tjcustomranger

i have an 85 jeep cherokee laredo 2.5L with a 5 speed. i want to swueeze a little more power out of it. its got a 2.5 inch light with some 29 ich tires. going to switch over to an electric fan, and build a dual cold air intake. do they make anything to add a little to these engines or am i stuck making all my own stuff? i do not want to gear it down or switch the engine out. just a few mods. please and thank you

TwoXJS

Unfortunately, our little four bangers aren't the best on power, as you already know. They're meant more for torque, and they do it good! The peak HP is right around the redline, while peak TQ is around 2500-3000RPM, I believe. Quite honestly, I love the way mine pulls! It gets up to speed good and can maintain it without a problem.

Yours being an '85, you've got a carb, right? If so, then I can't recommend a 4.0L throttle body or the 703/784 injectors....Those do add a little power, but not a lot at all, maybe 3-5 peak combined. One thing with the injectors is a bit better fuel economy, at least with mine.

Overall, the 2.5 IS a good engine, just don't plan on winning any drag races anytime soon....Run it 'til the wheels fall off and then throw in a 4.0 if you want to. I'm keeping mine until it pukes and it'll be replaced by a Cummins.

black label

How much do you want power? There's only so much you can do with a little engine, if you really want more power from it the only way to do it is forced induction with a turbo or supercharger.

tjcustomranger

i want some more power and a little better mileage. i don't want to get into a big project its going to be my daily driver for awhile. i thought about doing a turbo or something but don't have a clue what to look at or what to get. never messed with turbos or anything. would uprgading the ignition system do anything? i think msd makes stuff for it.

andrewmp6

Unless your gonna rebuild the engine to handle boost a turbo is kinda a bad idea.

TwoXJS

That's where you're contradicting yourself....More power won't get you better mileage, unless you were to swap in something way newer, which would mean a LOT of fab work to make it fit. Not to mention probably getting a different transmission, mounts for that, etc....

I personally think the 2.5 has a good balance of power and MPG for the Cherokee. You're not gonna get what most would consider these days "good mileage" in one of these....They're toasters on tires. I'm lucky to get 15-16 MPG on the highway, but I've got 31's too.

skife

Is that 2.5 the gm iron duke?

If it is find a Mercruiser 3.0 out of a boat, use your exhaust manifold it'll get you a bit more torque and a tougher bottom end.

andrewmp6

The 2.5 is all amc used from 84 to 02.

tjcustomranger

the 2.8 is the gm motor. there was also a 2.5l diesel engine. then i have the amc 2.5L.
i'm trying to avoid an engine swap i wanted to get a little more out of what i have wait until it takes a crap then go stick a 4.0 into it.

Caish

Just a note, the 2.5L and 4.0 does not use the same bell housing. If you have the automatic you will be swapping trannys too.

skife

Ah sorry for the misinformation it was the c j's that used the iron duke

tjcustomranger

i have a 5 speed in it. i will probably end up switching trannys no matter what. if i don't do a 4.0 it'll probably be a 5.0 or something