98 ZJ I just bought
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 64
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Year: 97
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 8 cyl 5.2 ltr
OK guys I gave up on the 95 with the trans issues..... lol
Found a 98 ZJ with the 5.2L in it with 130k on it. Runs great, shifts great hell the damn thing runs so good I barely touch the gas and it's doing 60 mph. One thing that kind of bothers me though not a real problem though. When I try to cold start it, it cranks forever before it fires. Not a real big issue since it is still warm here but when it gets colder not sure if it will be an issue with the battery.
Also since I live in northern NY there seems to be a bit of rust on the unibody frame of it. I was looking into getting a set of frame stiffeners for it to strengthen the frame up on it. I do plan on keeping it for a while and would like to do some slight mods to it. Can anybody recommend a good set for me to look at?
Forgot are there any cheap tricks to pull a few more horses out of the 5.2L? Not that it really needs it lol.
Found a 98 ZJ with the 5.2L in it with 130k on it. Runs great, shifts great hell the damn thing runs so good I barely touch the gas and it's doing 60 mph. One thing that kind of bothers me though not a real problem though. When I try to cold start it, it cranks forever before it fires. Not a real big issue since it is still warm here but when it gets colder not sure if it will be an issue with the battery.
Also since I live in northern NY there seems to be a bit of rust on the unibody frame of it. I was looking into getting a set of frame stiffeners for it to strengthen the frame up on it. I do plan on keeping it for a while and would like to do some slight mods to it. Can anybody recommend a good set for me to look at?

Forgot are there any cheap tricks to pull a few more horses out of the 5.2L? Not that it really needs it lol.
Last edited by Karmageddon; Sep 7, 2015 at 04:51 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Cycle the key a few times before you start the engine. That should cut the long crank time down. Cheap mods and more power don't really happen. K&N filters, and a good tune up are about as cheap as they come.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 892
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From: Lennox/Sioux Falls South Dakota
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 liter inline 6
i put a spectre air intake on mine. its shiny haha it supposively adds 15 HP but i call BS but it looks cool haha. no real noticeable difference.
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CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 884
Likes: 46
From: Baltimore
Year: 2002
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L (AMC) Straight Six
In terms of frame stiffeners I don't know because I've never had them.
But in terms of what I guess you'd call a "hard start", I'd say it's either your battery (check the gauge on the dash to make sure it's getting the appropriate voltage and the voltage doesn't spike up while you're driving or anything), or your battery terminals have corrosion on them (it happens)... you can, after disconnecting the terminals, pour some soda on them and it'll start to dissolve some of the corrosion, then you can use a wire brush to scrape the rest of the corrosion off... be sure to wear eye protection as you don't want dried-up battery acid flying up into your eyes as you are removing the corrosion with the brush. If you can't remove the corrosion, you should replace the terminals (they're not that hard to replace).
But in terms of what I guess you'd call a "hard start", I'd say it's either your battery (check the gauge on the dash to make sure it's getting the appropriate voltage and the voltage doesn't spike up while you're driving or anything), or your battery terminals have corrosion on them (it happens)... you can, after disconnecting the terminals, pour some soda on them and it'll start to dissolve some of the corrosion, then you can use a wire brush to scrape the rest of the corrosion off... be sure to wear eye protection as you don't want dried-up battery acid flying up into your eyes as you are removing the corrosion with the brush. If you can't remove the corrosion, you should replace the terminals (they're not that hard to replace).
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: jersey shore pa
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2 318
The exhaust on the 5.2 is very restricted. Any improvement will help performance and mileage. I gutted my cat and ran 2.5 inch straight threw muffler and tailpipe. With a K+N air cleaner and that it made a noticeable difference.
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