^^ This man knows what he's talking about.

STAY AWAY from those 3.8's..
especially if you're getting the 4door..
especially especially if you're lifting it or even considering towing your boat with it. (or did you sell that? I can't remember now..)

 

havent sold it yet... but probably going to....


im debating on either keeping the powerstroke, putting the new wheels on it / fixing some shit wrong with it.... or just selling it and picking up a JK.... but youre not the first person i've heard that says the 3.8's are junk.....

care to elaborate?

 

Congrats! Pics?

Heard the motors lack a little ass.

 

For some reason the hp/torque output was lowered in '07 when they modified the engine to go into the JK to yield a more flat torque curve, more suitable for SUV's. I don't know what they changed, but I can only assuming it was timing and ignition, possibly a different set of heads. Don't get me wrong, the LOWER internals of the 3.8 OHV are great! Not quite as strong as Ford's bulletproof 4.0 OHV, but definitely a rival. They lack power for an SUV (205hp and 240lb/ft "declared" at the factory), in reality that probably means 160hp and MAYBE 190ft/lbs at the wheels. They consume oil, as much as a quart every 2,000 miles (reported on WranglerForum.com) in the early '07-'09 version of the 3.8L.

Now, the worst part is the top end of the engine.. The top end was "hair trigger" if you'll allow me to call it. I don't know the exact details and causes, but oil flow to the top end, more particularly to the valves and rocker arms is a real issue. Oil issues that end up causing rocker knocks, valve ticks, etc etc.. eventually wearing down and bending pushrods, breaking rocker arms and most notoriously, bent valves. Being an interference engine, when the valve stuck open and the piston comes up and strikes it.. all hell breaks loose in that cylinder. Repairs range from new valve/seals to complete engine rebuilds.


But don't let that scare you, I do believe the heads were addressed and I THINK you'll be safe with an '08 or later 3.8L. Just be prepared for the underpoweredness of it if you plan to use it for certain things. You can only squeeze so much HP out of a pushrod V6.. ask me how I know


EDIT -- I remembered seeing a post on it somewhere; http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/any...ant-60125.html

 

Working 12 hour days limits my daylight for pictures =[

Hopefully tonight I can grab a few.

 

Minivan motor in a JK = Bad Idea.

New JK 2011 has a redesigned powerplant that is suppose to be all the hype.....but nothing can replace the straight 6, 4.0 that they should have kept and made better.

 

I've been MIA in this thread for like a month but I think I've got a few people that are willing to either hit up Burke's Garden or Shoe Creek this weekend if anyone wants to participate.

 

Not sure if you heard they are running a huge 4wheelin event Sept 23-24 in Crozet. Misty Mountain is having their Jeep weekend and will be participating in this ride at Crozet on Saturday......so it should be a nice turn out.

 

I had a few people invite me up there actually but I'm not sure if my Jeep is ready for Crozet at the moment. If it was closer, or if I had a tow rig I think it would be more ideal.

 

I agree, I'm trying to get mine ready but not sure if it will be. Probably just ride with someone. But from looking at pics of rides before and talking with Charles who helps put it on, there are trails dedicated to smaller vehicles and I've def. seen Jeep less capable then yours. Just food for thought.