My Jeep - is there any way to make my V6 think its a V8?

[_-DZ-_]

I got a great deal on a 98 Jeep grand cherokee lerado about a month back. I picked it up for about $4,000 from a family member. It has about 70k miles on it, and its running like a charm. I would like to hear any performance suggestions that anyone has for it, im not happy with a V6 after getting a taste of an eight from a previous vehicle. Also, im looking to repair a small bit of front end damage (someone backed into me).

so basically - what i need is...

1. performance parts suggestions

2. a right fender and headlight

3. a bumper cover


If anyone out there can help, I would be much obliged.

Thank you

[ckabka3a]

if you looking for the replacement parts, check e-bay for sure, i just picked up a full size wheel and tire that matches my OEM for 60 buks, dealer price $400. There is plenty parts for sale .

[ByronP]

Actually it's a 4.0L I6. Most people start with an aftermarket intake like K&N and a larger exhaust. 2.5in works well with the I6. After that your options are as open as your wallet will provide. They make superchargers and a 4.2L stroker kit and both make decent power but are $$$.
ByronP
btw - save up for an aftermarket exhaust manifold as well. The stock ones are prone to cracking and a high flow version can offer some performance gain.

[_-DZ-_]

Originally Posted by ByronP

Actually it's a 4.0L I6. Most people start with an aftermarket intake like K&N and a larger exhaust. 2.5in works well with the I6. After that your options are as open as your wallet will provide. They make superchargers and a 4.2L stroker kit and both make decent power but are $$$.
ByronP
btw - save up for an aftermarket exhaust manifold as well. The stock ones are prone to cracking and a high flow version can offer some performance gain.

if i was to do all of that do you think it would still pass california emissions?

[leowolf]

I'm wondering if you have a mechanical problem limiting your horsepower, my wife hase a mercury mountaneer that is quite the speedster, she drove my friends stock v6 lerado and was impressed at how much more power it had, check to see if maybe the floor mat is stuck up under the gas peddle, this happens on my limited al the time and its like a real bummmer ...lol

good luck

[ByronP]

Ouch! CA emissions are a pain. I'm not from CA so I don't know what flies there. I think the intake and exhaust are OK if you retain all emission controls. Most products will state if they are CA legal. I doubt the supercharger would be approved. Stroker kit might be though. That just increases displacement so emission controls shouldn't change. Leowolf is right though. You should check to make sure the truck is running well before deciding it needs upgrading. Maybe it just needs a tune up?
ByronP

[msrjeep]

the I6 just lacks the torque of the V8. check out the header and cat and back exhaust kit from http://www.kevinsoffroad.com it's not cheap, but worth it since the stock headers are not so good. if you still have money left, package it with a K+N FIPK II, they are sold at the same place. you shouldn't have a problem with emissions

[_-DZ-_]

I doubt that it needs a tune up. Admitted I did just drive the thing from north west wisconsin to southern california (sandiego), but when i bought it, a tune-up was the 1st thing i did to it. It runs fine and everything - i was just looking for a way to make it into your basic sleeper - more power than anyone would expect to come out of it.

btw - save up for an aftermarket exhaust manifold as well. The stock ones are prone to cracking and a high flow version can offer some performance gain.

i know exactly what you mean by this, it has already begun - the motor would purr like a kitten if the manifold wasnt leaking. It kinda sounds like chitty chitty bang bang when i am going down a narrow alleyway. Any suggestions on what brand or type to go with (exhaust/manifold)?

[ByronP]

Mike Leach headers are good. Check with Jeep guru Nick at [email protected] He is the Jeep exhaust expert and can set you up with anything from a generic header to a full custom exhaust. I've purchased some Jeep parts from him last month and he is great to deal with.
ByronP

[leowolf]

5000lbs of american steel is a "pretty bad" way to start off if your trying to build a roadster. You wont beat the factory sports car without sinking butt loads of money and hours of time breaking stuff cause its not designed to do it in the first place.

Factory sports cars start with a 2500lb chaiss and add 260+ hp V8 motors to achieve stirp speeds of 12- 14 seconds. they remain reliable time after time because they are engineered to withstand the mecanical forces that they are equiped with. What im getting at is that you will have to get 500 hp out of your V6, just to be competitve with a stocker.

If you want to impress people with your jeep, stick with paint, wheels and cosmetics. Your money is better spent here than in horse power. You will find that your respect for the vehicle will improve and it will retain more value than if you try to hot rod it. Although i saw a turbojet jeep with after burners the other day at the monster truch show, that was impressive lol.

[msrjeep]

grand cherokees weigh 3800 lbs. most factory sports cars weigh 3000-3500+ lbs. with thier unibody construction they aren't really that heavy. what he wants to do won't make it into a racecar. i think he's just looking to give it some more grunt. there's plenty you can do to that engine to create some more power without sacrificing any reliability. V8 grand cherokees get 1/4 mile times in the 15s the 98 5.9 and the newer HO are low 15s.

[ShadMan]

My 8000lb '04 Ford F250 Powerstroke diesel 4x4 runs in the high 14s stock. It's definitely possible to make a 3800lb Jeep do it, but it's gonna cost some bucks.

[msrjeep]

you need a chip and exhaust to do 14s in a powerstroke

[JDPascal]

Originally Posted by msrjeep

you need a chip and exhaust to do 14s in a powerstroke

how about a little propane too

[ShadMan]

Maybe in the 7.3L, but not the 6.0L. I can run upper 14s with just the muffler removed, no chip (4x4). Guys are running upper 13s/low 14s with chip and exhaust in the new 6.0Ls. The 2wd guys are running mid 15s stock, but the 4x4 will beat it by nearly .5 second.