I grow tired of the 4.0, or more likely, I am spoiled by the 450hp Miata.
I really need some more HP up top while keeping a good low end.
I really want to keep my t19/d300 setup, it has only really failed me once. (Turns out the quickest way to remove the rear output of a d300 is a full power clutch dump while rolling backwards on a 60 degree incline. Unfourtantly it also removes most of the back of the case with it.)
Really want something that can get up and run. And sound good doing it. 4.0s sound like a dying cow when you are pushing them off the rev limiter for 20 mins at a time.
Options:
5.0 ford. Been done so many times it's not really news.
3.8 supercharged gtp motor. Probably not as much low end.
4.0 Toyota 1uzfe motor. V8 power, overhead cam (good for how I usually run this heap, at the red line)
turbo the existing 4.slow. More components, probably more expensive in the long run than a new engine....!
Not options:
LS based anything, I already have a LS. And the jeep is all about being different.
Stroker 4.0. Just not my thing.
Diesel. I did the diesel thing, turned out to be an awesome jeep, but not what I want for a trail rig.
Anything much bigger than a 5.0. Stickies and not huge axles have their limitations. They should be able to handle a bunch of extra hp, but brutal low end torque of big displacement motors will snap more 300m than I can afford to feed it.
Built toy axles have held up to 5.7s for years in old land cruisers, so I'm not all that worried as long as it's not something too crazy.
Any other ideas?