I got some time..... - Honda Foreman Forums : Rubicon, Rincon, Rancher and Recon Forum

SwamperDave · 01-04-2012, 01:45 PM

Hey everybody. Nice to be on the forums.

I might as well start with my big question.

I've got my 2004 Rubicon up and running and was going to go through it pretty good over the winter. Give it a tune-up and general maintenance.

What are some of the best ways to maximize the power and get good performance without dumping a ton of money into it? I got about $1000 to play with.
Its my play toy that i bury in mud and water. It has also been jumped, trailed, and dropped-in from some sweet hillsides. But I also use it to haul and tow and general light/medium work.

Thanks in advance!

rich450es · 01-04-2012, 01:58 PM

hmf exhaust ,uni or K&N air filter and rejetting , carb mod (do a serch for more info )
thats around $400 so far if you do the work yourself .
and get the disk brake conversion kit
Honda Rubicon Front Disc Brake Kit : Honda : Rubicon : Brake Kit

thats $650 and leaves you $350 for a start on tires

Tank · 01-04-2012, 03:24 PM

Rich it sure is fun when you get to spend other peoples money. Lol. I know he asked, but when I read your answer, I could almost hear the excitement in your response. Buy it all sounds good to me.
Oh yea, Swamper Dave, welcome to the forum from Georgia.

sspeckerwood · 01-04-2012, 03:42 PM

if you like putting it in water you may want to build a snorkel. you can do it yourself for around 40 bucks

Eagle_On · 01-04-2012, 03:47 PM

snorkel, pipe, uni filter, disk brakes, GR, tires and rims, thats about all you can do for a rubicon

SwamperDave · 01-04-2012, 06:01 PM

Thanks guys!

I was just wondering if there is anything I can do to the motor itself to pull some extra power out of it. Especially on the low end.

I'm fine with someone else spending my money. It gives me a good idea of where I will be.

The brake kit looks like a necessity.

I appreciate all replies.

**toodeep** · 01-04-2012, 06:07 PM

Best bang for the buck is to put it in low range.. lol

How large of tires are you planning on using? There's not a lot I would do to the motor but there are a few things that can be done if your running large tires to get a little pep back into it.

Eagle_On · 01-04-2012, 06:08 PM

Gear reduction, maybe camshaft or bigger piston

SwamperDave · 01-04-2012, 06:24 PM

The tires are 26x9 and 26x11 bighorns.

I would probably just do the gear reduction if I was going any bigger on tires but I'm not seeing there being too much of a loss at the wheel.

My top end is great and I'd hate to lose it. I'm going to do a complete exhaust overhaul on it and kick in a good air filter and see what happens.

sspeckerwood · 01-04-2012, 06:25 PM

these machines are like farm tractors. they're not gonna be a hot rod machine

01-04-2012, 01:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
SwamperDave Honda Rider Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Posts: 16	I got some time..... Hey everybody. Nice to be on the forums. I might as well start with my big question. I've got my 2004 Rubicon up and running and was going to go through it pretty good over the winter. Give it a tune-up and general maintenance. What are some of the best ways to maximize the power and get good performance without dumping a ton of money into it? I got about $1000 to play with. Its my play toy that i bury in mud and water. It has also been jumped, trailed, and dropped-in from some sweet hillsides. But I also use it to haul and tow and general light/medium work. Thanks in advance!

01-04-2012, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
rich450es Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: ludlow,mass Posts: 10,644	hmf exhaust ,uni or K&N air filter and rejetting , carb mod (do a serch for more info ) thats around $400 so far if you do the work yourself . and get the disk brake conversion kit Honda Rubicon Front Disc Brake Kit : Honda : Rubicon : Brake Kit thats $650 and leaves you $350 for a start on tires __________________ 2000 foreman 450 es-s the fking pig 14% 300 foretrax gear reduction 30in gorila silverbacks on C-5 wheels 2500lb warn winch superatv disk brake conversion kit 2in ssatv lift kit and progressive 512 shocks the original 4in PVC storage tube hurculined racks with rear cargo box czr loud exhaust , uni airfilter and drilled main jet foreman 450 parts for sale pm me for info**

01-04-2012, 03:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tank Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kennesaw Georgia Posts: 1,069	Rich it sure is fun when you get to spend other peoples money. Lol. I know he asked, but when I read your answer, I could almost hear the excitement in your response. Buy it all sounds good to me. Oh yea, Swamper Dave, welcome to the forum from Georgia. __________________ F&AM Rockwell 191 PM 08 Foreman ES Camo XTREME 2" lift 26in Swamplites, ITP wheels Moose skid plate Tusk hand guards 1 1/2" wheel spacers 4" storage tube "Black" 2 50 cal ammo cans "Black" WARN XT2500 Hockey puck spring spacers 07 Recon ES Green 1 1/2" wheel spacers 2" lift Tusk hand Guards Rancher wheels and tires

01-04-2012, 03:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
sspeckerwood Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tooele, ut Posts: 8,777	if you like putting it in water you may want to build a snorkel. you can do it yourself for around 40 bucks __________________ 2012 TRX500FM FOREMAN. SSPECKERWOOD 3RD HEADLIGHT MOD QUAD BOSS REAR SEAT 26" SWAMPLITES KFI #3000 WINCH HOT GRIPS HEATED GRIPS & THUMB WARMER HONDA ALUMINUM A-ARM GUARDS 00' FOREMAN 450es HIGH LIFTER SPRINGS FRONT & REAR MAXXIS TIRES OFF A 2012 FOREMAN 500 SSPECKERWOOD 3RD HEADLIGHT MOD http://www.flickr.com/photos/sspeckerwood/ http://www.youtube.com/user/sspeckerwood Official hondaforeman.com stickers IF YOU WOULD LIKE OFFICIAL HONDAFOREMAN.COM STICKERS PM ME.

01-04-2012, 03:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Eagle_On Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SOUTH CAROLINA Posts: 803	snorkel, pipe, uni filter, disk brakes, GR, tires and rims, thats about all you can do for a rubicon __________________ 04 rubicon -28 zillas

01-04-2012, 06:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
SwamperDave Honda Rider Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Posts: 16	Thanks guys! I was just wondering if there is anything I can do to the motor itself to pull some extra power out of it. Especially on the low end. I'm fine with someone else spending my money. It gives me a good idea of where I will be. The brake kit looks like a necessity. I appreciate all replies.

01-04-2012, 06:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
toodeep Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: south dakota Posts: 6,653	Best bang for the buck is to put it in low range.. lol How large of tires are you planning on using? There's not a lot I would do to the motor but there are a few things that can be done if your running large tires to get a little pep back into it.

01-04-2012, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Eagle_On Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SOUTH CAROLINA Posts: 803	Gear reduction, maybe camshaft or bigger piston __________________ 04 rubicon -28 zillas

01-04-2012, 06:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
SwamperDave Honda Rider Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Posts: 16	The tires are 26x9 and 26x11 bighorns. I would probably just do the gear reduction if I was going any bigger on tires but I'm not seeing there being too much of a loss at the wheel. My top end is great and I'd hate to lose it. I'm going to do a complete exhaust overhaul on it and kick in a good air filter and see what happens.

01-04-2012, 06:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
sspeckerwood Honda Red Wing Rider Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tooele, ut Posts: 8,777	these machines are like farm tractors. they're not gonna be a hot rod machine __________________ 2012 TRX500FM FOREMAN. SSPECKERWOOD 3RD HEADLIGHT MOD QUAD BOSS REAR SEAT 26" SWAMPLITES KFI #3000 WINCH HOT GRIPS HEATED GRIPS & THUMB WARMER HONDA ALUMINUM A-ARM GUARDS 00' FOREMAN 450es HIGH LIFTER SPRINGS FRONT & REAR MAXXIS TIRES OFF A 2012 FOREMAN 500 SSPECKERWOOD 3RD HEADLIGHT MOD http://www.flickr.com/photos/sspeckerwood/ http://www.youtube.com/user/sspeckerwood Official hondaforeman.com stickers IF YOU WOULD LIKE OFFICIAL HONDAFOREMAN.COM STICKERS PM ME.

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