Fuel efficient cherokee

ksuwildcat

New Member
Joined
May 26, 2009
Location
Huntersville
I am redoing a 1983 Jeep Cherokee to use as a daily driver. I like the body style and the idea of driving something other than the run of the mill SUV. I will only be using the 4 wheel drive for possible snow and off-roading when I’m tracking down fishing spots. My main goal over all is the fuel economy and not the off-roading. I have 3.07 gears, both front and rear in Dana 44’s. I want to replace my engine transmission and transfer case with a Chevy setup out of a newer model 4x4 for the better fuel economy. I know that I want ether a 5.7 or 5.3 V8 with a 6 speed automatic transmission (6L80). I hope to be able to use readily available modern programmers to help get the best MPG possible. Here are my questions.

1. Should I put lower gears in the front for better traction?
2. Would that affect the MPG or not since it spins free unless engaged?
3. Is there a better setup for MPG then the V8 and 6 speed auto?
4. V6 uses less gas but would it be a dog with the Jeep at 5000lb?

I know these aren’t you normal “How can I make it bigger and badder” questions, but I have muscle cars for that. This is just a cruiser with 4 wheel drive.
 
:confused:........
 
Gearing wont make for traction Thats what tires and lockers are for........If you can't answer these questions yourself then how are you gonna be able to complete the work?
 
Assuming you could do the conversion to Gm stuff for around $2k, it would take you 40,000 miles to break even on cost. Then talk maintenance. A tune up on old stuff is a LOT cheaper than the newer stuff.
You could go diesel
If you really want the best mileage for the buck, IMHO, take an older 258 and stroke it and put FI on it. It will have plenty of torque for what you need and still get you close to 18-20 MPG.
 
Why spend a lot of time and money trying to make a cherokee get good gas mileage? They have the aerodynamics of a house and they're not really that lightweight.
 
Padkisson621 said:
Why spend a lot of time and money trying to make a cherokee get good gas mileage? They have the aerodynamics of a house and they're not really that lightweight.
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Not lightwieght? you ever weighed a stock one?

3100 lbs. with a full tank and me in it. . .

With the 4.0, stock hieght and tires, exhaust, intake, and a light right foot I landed 26 mpg a couple times. Usually stuck around 24.
 
images.jpg>3100 lbs

If you can get 26 MPG you must be running propane and huffing butane
 
sungoesdown said:
If you can get 26 MPG you must be running propane and huffing butane
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^What he said....26mpg with a 4.0? I was lucky to ever hit around 15-16 stock in my 93 GC with the 4.0. Of course now that its lifted and has 33's, its down to like 12mpg. :shaking:

Oh, and ive got 4.56 gears if thats of any help to original poster.
 
hahaha, oops! I've got the wrong cherokee in mind here, I was talking about my XJ!
 
that still seems crazy high for an XJ to me. But hey, more power to ya if you figured out a way to get that out of an XJ. :beer:
 
if your goal is purley MPG, then a new GM motor with a 6 speed auto is a very safe bet for that heavy of a vehicle. Very nice do drive as well. However, as said before, the swap won't be very cost efficient, unless you get the parts for next to nothing an do the work yourself. BUt you probably thought about that. The MPG increase won't be that much over a properly tuned up 360? (that what you have?) I've thought about swapping a newer FI motor and auto into a much older SUV, but just for the power, not MPG.
 
93redzj said:
^What he said....26mpg with a 4.0? I was lucky to ever hit around 15-16 stock in my 93 GC with the 4.0. Of course now that its lifted and has 33's, its down to like 12mpg. :shaking:

Oh, and ive got 4.56 gears if thats of any help to original poster.
Click to expand...
I averaged 22 highway with my 93 zj when it was stock. now with 4.56's and 35's, its 12-18 highway depending on how i drive.

mid 20's seems doable if you drive like a granny
 
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to discuss this. To answer one question yes it’s a 360. As for the money I have a friend that owns a salvage yard so he is keeping an eye out for the drive train and he owes me one. Yes I agree that this (fuel economy) would normally not be the way to go with a jeep the shape of a brick but I have always driven older vehicles and intend on keeping this for quite a while. Thank you though for all the advice and keep it coming.
Also does anyone know of a good parts catalog for the 14-83 Cherokees? I was hoping for something like the LMC and National Parts Depot books but I don’t believe I will be that lucky.
 
I think that you should just go with a 4bt. That's going to be cheaper and probably get better fuel milage than the gas motor. Your money, do what you want with it.
 
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