Need more power

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?

Quote from deadfeat

1uzfe is technically a hemi.

Quote from shadyluke

One thing that draws me to a 5.0 Ford is the wiring is pretty much already stand alone and simplifies the install into the jeep. You can always trade the T18 for a Np465.

5.0 is probably the easiest swap. I can make any harness stand alone, not afraid of that. Stock 5.0s are pretty anemic, but some cheap heads, good cam and a tune should wake it up ok.

Never been good at easy

Quote from Slowpoke

I like my Explorer 5.0 a lot, but the swap is a lot harder than a Chevy. Get motor mounts from Mountain Off Road, and you'll need a radiator with the inlet on the passenger side and the outlet on the driver side. I'm using a Ford truck bellhousing and flywheel with my Ford NP435. You might be able to bolt the T18 to a Ford bellhousing, but you may have problems with the input shaft. I had to rig up a pull-style slave cylinder to operate the clutch because there's so little room between the header and the frame. Mustang exhaust manifolds may leave more room, but there's no way Explorer manifolds would fit. Also, if you get an OBD-II engine like I did, you should get the whole donor vehicle so you can pull all the anti-theft components out of it.

Full tube frame = very different fitment problems

My radiator is in the back of my jeep too, so just new hoses. My international harvester t19 has a ford truck t18 input shaft, so that's probably a plus. I already have an aftermarket hydraulic clutch, should be easy enough to swap it over. Plus my frame is shorter than stock and my motor is 5 inches up from stock, so that's an easy fix.

If I get an obdII motor I will rewire it to obdI. I need simple and reliable

Quote from E-Rock

what about the 4.7 from a dodge? should be easy to use the stock gauges, its a nice sounding smaller v8, and the later ones put out about 300 hp and 330 tq

The 4.7 is an absolutely miserable motor. Lots and lots of problems. Not worth it to me. Helped a couple people with knocking noises and there are 10-15 things it could be... No thanks.

Besides I have no "stock" gauges....!

Quote from 2000sahara

What about a late-ish model Chevy 5.3....They are very easy to come by, make good power but not too much. They can buzz pretty good and sound good doing it. Most of all its not a ford and it wont sound like a mustang.

First point of "no" is no LS based motor!

I already have one. Besides everything is LS swapped these days. :yawn:

I would almost consider a little screamer 4.8 with a good cam and some tricks,,,, but,,,, no LS!

Quote from clendaniel

Ecoboost? It'd be different.

I am not a huge fan of 1 turbo on a 4.0. Two turbos on 3.5 is even worse!

A 4 cyl Eco would be neat, but I would think the low end would be nonexistent.

Quote from Solomi

what's wrong with a 5.9? 250hp 350tq ... not a good candidate or not different enough?

Never been a fan of mopar v8s. They Always seem to drink a lot of fuel for pretty dismal output. Getting them to rev always seems like way too much work. A friend of mine has a 5.9 grand Cherokee, the low end is good, that's about it.

Quote from Slowpoke

I ended up retro-fitting mine with a Mustang distributor and OBD-I computer. You also need older-style fuel rails with a return and a fuel pressure regulator.

Little stuff like that is easy to me. Plus my jeep is all plumed with an fittings and is already set up for high pressure so nbd.