Oh, and coming back from Buena Vista, in traffic, moving along at a pace that we shall merely refer to as 'respectable' (with accompanying intake roar and logging some passing lane time for once) through some significant South Park winds ahead of a cold front, I got above 19 mpg.

Mind you, I've gotten worse since the swap, bordering on what I got with a floored 22RE in third, but that there ain't nuttin' to complain of, with a flying brick.

Hey Bill, did you go with Downey headers?

Nope. Several reasons:
1) increased underhood heat, always unwelcome (esp. with a compressor there)
2) the stockers ain't bad at all
3) Downeys would prevent a behind-the-heads crossover, forcing a crossover behind the transfer case (waaaay back in my case, with a crawler, paralleling the fuel line <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />) and forcing either dual converters or rearranging the whole exhaust
4) durability. Cast steel is hard to beat. They also have increased heat retention improving scavenging, though I doubt I'd notice. Redoing gaskets is something I'd like to avoid. So is Downey in general.
5) noise
6) more expense, like I needed that.

.

Does your exhaust stay on the passenger side after the stock 3.4 cross-over then?

Yep. Very important design goal. Fuel and fuel lines and clutch slave cylinder (and honkin' welding cable feeding voltage from the rear dual batteries) on passenger side, exhaust on driver side. Oh, and reused the prior exhaust from the cat back.

I'm confused. Doesn't the stock 3.4 exhaust cross over to the passenger side?

Yes it does... now... curiosity is setting in. Pictures must be forthcoming...

Sorry, I tried but it's so neatly tucked above the bell housing and it front of the firewall it's very difficult to see. I'll tell ya though, I held the cross over in my hand, at Mike's shop, it was an honor to hold such a fine piece of art.

Oh, its a custom cross-over before the firewall?