If we remastered the TJ and LJ? 🤔

[Goatman]

I've felt a small turbo diesel would/is the perfect engine for these CJ/YJ/TJ vehicles. From the info I've seen that VW TDI engine is damn near ideal for the platform. Better than the Cummins R2.8 even. And the R2.8 is a really nice engine. It's a damn shame most of those VW engines get destroyed over a stupid Gov't pissing match. They could have really been a great powerplant for anything short of a full sized PU.

 

[LieutenantJohnson]

Let’s be honest, compared to modern engines, old engines suck. The technology, research, and design today is simply amazing.

The fact is, you can swap a modern smaller V8 (GM’s 4.8/5.3) into a Wranglers engine compartment and come out with room to work, double the power, and be lighter weight. Who wouldn't want that?
If you dont, you might fall in the same catagory as those who have yet to swap gears and realize how much it wakes up once gear swapped. Ignorance is bliss!

The 300 from Ford is pretty comparable to the factory 4.0.150 HP/260 ft lbs of TQ. Not much of a winner there

The 4.0, while great in stock trim (tires, wheels), sucks when adding weight (bigger tires, heavier wheels, bumpers, winches, etc) which isnt Jeep’s fault.

I am starting to believe that the 4.0 with bigger tires is the same as the gears when adding bigger tires. Some folks will say they notice no difference in power. But once swapped, they would never go back.

I’m willing to be dollars to donuts that @LieutenantJohnson who has a GM 5.3 swap would never go back. Life is good with 300+ horsepower in a TJ/LJ.

Nope never.....ever

 

[LieutenantJohnson]

Let’s discuss. The Jeep factory 4.0 makes its peak tq at what RPM? And what does it make at 2000 RPM? What about

The 5.3 V8 from GM? It makes 210 ft lbs at 2000 RPM and 300 ft lbs of torque at 2500 RPM.

Is 2k -2.5k RPM high engine speed to you?

View attachment 132803

my LS has sooooo much low end torque I should be starting in 3rd haha. Rarely ever start in 1st. In 4low, 1st it is a goat!

 

[InOmaha]

Being a Chrysler product, I'm almost certain they wouldn't use a GM or VW motor. You'd probably want to research the motors in the current Chrysler lineup to find the best matches your needs. Which means Penstar 3.6L, 3.0L eco diesel, a refreshed PowerTech V8 from the 90s Jeeps, 5.2, 5.9, or some special Hemi.

A lot of the fuel efficiency gains are simply computer control cylinder firing and turning the car off when it's stopped. That and an aluminum body are how my Father in Law gets 23-25 mph on the highway with his 4 door Ford F150.

So the remade Jeep everyone is asking for is already out there. Jeep makes them in diesel and gas options, they have all the bells and whistles, and they get better gas mileage. Maybe they'll bring back the fiberglass bodies or switch to aluminum to give us better gas mileage. Or put the thing in a wind tunnel and reduce it's drag coefficient a little.

 

[Fouledplugs]

Being a Chrysler product, I'm almost certain they wouldn't use a GM or VW motor

My original post did NOT mention using or re-using a GM 5.3L. Rather, I said to offer/build an engine similar to the GM 5.3L.

The GM 5.3 would be a great engine to, “clone,” It has a small footprint compared to other V8’s, its lighter than the Jeep 4.0L, yet makes 100+ more horspower and 100+ more foot lbs in torque.

The 5.3 on a stock tune makes more torque in 2k RPM than the stock 4.0L does overall.

 

[Fouledplugs]

So the remade Jeep everyone is asking for is already out there.

Right, but we want it in a TJ/LJ body/frame as the thread title implies.

We dont want power window regulators, fancy electronic controls, start/stop tech, chain driven transfer cases, internal hubs that the new and “improved,” Jeep Wranglers.

 

[D M]

dana 44 front and rear with 4:10s and no slip yoke on the driveshaft, for a modern design, rubicons come with dana 60s??

 

[LieutenantJohnson]

dana 44 front and rear with 4:10s and no slip yoke on the driveshaft, for a modern design, rubicons come with dana 60s??

although D60s would be awesome, it isn't really practical. For the amount of jeepers that would actually need D60s, it wouldn't make sense. You would also have to have a better motor to turn those axles too.

 

[billiebob]

I don't like the TJ/LJ body lines when high lined, the front end just looks off.

I felt the same way but did the AEV HighLine cuz it still looks better than a 4" lift.

 

[InOmaha]

My original post did NOT mention using or re-using a GM 5.3L. Rather, I said to offer/build an engine similar to the GM 5.3L.

The GM 5.3 would be a great engine to, “clone,” It has a small footprint compared to other V8’s, its lighter than the Jeep 4.0L, yet makes 100+ more horspower and 100+ more foot lbs in torque.

The 5.3 on a stock tune makes more torque in 2k RPM than the stock 4.0L does overall.

What are the numbers on the 5.2L Chrysler V8, or the V8s out of the old Grand Cherokee lineup? From what I remember, their gas mileage was poor so they would need a eco redesign.

The Penstar 3.6L engines are 305 hp and 270 ft-lbs. So they sound like they'd fit right in the conversation.

 

[D M]

although D60s would be awesome, it isn't really practical. For the amount of jeepers that would actually need D60s, it wouldn't make sense. You would also have to have a better motor to turn those axles too.

im just saying it would be pretty cool if we could buy a model with one already installed

 

[LieutenantJohnson]

im just saying it would be pretty cool if we could buy a model with one already installed

yup it would be... I would probably be all over it lol. Knowing Chrysler they would up the cost to $90k

 

[Fouledplugs]

dana 44 front and rear with 4:10s and no slip yoke on the driveshaft, for a modern design, rubicons come with dana 60s??

People already complain about lack ground clearance with the “shovel” skid.

The measurement from centerline of the Dana 60 axle to bottom of the diff is 6.0 inches. That’s a lot of material hanging down. I understand the compromise in stregth over GC...but ya know..people see things differently.

The same measurement for on a Dana 30 is about 4.5 inches from the bottom of the housing to its centerline.

That’s 2 inches. Thats a significant difference when you are off road and even more so if you're in the rocks.

 

[Fouledplugs]

What are the numbers on the 5.2L Chrysler V8, or the V8s out of the old Grand Cherokee lineup? From what I remember, their gas mileage was poor so they would need a eco redesign.

Not even worth a look. The modern Hemi from the ram would be a better fit imo. There is no replacement for displacement.
If the 4.0 was as easy to make power as the LS V8’s that would be different. But the factory seemed to squeeze every but of the power out of the 4.0L leaving no room for reliable upgrades.

That’s my justification for a v8 in the Wranglers, easier to upgrade to make reliable power. Head, cams, intake and you are easily close to 450-500 reliably. Not to mention easier to tune.

 

[Rick deCastro]

It would be nice to have a gasketed access cover in the cargo area to get to the top of the gas tank to replace the fuel pump/filter/sender unit without having to drop the gas tank. Current design makes it stupidly labor intensive.

 

[Tranz Zam]

Sooooo

- 5.7 Hemi with the 8 speed auto or 6 speed stick

- Dana 60s front and rear

- Keep the simplicity of the TJ intact

- Offer an array of cool colors

 

[InOmaha]

Sooooo

- 5.7 Hemi with the 8 speed auto or 6 speed stick

- Dana 60s front and rear

- Keep the simplicity of the TJ intact

- Offer an array of cool colors

Simplicity of the TJ

Chevy V8
Ford 9" Axles with lockers standard
Factory Pre-scratched paint job and dents so you won't feel bad taking it off road
Aluminum body to cut down on weight and limit rust
Galvanized airy frame to slow rust
LED lights everywhere
LJ model only

Fiat can take a hike. Franken-America-build.

 

[billiebob]

Keep the JL and build this again....

 

[bedhed]

Wish they had done this.... 1997 Dakar Concept
amazing how the bumper looks kinda JL.

View attachment 132711

Interesting. That's my first time seeing it. I'll turn around and look this up online, but do you know what that is that's in the front finder? I zoomed in, but I couldn't tell for sure if it's a flip-out step, or if it has no function. I was thinking maybe a vent, but it looks to modern if that was the case.

Kinda funny, the body design makes it look like a cross between a TJ, Liberty, and the PT Cruiser.

 

[Fouledplugs]

dana 44 front and rear with 4:10s and no slip yoke on the driveshaft, for a modern design, rubicons come with dana 60s??

You realize every Rubicon TJ and LJ already comes with all of that?