The 3.6 is fine for a street queen, but when you start modding a Jeep for heavy duty off road use, it's not the right engine. For that kind of use, you need smooth low end torque, not a bunch of peaky HP. The old 4.0 is a cast iron pushrod engine that's been around in various forms since the early 60's, it's an AMC engine.

 

My buddy had one of those... beat the **** out of it. 260,000 ran with rattling cat and all. Sold it to a buddy about a year ago and this kid wrapped it around a tree.

 

There are allot of guys on the Wrangler forum I belong to that would argue that. They have some serious trail rigs and they seem to do just fine. The 4.0, while proven to be long lasting, is a dog for a DD.

 

Well, it may be a dog in the same context as the Ford 4.9 was in the pre-97 F-150.......

 

You guys gotta think too that they used to put 4cyls in wranglers and I have seen some lifted ones with mods that are re geared for better power and they have no problem on the trails. My uncle had an 89 I think but it had a 4 cyl and it was fine for off roading but because it was re geared it wouldn't go faster than 75. So the 3.6 has GOT to be better than that even without hitting the powerband.... A 4 door should be ok but a 2 door should be just fine with the 3.6l. Even not hitting the powerband you are probably still putting out more power than the 4 cylinder even made at its peaks.

 

I agree. The 4.9 was a beast for pulling even tho it didn't put out too much for numbers. My 4.2 has 260 lb - ft which I think is is the same as the 4.9 but the peaks and power bands are completely different. 145hp and 260 torque compared to my 202hp and 260 torque but I bet the 4.9 pulls easier because of the torque band.

 

That was just bad - the 4 banger in a Jeep. Pathetic.

 

And that's why there are so many kits to drop the small block of your choice in it. The engine has always been the weak point for that platform.

 

Yeah and if you threw in a 305 or 302 or 350...you probably still have less power than that 3.6l. Heck my 96 trans am with an LT1 350 was rated 285hp and 335lb-ft and my 0-60 was 5.8 seconds so I'm thinking a jeep with the 3.6 would probably be like 8.5 to 9 seconds and that's not bad at all for a 4x4 so it can't be too bad. My 86 chevy c10 had a 165hp 305 and it was slow and powerless but still was ok for driving. Probably close to the same as those 4 cyl jeeps in acceleration. You gotta think some vehicles were a lot worse. My 97 ranger was a 112hp 2.3l....it was horrible

 

If I had a money tree I would do a Hemi conversion just because but really to the OP drive a Jeep with a 3.6L and see if the power is a problem for you.

It is the most powerful Jeep put out so far and in the end it is a Jeep not a Porsche.

 

Amen to that...

 

Agreed.

But I still wouldn't buy the damn thing lol