ok here is the latest update: Not sure if I mentioned this before but I was going to go to Maine in the Baja. Well we just got home 4 hours ago. I have put 3k on this since it was put in. 2k of that was within the last 5 or so days.
Mileage (MPG): well in town this really hasn't changed. I don't idle through town anymore in 5th so this really hasn't changed. Highway has been pretty good. Let me explain though: if you have a headwind or bad crosswind the mileage will take a hit, but it will be better then before but it will not be the greatist. I would get mid 24 stock now I will get low 27. nice open road driving and some "city stuff" will get you mid 27 to very low 28. Here is the kicker though....all highway and being reasonable but not slow I got at one point 31. In stock form the best I could muster in a drive like this would have been 25.
Driveability: well it is a little bit of a dog going up hills but I will say that out on the open road it is much more calm. I have to say I would deal with it being a slug for the calmness that it has in the upper speed ranges. I was in upper Maine (you know way up there on I-95) where the speed limit is 75 and I'd rather not say how fast I was going in public but it was pretty damn fast and it was serene. The wife used to notice when I was movin' before but now she only was noticing that we were the fastist thing on the road.
In the end though I really don't think I am going to make my money back on this. Do I love driving my Baja more now? You bet.
If you are going to do this I might tell you to consider going with the .78 instead. I want to take Hocrest's for a drive sometime and see what it is like since he has that in his Baja.
I wish there was a way to keep the stock 5th gear and add this as a 6th gear. I would have to say that would be sweet as heck. Oh well