Engine Upgrades Made Easy - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

Kevin McNulty Former Editor, Mud Life

With the economy in the Dumpster, many of us are turning to our older 4x4s for daily driving and adventure rather than purchasing a new vehicle. Keeping these old beaters running efficiently and dependably with aftermarket performance parts is easy, and with regular maintenance the vehicle can be depended upon in the toughest situations.

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Recently we completed a number of engine performance upgrades with easy bolt-on components on our old adventure wagon, a '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee. These mods noticeably increased the V-8's power, and the work completed the summer maintenance for the rig, which included an oil and coolant change. The upgrades and maintenance procedures aren't specific to this model engine; most of these steps can be completed on just about any rig. We now feel much better cruising the Jeep across hot deserts and around the country in search of our next off-road adventure.

grand Cherokee Engine Performance Upgrades components Photo 29485192

We picked out a number of performance products and ordered them through Summit Racing Equipment, which was easy and painless. Included in this medley of parts is a Firepower Ignition kit from DUI (Davis Unified Ignition), an Odyssey battery, a Hayden severe-duty fan clutch, a high-volume water pump, a Jet thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses, a 175-amp Tuff Stuff alternator, and E3 spark plugs. PhotosView Slideshow The GMB high-volume water pump is designed to increase coolant flow without cavitation at all rpm, thus providing better cooling. The Hayden severe-duty fan clutch will provide better cooling than our worn-out factory one. Just make sure the fan is reinstalled in the correct direction or it won't pull air through the radiator.

The GMB high-volume water pump is designed to increase coolant flow without cavitation at all rpm, thus providing better cooling. The Hayden severe-duty fan clutch will provide better cooling than our worn-out factory one. Just make sure the fan is reinstalled in the correct direction or it won't pull air through the radiator.

Removing the old water pump from most engines requires removing the belt and radiator hoses, so this is a good time to replace them if the hoses are soft and the belts hard and cracked. We removed the radiator for inspection and to make it easier to access the pump. After the old water pump is removed, its mounting surface on the engine block must be thoroughly cleaned.

Our engine already had an aftermarket aluminum radiator installed a number of years ago; we pulled it out for inspection and found it to be in great shape. If need be, most radiator shops can thoroughly clean and pressure-test your old radiator. The transmission cooler line mounts were loose, but that was about the extent of any wear and tear.

PhotosView Slideshow A thermostat is cheap and easy to replace, and it's better to replace it than have it go out on a long lonely highway. Most modern engines must run a certain temperatures for optimum performance. Make sure you choose the right temperature thermostat when buying.

A thermostat is cheap and easy to replace, and it's better to replace it than have it go out on a long lonely highway. Most modern engines must run a certain temperatures for optimum performance. Make sure you choose the right temperature thermostat when buying.

The Grand Cherokee's came with 90- and 130-amp alternators, but we chose a Tuff Stuff 175-amp alternator for a replacement. This was a great upgrade since the Jeep is running off-road lights, a winch, and other amp-draining accessories.

When replacing coolant hoses, make sure the chaff guard is positioned right. If the hoses don't come with a chaff guard, cut a piece off the old hose, slice it lengthwise, and then zip-tie it over the new hose where it might rub against any components or sheetmetal.

PhotosView Slideshow

The Firepower Ignition upgrade for this 5.2L Magnum small-block included heavy-duty Live Wires, a Screamin' Demon coil, and a cap and rotor. The Live Wires have a heat-resistant sleeving, which protects the plug wires from temperatures of -76ºF to 1,400ºF. These wires must be used when running a Screamin' Demon coil, which will allow the spark plug gaps to be opened up for a larger spark and better fuel burn.

We replaced the cheapo battery in the Grand with an extreme Odyssey battery. Odyssey batteries provide excellent cranking power output and a deep-cycle reserve. Our experience with these batteries is that they hold a charge far longer than most standard batteries. This spill-proof battery provides 880 cold cranking amps and can be mounted in any position.

We ditched the old factory intake for a K&N FIPK filter system that was easy to install. The intake system resolves the restrictive air intake by the factory filtering system and provides power by allowing the engine to breathe better. The conical oil-coated filters are reusable and filter much better than paper filters.

Body Chassis Transmission Drivetrain Electrical Engine Suspension Brakes Wheels Tires Tech QA

Engine Upgrades Made Easy - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

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