 am

jlgail4309 wrote:

What torque converter are you planning on!!!

Still up in the air between the updated Jeep one and the Suncoast. I am leaning towards the Suncoast.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:52 am

Mike92104 wrote:

What camper are you towing?

I am towing a Rockwood Roo 21BH. Fully loaded, about 4600 to 4800 pounds. At the CAT scales, fully fueled, full house, and camp ready, I am 100 pounds over the Jeeps GVW. I can deal with that.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:47 am

Given that the "euro"and is back down to the $220 range, it is hard ro justify paying 3+ times that for the Suncoast.

DOC

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 16, 2013 2:11 pm

DOC4444 wrote:

Given that the "euro"and is back down to the $220 range, it is hard ro justify paying 3+ times that for the Suncoast.

DOC

that is true doc. Still on the fence. It will be happening soon.

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DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:43 pm

I have five years of towing 5000 lbs with the "euro" with excellent results. Keith has even more. I do not know of anyone who has replaced one with the other, so there is no known, same owner experience. I was hoping to do a side by side comparison in Newport between mine with the euro and another similar KJ with a Suncoast, but it never came together.

It has been speculated that the much heavier housing on the Suncoast smooths out the 4 cylinder pulses. If true, it could be extremely helpful under 45 MPH if you are running the "original" GDE TCM tune where the TC stays locked at modest throttle openings from 35 MPH and beyond.

However, without any comparison testing, I do not know.

If it were me, I would again do exactly what Keith advised and I followed, 5 years ago; Put in the euro and change nothing else unless the TC seal is obviously leaking. Then, you have to change the pump because you can no longer get the old style seal that was installed at manufacture.

Many have installed new pumps that were not obviously needed, transgo kits and etc., then ended up with unsatisfactory results and had to R&R the trans again (not inexpensive, BTW).

DOC

Mike92104 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 16, 2013 6:23 pm

ChooChooman74 wrote:

Mike92104 wrote:

What camper are you towing?

I am towing a Rockwood Roo 21BH. Fully loaded, about 4600 to 4800 pounds. At the CAT scales, fully fueled, full house, and camp ready, I am 100 pounds over the Jeeps GVW. I can deal with that.

I looked up that trailer model and a picture of your rig came up. Looks good.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 17, 2013 2:20 am

DOC4444 wrote:

I have five years of towing 5000 lbs with the "euro" with excellent results. Keith has even more. I do not know of anyone who has replaced one with the other, so there is no known, same owner experience. I was hoping to do a side by side comparison in Newport between mine with the euro and another similar KJ with a Suncoast, but it never came together.

It has been speculated that the much heavier housing on the Suncoast smooths out the 4 cylinder pulses. If true, it could be extremely helpful under 45 MPH if you are running the "original" GDE TCM tune where the TC stays locked at modest throttle openings from 35 MPH and beyond.

However, without any comparison testing, I do not know.

If it were me, I would again do exactly what Keith advised and I followed, 5 years ago; Put in the euro and change nothing else unless the TC seal is obviously leaking. Then, you have to change the pump because you can no longer get the old style seal that was installed at manufacture.

Many have installed new pumps that were not obviously needed, transgo kits and etc., then ended up with unsatisfactory results and had to R&R the trans again (not inexpensive, BTW).

DOC

I guess that extra $$ saved can go towards the down payment ob my Ram 1500. If things work out, I won't be towing after next summer with the Jeep, since I want to get a truck for towing and just keep the Jeep for racking up the highway miles going to work in Worcester and Framingham.

My ex coworker who runs a tranny shop on the side says I should rebuild it while itbis out. I have considered it. And striperman36 says to put a pump in. You think I should just do the TC and forget the rest?

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ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 17, 2013 2:20 am

Mike92104 wrote:

ChooChooman74 wrote:

Mike92104 wrote:

What camper are you towing?

I am towing a Rockwood Roo 21BH. Fully loaded, about 4600 to 4800 pounds. At the CAT scales, fully fueled, full house, and camp ready, I am 100 pounds over the Jeeps GVW. I can deal with that.

I looked up that trailer model and a picture of your rig came up. Looks good.

Thanks. I decided to google it and sure enough, at least 6 images came up of my trailer and/or rig.

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ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2014 6:04 pm

Just an update, torque converter was put in. Nice feel so far!

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woodtick · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2014 6:23 pm

Which converter did you choose and why? I replaced original with the Euro on the last CRD and intend to do it again to the current CRD soon.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:09 am

woodtick wrote:

Which converter did you choose and why? I replaced original with the Euro on the last CRD and intend to do it again to the current CRD soon.

I spoke it over with my mechanic, who usually tries to save me money. I gave him the choices and he said go with the Billet converter. So, she now has a suncoast.

Auberon · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2014 10:10 am

Sounds grand.
My research so far indicates that is the best course of action and some very kind well informed, quite involved and detailed pm's from forum members has steered me very strongly in the same direction as mine will be towing more a bi9t later in her life.
As an aside - my reverse lights now clearly highlight the fence cross the road - last light measurement for a single was 180 lumens......reminiscent of your excellent pictures from the Way-Back Machine. Most excellent.
Seriously, on transmissions, did they mention clutch pack endurance/longevity or is that not an issue given towing may be lessened for you?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2014 11:30 am

Suncoast TC came in this week and is setting in a box in the back of the Jeep. It will be installed starting Monday along with a new front pump and Transgo kit. I have contracted with my local professional transmission repair shop to do all the work, he is a good friend of mine and is giving me a very fair price to do all the work. Cannot wait to really see what the Jeep will do without the TC slipping. :-)r

I know there has been a lot of pro and con discussions on TC's and which one is better on this forum.
I based my decision on several things:
Do not make a expensive mistake; been there done that on my Dodge Cummins. Went through two other TC's before biting the bullet and buying the higher priced Suncoast. Cost of first two TC's and install labor alone would have more than payed for the Suncoast.
Suncoast is a billet TC, much heavier than euro, and it was stated that this will help the CRD engine smooth out the pluses somewhat and it is stronger.
Some on this forum have stated they experienced chatter with the euro TC after install. That scared me bad!!!
Mopar Euro TC is rated for 400 ft. lbs. max (~ 542 Nm) Suncoast CRD-1ES TC is rated for 600 ft. lbs. max (813 Nm)
Huge difference in ratings and I plan to go to a Max tune at some point after new TC install.
Will post results after install and evaluation. :JEEPIN:

striperman36 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:09 pm

ChooChooman Did you get the Suncoast installed?

ibedonc · **Joined:** Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:40 pm **Posts:** 236

DOC4444 wrote:

Given that the "euro"and is back down to the $220 range, it is hard ro justify paying 3+ times that for the Suncoast.

DOC

where can you get one for that price ?

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:05 am

Scroll back to mid-November when I made that post. Someone had posted who had it at that price at that time. I believe it was one of the dealers that offer discounted MOPAR parts online like MoparPartsOnline.

DOC

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:22 pm

striperman36 wrote:

ChooChooman Did you get the Suncoast installed?

yes and can't wait to tow with it. Feels solid so far.

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