4.0 vs 4.0 vs 3.7
A 4 valve head wouldn't have helped it with emissions at all.A short stroke big bore is the only way to pass emissions now anymore.The stroke of the inline 6 is the reason it was hard on emissions.I don't know any other inline 6s in America that made it longer then the xjs.Ford canned the 300 in 97 with the f150s body change,Gm canned theirs in the 80s as well.
This thread is so full of misinformation, LOL.
[QUOTE="F1Addict;2222642"]
Interesting. I only say that because the GMC Envoy and Chevy Trailblazer both came standard with a 4.2L I6 through 2009. Weird. Aren't they part of GM?
This thread is so full of misinformation, LOL.[/QUOTE/]
Well everyone doesnt know everything... Ppl are posting to the best of their ability... Sorry we all don't know everything... Those that do have answers or corrections just post them.
Interesting. I only say that because the GMC Envoy and Chevy Trailblazer both came standard with a 4.2L I6 through 2009. Weird. Aren't they part of GM?
This thread is so full of misinformation, LOL.[/QUOTE/]
Well everyone doesnt know everything... Ppl are posting to the best of their ability... Sorry we all don't know everything... Those that do have answers or corrections just post them.
I apologize, I didn't mean to sound like a know-it-all (and a smarta$$) towards andrewmp6 (sorry, andrew).
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,173
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
Lol on the last part but only the Renix 4.0 was AMC Chrysler had the HO 4.0 that's the design change. The Renix was just a destroked 258 (4.2L for you OCD metric *****) fitted with fuel injection and various Chevy n Ford (True AMC fashion) electronics. With the HO (Highly Overrated), all the electronics n parts were ChryCo.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,173
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
Yep, dunno why they label it an L6 but it's an inline 6 dual overhead cam in those.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,173
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
A 4 valve head wouldn't have helped it with emissions at all.A short stroke big bore is the only way to pass emissions now anymore.The stroke of the inline 6 is the reason it was hard on emissions.I don't know any other inline 6s in America that made it longer then the xjs.Ford canned the 300 in 97 with the f150s body change,Gm canned theirs in the 80s as well.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
There are such things as short stroke inline 6's. A few of which have been named in this thread. We are not trying to turn 10,000 RPMS with no crawling power here... That's why we need the longer stroke. As a matter of fact, When you build a stroker motor, weather it's based on this AMC block or a small block chevy... you are adding more stroke becasue more stroke = more torque!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34,088
Likes: 257
From: Lantana, Fl
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.Slow
Incorrect... the HO was slightly updated by chrysler, but it was still a variation of the same AMC motor. The renix and the HO are not different motors, just the same motor at different stages of it's evolution. Chrysler dropped it because it simple was not their motor. Yes they bought the tooling from amc, yes they made some changes, but it was still the old amc motor. Why did you think two different companies made motors you could swap parts on? You can put an HO head on a renix block, or run an HO motor with a renix ECM and harness (With minor modifications of course)
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,173
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
Dude, it's the same base! Hell, you can still put an old 4.2 crank in them! I agree though, they were better before chrysler started putting their finger in the mix. chrysler = junk
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34,088
Likes: 257
From: Lantana, Fl
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.Slow
All they did was destroke the 4.2L your right. There for 4 years I ran a 4.2L w/ a 4.0L head n injection unit. The only things the 4.0L had on the 4.2L (aside from injection) was a higher flowing head and higher revs. (You and I both know high revs are unnecessary, you want low end torque)
Last edited by Outlaw Star; Jan 4, 2013 at 11:15 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 587
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From: Barney Georgia
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
GMs 4.2L was designed from the outset to meet current and upcoming emmisions/ fuel economy standards; a brand new motor. The 4.0L was not. The 4.0L bas based on an old design and would not of been cost effective to retool to make the 4.0L meet the upcoming EPA rules. Its just that simple. Long stroke, big bore, poor head and intake design, poor EFI system..OLD TECH lead to the 4.0L demise, not solely packaging. And to compare the GM 4.2 to the ChryCo 4.0L is comparing apples to oranges. Sorry if someone feels this is "full of misinformation" but it is what it is.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 6
From: Summerville, Ga
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5 4 cyl.
GMs 4.2L was designed from the outset to meet current and upcoming emmisions/ fuel economy standards; a brand new motor. The 4.0L was not. The 4.0L bas based on an old design and would not of been cost effective to retool to make the 4.0L meet the upcoming EPA rules. Its just that simple. Long stroke, big bore, poor head and intake design, poor EFI system..OLD TECH lead to the 4.0L demise, not solely packaging. And to compare the GM 4.2 to the ChryCo 4.0L is comparing apples to oranges. Sorry if someone feels this is "full of misinformation" but it is what it is.
Also, the AMC is a 258, while the GM is a 256 IIRC
Last edited by xj_maniac_newb; Jan 15, 2013 at 12:35 PM.


