Grand Cherokee V8

NickMaul

NickMaul

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Location
Norfolk, VA
Caught myself wondering about the Jeep 5.2L V8 today....

Never hear any one really talk about them.

They good or pieces of poo poo?

Just for giggles, would they swap into XJs?
 
under powered, not much for aftermarket performance mods and they suck on gas mileage, other than that they make a great boat anchor LOL!
 
Personally I think they are good V8s for a mid 90s SUV. The willl go 200k miles, get about the same gas mileage as a 4.0 (in a ZJ). If I had to do over I would have gotten a 5.2 vs the 4.0. Unfortunately they will not swap into a XJ without some major modification.
 
A 4.0 HO has damn near as much hp. That being said my 1996 ZJ with the 5.2, 37's and 3.73 gears was seemingly a monster compared to my nephews XJ with a 4.0 on 30x9.50's
I could pull off all the burnouts, doughnuts, power slides, etc I could ever want to on rough concrete slinging 37x14.00 Iroks, and was relatively quick. I could not however pass anything that had a gas pump, or keep my foot out of it.
Since then, my ex wife has dropped it down to a set of 35" KM2's and says even driving conservatively the only people that could afford to dd it are on the Forbes 100 list...
 

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I had a 5.2L V8 Dakota, it was fun to spin tires, but really sucked down the gas. Best i ever got was 18mpg going dowhill to Myrtle, but usually it was 13-15.
I had bought this thing used with like 60kmiles. Supposedly the PO took good care of it, oil changes every 3k etc., and I continued that. The motor started burning oil around 100k, I sold it (still running strong) @120k, but i didnt like the fact that it was burning oil already.
Seat of the pants measurement, it pulled harder than the 4.0L. I like the longevity of the 4.0L, and the 4.0L has decent torque.
When I was looking for an ECORS rig, I looked at V8 ZJ's, but I didnt like the rear axle offering (D44A) and goofy t-cases. There is actually one year they put the 5.9L V8 in a ZJ, that would be the ticket.
On Novak.com, they sell the parts to swap a V8 in an XJ, but in their tech article, they basically say don't do it.
 
98 was the ZJ year the 360 (5.9) was offered
 
Okay. I will be at college in the fall semester of 2011 and want more hp since I won't be driving nearly as much as I do now. So saying that means gas mileage won't really hurt my wallet.

In a nutshell, stroking my 4.0 would be a better alternative?
 
oleblue said:
Okay. I will be at college in the fall semester of 2011 and want more hp since I won't be driving nearly as much as I do now. So saying that means gas mileage won't really hurt my wallet.

In a nutshell, stroking my 4.0 would be a better alternative?
Click to expand...

Bingo... the stroker will be a much better alternative.
 
BigClay said:
Fixed it for ya ;)
Click to expand...

Lol, well if he has the money for a car, then most definately, but you gotta think insurance and what not also, if you just want to have your XJ with more power, the stroker is the way to go IMO
 
XJfreakHO said:
Lol, well if he has the money for a car, then most definately, but you gotta think insurance and what not also, if you just want to have your XJ with more power, the stroker is the way to go IMO
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I am just giving him crap. I plan to stroke the 4.0 in mine before it is all said and done.
 
i love my 4.slo but with the correct gearing anything is good the 318 just has the power to offset not having the correct gears when on 35s or so
 
DemonDave said:
A 4.0 HO has damn near as much hp. That being said my 1996 ZJ with the 5.2, 37's and 3.73 gears was seemingly a monster compared to my nephews XJ with a 4.0 on 30x9.50's
I could pull off all the burnouts, doughnuts, power slides, etc I could ever want to on rough concrete slinging 37x14.00 Iroks, and was relatively quick. I could not however pass anything that had a gas pump, or keep my foot out of it.
Since then, my ex wife has dropped it down to a set of 35" KM2's and says even driving conservatively the only people that could afford to dd it are on the Forbes 100 list...
Click to expand...
And thats why shes your ex wife:lol:
 
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