I got a 98 1500 5.2 4x4 for real cheap, and am new to towing. The 5.2 is sort of a dog compared to my 5.9. It has pretty good high-end power, but the torque is lacking.

I'm debating whether to flat-tow the Jeep (4200 pounds), or mod the motor and get a trailer (~1500 pounds).

What sort of power increase can I expect when doing 1.7 rockers, headers, better flowing intake, and SCT tuner? Looking for more horse without stroking it or adding a supercharger.

Before you say buy a diesel, I bought this truck for the price of a good diesel clutch, and will not be spending the money buying a diesel truck right now.

Thanks!

 

i would do sct tuner these trucks are all detuned from factory and removing torque management helps alot !

 

If the truck is just for towing throw a set of gears in it (4.10 or 4.56), make sure its tuned up and the plenum is fixed and call it a day. It will be way cheaper than building a motor, will be easier on the tranny, get same or better fuel economy, will be done sooner, will tow just as good or better, ect. (I am sure there are more). You will be running some rpms but the motors are the strongest part of these trucks (unfortunately that's not saying much).

 

I'm definitely am planning on regearing, probably to 4.56 since it comes with 3.55s. I'm real surprised at how low the rpms are on the freeway. 55 in 4th I'm at 2200 or so. Definitely NOT in the powerband of the 5.2.

I'm hoping for 50-70 more horse with the above mods. I'm planning on going through the motor anyway (rings, bearings, recut valves, etc.), but wouldn't mind some more power.

 

Do you have time? You could port your heads and kegger, throw in a cam and get a tuner. I wouldn't waste my time with the 1.7's if you could get a cam or a new intake as the kegger is good for the rpm range you are looking at. Not sure on headers either the pacesetter long tube primaries are too big and i don't know if the shorties are really worth it. Maybe get summit/pacesetters and port/polish (they need a lot of cleaning up) and repaint like I did with mine.

 

Probably more like 30hp.

You have a 5 speed right? If not, that sounds high. 4.56 sounds a little deep, that'll bump you to 2700RPM at 55 in 4th, 2000 in 5th, 70 MPH you'll be doing 2600RPMs in 5th which I guess if fine if you only tow with the truck or don't drive much freeway.

You're just down the highway from Browns Camp anyways, do you really need to tow your jeep

 

It is a 5-speed. Can't tow more than 55 anyway, and it'll just be a commuter when it's not towing. And the speed limit is only 65 in Oregon so I'm not too worried about high rpms.

And I'll be towing to Moab and Tahoe. I am NOT driving the Jeep down again. Ever.

 

What? Don't care for that buckboard ride?? I hear ya on that one.....

Get what you have running good first. Solve the typical problems with these trucks. (plenum......) THEN start thinking about boosting power a bit.

 

Oh no, it rides like a dream. It's the 10 hours of tire, exhaust, wind, and bikini top flapping noises. I have to drive with ear plugs in on a drive that long.

And truck is all tuned up and solid. Just needed a track bar. I'll be doing the plenum this week anyway, but with how the truck had been kept up, I think it's already been done.

Thanks, all.

 

heres the cam im gonna run comp cams xtreme energy p#20-744-9 grind#XR258HR
on a stock motor with 9:1 compression;with small tube shorty headers 272 hp@4500 rpm 400 ft/lbs torque@2000 rpm. w/o headers using stock manifolds 243 hp@4000 364 ft/lbs torque@3000 .will need to replace springs should be done with a cam swap anyway.add that with some kegger hackage,a larger dual 2.25" inlet 3" outlet cat into a 70 series flowmaster 3" in dual 2.5" out muffler ,and factory style k&n filter should have the pig hoppin to new tune and towing my camper nicely .the nice thing about that cams is you dont have to flash the computer its a direct replacement according to comp cams .