That Dakota looks sick! Also a sweet XJ. That thing probably hauls with the engine mods.

 

thanks man. we definitely appreciate it.....
p.s. deschutes brewery rules haha

 

damn right it does!

 

Just curious, after building your engine as you have with mostly mopar/higher end performance parts, why keep the stock exhaust manifold? Seems like I'd want an APN or pacesetter header or something similar without the factory restrictions to free up exhaust flow on that thing. Great build though, I'd totally do smaller lift and prerunner build!! Wish I had 2wd to make into a jeepspeed-esque XJ.

 

Just curious why you would refer to the "existing header" as a manifold... you can't really classify that as a manifold as it has the same characteristics of an aftermarket header. What size exhaust runners would you suggest? because the 1-3/4" stock ones are significantly larger than the 1-5/8" exhaust ports which we actually bored to that size because stock size exhaust ports on the head are closer to 1-1/2". That being said i would recommend that we go ahead and start the upgrade to a larger header-back exhaust pipe before i would ever recommend upgrading the stock exhaust "manifold". These 4.0's are pretty well equipped in the exhaust dept. from the factory and the only thing really restrictive about it is the stock 2-bolt flange which will be cut off and replaced with a 2-1/2" 3-bolt flange. But as with any, my thoughts have much room for input and i am completely open to opinions so if you had any ideas....

 

Yeah, the tube diameter is just fine on the stock manifolds, but look at how they flow into each other, and how they're bent, and tell me you don't see anything that would restrict exhaust flow.

 

agreed there is always room for improvement but i just never really noticed that much difference, in my experience, with ease of flow rather than longer separation which i haven't exactly seen much change in with aftermarket setups. However, if someone made a long-tube setup there would definitely be a serious increase in power and torque but i just believe the shorty's available to replace the stock header really wouldn't be worth the money

 

Sorry man, had to do it. Cool rig though

 

dang... set myself up for failure i reckon.... but by all means i'm here to watch this amazing jeep build and am in no way implying that my dakota can hang with a jeep of it's magnitude... (yet) at least until the SAS and 360 gets in it...

 

the durango is lookin like it came from the same branch of the family, with the little itty bitty tires with a bunch of lift. btw really jelouse of you with that motor build, im kinda timid when it comes to building the motor cause ive never done it befor, most i did was a headgasket on a saab and it never ended up right again, i think because it warped the block but who knows.

 

You also have to remember that the '96 has the biggest injectors of all the XJs. Spraying more fuel than a stock mustang 5.0 if im not mistaken. So while the mani may not feel that fast on the jeeps it comes on, or if you out it on an older one that's not a '96, but the combination of that mani with those injectors was worth the thirty bucks i paid at the junkyard for it.

 

did you follow the torque specifications and pattern?

 

bad thing about saabs is you cant find out **** bout them maintenance wise on the internet its like they dont excist

 

damn, that's no good... i usually rely on my trusty haynes manual

 

for the life of me couldnt find one at any autostore but now i look online and can find them online. (shoulda woulda coulda)