Liberty V8

KJScott · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:56 pm

A 4.7 V8 with my 5 speed, OMG that would be so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!! Until the tranny detonated.

That would be sick!!!!!!!!

bugnout · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:14 pm

jeepgirl0385 wrote:

I'm not trying to be rude, but have you driven the 3.7? It has no power, and absolutely abismal gas mileage. It is quiet though, which is nice.

Throw a 2.8L turbocharged Diesel in it. That ought to take care of those complaints, (except for the quiet part)

Oh my mistake they already did that.

Alak · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:39 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

You would need the harness also,along with the V-8 ECM.That's why I'm getting a wrecked Grand(heavy rear end wreck) so I can get all the litttle thing from it.The wiring harness is the big one,they ain't cheap(oh about $1000-$3000).

For $1000, you can get a fully programable Haltech E6X Engine Management system. You could probably pick up about 40 Horses if you programmed for Power, or alot of milage if you programmed for economy.

If I were to swap, I would accept nothing less. Its better than chasing around little parts and getting the stock computer to work. Buy the EMS and it will work on just about any engine. (with the exception of V12's and 3 Rotor)

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:52 pm

A: why not the 318 otherwise known as the 5.2L? I had a '95 Dakota 4x4 auto the original owner had the diffs rebuilt twice
tore them up towing his boat the engine had the power but the diff's didn't seem to handle it. In my 6 years of
ownership replaced water pumd twice starter once and had the Tranny thoroughly rebuilt. But the 318 is like Chyslers
answer to Ford's 302 and Chevy's 327 a durable dependale well built power plant. the rest of the drive train had
problems. With the '02 or '03 bullet proof tranny why not the 318/(5.2L)???

Now still in the relm of what if's, So many have expounded on the virtues of the CRD.

B: Why have I not seen anybody mention taking the 3.0 deisel of th Grand Cherokee and intalling it in a KJ?

I'm just an old shade tree mechanic from Virginia where a lot of my freind who owned Mustangs in the Mid '70's just installed another 302 rather then chanfge the spark plugs each time of coarse getting more an more radical in the engine specs.( we made the Dukes of Hazzard look like amatures :twisted:

) Both of these issues I've wondered about for some time but being the rooky on the block waited for the right thread to ask this question.

Help me Ow-B-Wan-Kanobi your my only hope??? :shock:

jeepgirl0385 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:29 am

Donnie wrote:

jeepgirl0385 wrote:

*Sorry to interrupt regularly scheduled programming*

KJ4ME wrote:

i like the 3.7. has good power, fairly quiet, above average gas mileage, i like it a bunch. a v8 seems like it would be even more fun!

I'm not trying to be rude, but have you driven the 3.7? It has no power, and absolutely abismal gas mileage. It is quiet though, which is nice.

The Liberty is a relatively small SUV, it is similar to a Rav 4, or a CR-V (well size wise, not capability wise). If you look at fueleconomy.gov and look at the ratings on these similarly sized SUVs, you will see that the Liberty is one of the worst.

However, I do love my Liberty. I did buy it to commute, but I wanted to get there in all weathers, and I know my Jeep will, unlike the other "SUVs" that are more crossover than anything. I also like to know if I need to, I can tow 5000lbs.

Maybe it is the gearing that makes it feel so slow, but I got my butt whipped by my bf in a Geo Metro ("drag racing" to 50mph(speed limit) from a stoplight). The only reason I won was because the tranny in the Metro is bad so he missed 2nd, but he was still right there.

It really sucks how a 300hp high performance Camaro SS can get 28mpg highway, but yet a little 210hp Jeep can't even pull 20mpg unless it is all highway and you baby it. It's not like the Jeep drives around at high RPMs, it cruises on the highway around 2000rpms or so, and i know other cars have to work harder.

It's a shame the diesal was discontinued, as I am sure that has plenty of power, and diesels are easier to modify to get even more power, at least in the truck market with devices like the BullyDog.

Don't get me wrong, I do love my Liberty and don't plan on trading it (and I hate the new Liberties, in fact I dislike all the new Jeeps except the Wrangler). But Chrysler didn't take the time to build a good motor/tranny/gearing combo.

*now back to your regularly scheduled programming*

Well, the engine and tranny are great technically. The problem is that it's too small of an engine, especially if you're lifted. The bigger the engine, the less stress the engine is putting into to move the car, the better the gas mileage. I've seen people go from v6s to v8s and gain 7 mpg.

Yeah, I completely understand that. I know that Liberties are heavier than comparable "SUVs", which is fine with me as it isn't made out of tinfoil like the Asian vehicles, and it will actually hold up in an accident. That's why Chrysler should have put more effort into developing a better engine. I think Chrysler has done a horrible job with the Jeep brand, but that's another rant for another topic.

jeepgirl0385 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:33 am

bugnout wrote:

jeepgirl0385 wrote:

I'm not trying to be rude, but have you driven the 3.7? It has no power, and absolutely abismal gas mileage. It is quiet though, which is nice.

Throw a 2.8L turbocharged Diesel in it. That ought to take care of those complaints, (except for the quiet part)

Oh my mistake they already did that.

Haha....I wish I had the diesel now! I couldn't afford it at the time though

They need to bring back the diesel!

805gregg · **Posted:** Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:49 am

bugnout wrote:

jeepgirl0385 wrote:

I'm not trying to be rude, but have you driven the 3.7? It has no power, and absolutely abismal gas mileage. It is quiet though, which is nice.

Throw a 2.8L turbocharged Diesel in it. That ought to take care of those complaints, (except for the quiet part)

Oh my mistake they already did that.

Ya I wouldn't trade mine, and one guy had his dynoed and it pulled more torque than a chevy 350 V-8 tested before him, why would you want a gas v-8?

Rush345 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:24 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

The KJ would be better on gas if we had more gear selections for the D30A diff,4.10's just doesn't cut it if running 31" tires and armor,now 31" tires and nothing else it would be back to stock form.4.56 gears would be a mpg gainer for those of us running 31"-32" tires and full armor(guzzles alot to start moving a tank).That is one reason for me doing a SFA swap(better gear choices)and then doing a 4.7 V-8 swap,more low end torque to get my heavy junk off the line.

I'm learning slowly, is it advatagiuos for you in the install of your 4.7 that you have the earlier tranny?? Or is yours a standard tranny if no would an automatic make this swap easier??? :?:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:30 pm

Rush345 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

The KJ would be better on gas if we had more gear selections for the D30A diff,4.10's just doesn't cut it if running 31" tires and armor,now 31" tires and nothing else it would be back to stock form.4.56 gears would be a mpg gainer for those of us running 31"-32" tires and full armor(guzzles alot to start moving a tank).That is one reason for me doing a SFA swap(better gear choices)and then doing a 4.7 V-8 swap,more low end torque to get my heavy junk off the line.

I'm learning slowly, is it advatagiuos for you in the install of your 4.7 that you have the earlier tranny?? Or is yours a standard tranny if no would an automatic make this swap easier??? :?:

I have the 45RFE auto tranny,bolts right up to the 4.7.The manual KJ's will self destruct under the added power of the 4.7,they will last awhile but never will last.

Quote:

why would you want a gas v-8?

Because I'll spank that little 2.8 oilburner of yours hands down,even with a stock 4.7.Gearing,it's all in the gearing :lol:

!!!!!!!!!

durangotang · **Posted:** Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:33 pm

I agree with another post up here that the 318 Magnum would be a good consideration for a V8 swap. I retrofitted one of those into a Dodge Dart Swinger and that engine is just lovely! I also had a '92 4x4 Dakota with one of those and that engine is a great MPI with nice simple tech and an ever-decreasing price tag. They also have plenty of adapters out there to fit that engine to the older bombproof tranny's.

BUT...if I had to have my way I would start with a core 5.9L Magnum and put the 4.00" Crank in it and it magically becomes a 408 Stroker... those are some bad boys. With just some nice little mods like headers, oversized R/T heads, an M1 intake, ported TB, and some bigger injectors.... you've got one hell of a KJ.

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Oct 21, 2007 10:14 am

You know, a good donor vehicle would be an '02 Ram with the 360 and the 45RFE...

Just a thought

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 21, 2007 10:46 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

You know, a good donor vehicle would be an '02 Ram with the 360 and the 45RFE...

Just a thought

Besides that none of the accessories will bolt on the 360 and the motor mounts are different,the newer 360's are just not a very good engine.The 318's will smoke a 360 anyday.Gotta keep it simple..........................................................................Then again those 572 all alloy HEMI's do look good :wink:

.

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Oct 21, 2007 11:05 am

I thought the modern 318s and 360s both used the same intake/heads/etc? I know a 4.7/5 speed Dakota will almost hang with a 5.9 R/T Dakota

And about the accessories...just pull those with the motor:)

Liberty V8

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