Engine: Upgrade 3.8 to 3.6?

[docwatson]

A good friend of mine added the Ripp Supercharger to his 3.8 JKUR. He said it made the Jeep much more comfortable drive from the added power and still returned 18mpg on the highway. Mind you this was also in Colorado Springs.

Just presenting it as an option as the 5300 is still probably more cost effective then trading in your vehicle. I don't know how this compares to the price of the Hemi Swap, but he installed the Ripp in his garage on a Saturday.

http://www.rippmods.com/shop/2007-2...kit-v3-si-trim-stage-2-intercooler-smog-legal

 

[dddonkey]

Hemi swap.

Yep hemi swap, Trucks on spike TV did one and did not look to bad. Just takes money...............

 

[aristobrat]

I'm curious if anyone on here has driven both engines and more specifically, if anyone has a 3.8 with larger tires. I would like to get some feedback from you guys before I take that next step.

If you're not going to be going over 8000ft mountains, ... I was happy with my 3.8/auto/5.13 gears/35" KM2s. I didn't pull a trailer with it, but I would load it up pretty heavy for 4-day weekend camping/off-roading trips, and it did fine at interstate speeds (65-75mph), even through the "mountains" in western VA. They'd probably call those foothills out west, but they were enough to make the semis go 30-45 MPH in the "slow lane" with their hazards on.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

My 3.6" JKU was wheezing for air like a 90 year-old smoker with emphysema last month in Colorado up above 12,000 ft. I could have used a V-8, and a turbo, and maybe some NO2.

 

[aluke0510]

This was fine in 1950 when everything was this slow and the speed limit wasn't 75 mph. Today it is a pathetic excuse of an underpowered vehicle. Excuses for cheaping out on the engine and transmission like "it's not a race car" are flat out silly. Especially when every modern SUV drastically out performs it on road. No reason other then being cheap and lazy for this lack of performance.

My 2008 JKUR would not hold the 60MPH speed limit on many of our mountain roads here without banging the rev limiter all day long between the pathetic gear spread of the auto. Which would then return a whopping 5mpg!!! My 550HP SUV pulled the same roads in total relaxing comfort and gets 18mpg doing it.

Having more power isn't about "wining races". It's about driving in modern conditions safely and comfortably. It's about not being "that guy" holding everyone else up because YOU think 50mph in a 75 is "fine".

It's also about being able to do things a Jeep *should* be able to do! My 1980s Porsche has a higher tow rating than a 4 door Jeep(seriously). That is laughable! A Jeep should have the power to pull a real trailer!

Well I guess there are some that believe the Jeep has detracted too far from it's roots and others that believe it should turn into some kind of cross between the Ford Raptor and a FJ Cruiser. Yet others that want the diesel...

I'd like to see somebody try to restore a JK in 30yrs. Too much plastic and finicky electronics. My opinion is there is no need to try to go fast. America has lost track of what a normal pace of life used to be, always rushing. Go to the grocery store and people get impatient having to wait in line for 2min. Lucky for me the old Jeeps are readily available, easy to restore, and I don't mind cars lined up behind me just to rush through the day in order to start the next. That is why I am fine with my old Jeep. When I am out with it I enjoy taking in everything rather than buzzing by it. But that is just my opinion.

So think about what and why you are looking at the change in engines. Lots of SUV's available outside the US do just fine with smaller engines. They just don't accelerate as fast or go up hills as fast. Of course lots of people get around the wilderness just fine without 35" tires as well. If you need something to go faster maybe better to look at a second vehicle for those times...

 

[kojackJKU]

Well I guess there are some that believe the Jeep has detracted too far from it's roots and others that believe it should turn into some kind of cross between the Ford Raptor and a FJ Cruiser. Yet others that want the diesel...

I'd like to see somebody try to restore a JK in 30yrs. Too much plastic and finicky electronics. My opinion is there is no need to try to go fast. America has lost track of what a normal pace of life used to be, always rushing. Go to the grocery store and people get impatient having to wait in line for 2min. Lucky for me the old Jeeps are readily available, easy to restore, and I don't mind cars lined up behind me just to rush through the day in order to start the next. That is why I am fine with my old Jeep. When I am out with it I enjoy taking in everything rather than buzzing by it. But that is just my opinion.

So think about what and why you are looking at the change in engines. Lots of SUV's available outside the US do just fine with smaller engines. They just don't accelerate as fast or go up hills as fast. Of course lots of people get around the wilderness just fine without 35" tires as well. If you need something to go faster maybe better to look at a second vehicle for those times...

exactly, just drive it slow. I set my cruise on 60mph now exactly. done. Just sit back and enjoy the drive, my family and life around us. I did a little experiment. there was a guy who passed us the other day doing about 70mph or so, we kept on as we were and at the top of the hill to the next town he was pulling in and we were cresting the hill, probably less than 2 min behind. Really, do you NEED those extra 90 sec? after a 4 hr drive its less than 10 mins in difference. Just relax, I have yet to have a semi truck pass me up hill, even towing my pop up camper.

I agree on the 35" tires thing too. Yeah, they may be needed on a full blown rock machine, but then its not your daily driver. I have 285s and a leveling kit on my JK Unlimited and I get everywhere in the back country.

 

[Cole]

Wanting to drive slow and having to drive slow are different things!

Being able to keep up with modern traffic should be a minimum requirement of a modern car.

The Grand Cherokee comes with adequately sized engine!! No reason the Wranglers shouldn't have the same choices.

 

[aluke0510]

exactly, just drive it slow. I set my cruise on 60mph now exactly. done. Just sit back and enjoy the drive, my family and life around us. I did a little experiment. there was a guy who passed us the other day doing about 70mph or so, we kept on as we were and at the top of the hill to the next town he was pulling in and we were cresting the hill, probably less than 2 min behind. Really, do you NEED those extra 90 sec? after a 4 hr drive its less than 10 mins in difference. Just relax, I have yet to have a semi truck pass me up hill, even towing my pop up camper.

I agree on the 35" tires thing too. Yeah, they may be needed on a full blown rock machine, but then its not your daily driver. I have 285s and a leveling kit on my JK Unlimited and I get everywhere in the back country.

Glad to hear somebody agreeing with me. Normally I get slammed for comments like that. I am more like 55mph up a steep grade, not that I can't go faster but I don't see the need/advantage.

Wanting to drive slow and having to drive slow are different things!

Being able to keep up with modern traffic should be a minimum requirement of a modern car.

The Grand Cherokee comes with adequately sized engine!! No reason the Wranglers shouldn't have the same choices.

Curious how the Grand Cherokee performs with 35's though. I can't imagine it just flys still but I am sure it is better than the Wrangler. Keep in mind though they are vehicles targeted at different audiences. But given most of that audience never takes it off road and is after the cool hip factor it is surprising something else isn't available. If you look at like a Land Rover Defender or Toyota 70 series they are made new today and still don't fly. Actually slower than my 81 with the 258. My bigger struggle is why Jeep/Chrysler moved away from the straight 6; it was a fabulous engine with great torque. Takes me back to the days of driving tractors; keeps chugging along through anything.

 

[The Swiss]

I had a '08 JKUR auto that I was planning to buy out of the lease ... until I test drove a '12 JKUR. I turned the '08 in and went with the '12. It is not the engine alone but the combination with the "new" 5 speed Mercedes automatic. While the old Chrysler transmission shifted whenever it felt like, the 5 speed can nicely be controlled through the gas pedal.
Yes, the 3.6 with the 5 speed auto is a better, faster, more fuel efficient and more fun to drive JK.