have an 89 cherokee with the L6 4.0 well the motor is getting tired with 286,000 on it.
i have another motor i can swap in but b4 i do i would like to do a little work on it.
what in your oppinion can i do to give me a little more hp with out losing dependability and semi economical.

im not trying to make a street racer but i would like a little more power for hills this is my DD and i am in cali.

i was thinking intake. but what one and what else can i do is exaust gonna add any performance if so id prob just do muffler and back

 

When you do a new intake you have to consider the greater amount of air going into the engine will result in a greater amount of air coming out of the engine. Doing just the muffler and backpipe won't improve your HP that much unless you do the entire exhaust system. Most stock pipes are 2¼". Upgrading to a new header, front pipe, catalytic converter, muffler, and backpipe with a 2½" width will increase your performance. But first, and especially with an older engine, do a thorough tune-up by replacing spark plugs, ignition coil, spark plug wires, fuel filter, etc.

 

Honestly whether you buy or make your own intake and even adding a cat back and header you won't notice a dramatic difference if you want more pep you need gears or freshen up the motor and then add your bolt-ons .

 

the motor im dropping in i have done the basic tune up. my dad just got the banks on his jk intake and catback and i can notice the hp difference and banks was talking some serrious numbers on intake only for the L6 i dont remember the exact numbers off the top of my head but over 10+ HP

it would be nice to do the exaust from the headers back but that can get a liitle expensive this project i am on is to make an awsem trail wheeler for under 3grand

so far:
89 cherokee $250 (blown rear end) paints a little rough but ya
danna 44 rear axel: $300.00
+ chased a brake problem down on it after trying every part there was found bad booster that was a good $250 in parts

2nd parts cherokee with 3 inch lift exe : $400.00 ( this is my motor gonna do a slight rebuild on it)

so as you can see i am in budget for now have driven my cherokee around for 2 years, go wheeling this last trip i did the john bowl trail in big bear considered one of the hardest trails up there have done dishpan springs as well and only once did i need a strap

this weekend im thinking about swaping over the lift onto mine and maby cutting the fenders as well as some work on the other motor


and a k and n sticker automaticly adds 25 hp

 

Ok well good luck with whatever you decide but you have a non HO 4.0L and you dad has a 3.7L v6 very different engines. I've got 4.0L HO in my cherokee and had the HO in my Wrangler and the 3.7L in my wifes **** box liberty. Thoughs numbers on the dyno alot of the time are corrected read where there an asterik and its always on a healthly vehicle.

 

ya i agree dyno numbers arnt always acurate. i was also looking at a stoker kit but its $800 and i dont want to kill dependability

so im thinking intake im checking on exaust i know im doing the muffler (took that out on a rock nice big hole in it) and if i can get a good deal ill do the headers and i would like to upgrade the pipe to a 2.5 or so.

but what else can be done to this motor?

 

you can ditch it and go with an LS1

 

LOL that would be nice but i dont think so

o well i guess its gonna be just make the motor fresh like i was saying dont need ***** to the wall hp just a little more for mountain roads and steep hills

 

Hey just taking a look. does the HO bolt up into the 89 i know all the suspension is the same its the same TC as well as Tranny i have access to one with low miles i can get semi cheep at my local salvage yard he would prob take my extra 4.0 in trade and some cash.