Joe, I'm with you on the weak Jake. When we had the engine OH on the green machine, I asked the very experienced overhaul mechanic to do whatever he could to improve the Jake and was told not to expect much. When it was returned all shiny and new, the damn thing wasn't a bit better. All I can say is that you would really miss having it in the mountains. Around town it only helps if you manually shift down to assist it which (IMHO) is more trouble than it's worth.