Variety of questions

[KevinJosi]

I just picked up a 02 sport. 3" lift, 245's, 2.4 and 5 speed.
Im no stranger to the offroad world, I've build a variety of rigs from a SAS 1 ton f150, 1 ton FJ40 and Cherokee even a 69 IH p-I traded a quad for the Liberty and plan to daily drive/light trail it. No big plans.

Ive got a few questions and forums are typically the way to go.

-Will a Renegade flare directly bolt to a sport fender?

- I've read it has stock 4:10 gears, its still a **** on the bottom end, what are other owners experiences with a 4:56 swap?

-clutch issues? Mine seems to have a very short clutch and requires more throttle than what seems necessary in other vehicles Ive owned. Is this normal? Is this a result of the gutless 2.4?

-Upgrades? I did a full tune up, plugs, filters, etc. Everything I've read indicates that a intake,exhaust, throttle body, just the typical bolt ons do nothing notable to this engine, is this true?

I know that there are different sections for my questions but my experience is that there will always be someone that will happily answer all of these questions with very accurate answers. Ill admit openly I'm taking the lazy route lol.

Thank you, Kevin

 

[tommudd]

I just picked up a 02 sport. 3" lift, 245's, 2.4 and 5 speed.
Im no stranger to the offroad world, I've build a variety of rigs from a SAS 1 ton f150, 1 ton FJ40 and Cherokee even a 69 IH p-I traded a quad for the Liberty and plan to daily drive/light trail it. No big plans.

Ive got a few questions and forums are typically the way to go.

-Will a Renegade flare directly bolt to a sport fender?
YES THEY WILL, 02-04 ONLY THOUGH

- I've read it has stock 4:10 gears, its still a **** on the bottom end, what are other owners experiences with a 4:56 swap?
DOES HAVE 4.10S WITH THE 4 CYLINDER, GUTLESS DUE TO THE 4 CYLINDER THATS WHY THEY NEVER SOLD MANY
-clutch issues? Mine seems to have a very short clutch and requires more throttle than what seems necessary in other vehicles Ive owned. Is this normal? Is this a result of the gutless 2.4?

-Upgrades? I did a full tune up, plugs, filters, etc. Everything I've read indicates that a intake,exhaust, throttle body, just the typical bolt ons do nothing notable to this engine, is this true? YES THAT IS TRUE, NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING MUCH FROM ANY OF THOSE SO CALLED MODIFICATIONS

I know that there are different sections for my questions but my experience is that there will always be someone that will happily answer all of these questions with very accurate answers. Ill admit openly I'm taking the lazy route lol.

Thank you, Kevin

That will get you started
what lift does it have, hopefully not a spacer lift:Bye:

 

[KevinJosi]

Thanks for the info! Its a coil lift.

 

[tommudd]

Thanks for the info! Its a coil lift.

So its a full spring replacement not a spacer style lift then, thats good if OME or Ironman

 

[u2slow]

4.10 is as far as you can take the Dana 30 ifs. For deeper gearing there's JBA's replacement steel diff (uses std Dana 30 gears) or you can try building your own.

Granted I have the V6, but a better muffler let the engine rev much easier.

 

[KevinJosi]

I thought about doing a straight cat back, but from what I've read it doesn't help. I'm going to machine a throttle body spacer since I cant find one aftermarket, it might be the key to adding a bit of low end torque.

 

[tommudd]

I thought about doing a straight cat back, but from what I've read it doesn't help. I'm going to machine a throttle body spacer since I cant find one aftermarket, it might be the key to adding a bit of low end torque.

TBS will do nothing at all
On older models were air and gas mixed right there they would, newer engines it does nothing at all , well causes you to spend money is it:icon_lol:

 

[u2slow]

I thought about doing a straight cat back, but from what I've read it doesn't help. I'm going to machine a throttle body spacer since I cant find one aftermarket, it might be the key to adding a bit of low end torque.

Displacement 2.4L (148ci) 3.7L (226ci)
Horsepower 150 HP @ 5,600 RPM 210 HP @ 5,200 RPM
Torque 165 ft. lbs. @ 4,000 RPM 235 ft. lbs. @ 4,000 RPM


Our engines make power with lots of revs. Not down low. Re-gearing is how you get it back.

Even the V6 doesn't pull good till you have it north of 2500rpm. And thats also the range the exhaust helped with.

 

[Birdman330]

Displacement 2.4L (148ci) 3.7L (226ci)
Horsepower 150 HP @ 5,600 RPM 210 HP @ 5,200 RPM
Torque 165 ft. lbs. @ 4,000 RPM 235 ft. lbs. @ 4,000 RPM


Our engines make power with lots of revs. Not down low. Re-gearing is how you get it back.

Even the V6 doesn't pull good till you have it north of 2500rpm. And thats also the range the exhaust helped with.

I had considered cracking and getting a trailer wiring harness to tow the wifes car when we move to Florida, though I've pretty much reconsidered because the need for high RPM"s. I don't feel like toying down the interstate in fifth gear.

 

[tjkj2002]

I had considered cracking and getting a trailer wiring harness to tow the wifes car when we move to Florida, though I've pretty much reconsidered because the need for high RPM"s. I don't feel like toying down the interstate in fifth gear.

You couldn't tow it anyways with a manual trans.

 

[Birdman330]

You couldn't tow it anyways with a manual trans.

The trans is up for it, the engine no. I don't care for Automatics are best for towing argument. The clutch is anything but stock.

 

[u2slow]

I don't feel like toying down the interstate in fifth gear.

Nothing terrible about that. Some would argue 5th (1:1) is more durable for towing.

I don't care for Automatics are best for towing argument.

Same here :happy160:

 

[Birdman330]

Nothing terrible about that. Some would argue 5th (1:1) is more durable for towing.



Same here :happy160:

The main reason why now, is because more and more newer automatics are hybrids. Using clutches and actual gears opposed to the old torque converter and ''bands''.

I don't care for the high rpms though at interstate speeds, 3k on the tach at 62 mph and that's when I shift to sixth for interstate cruising, merging on if there isn't anybody in front of me who thinks they absolutely need to do 55 mph or less when merging. Usually at that point if I had a rocket launcher I would have it hanging out the window aimed at the car in front of me for doing that and being ''an idiot''.

 

[u2slow]

I don't care for the high rpms though at interstate speeds, 3k on the tach at 62 mph and that's when I shift to sixth for interstate cruising...

Whether or not we care for it, we shouldn't be shifting until 4k (torque peak). I'm guilty too. Too much time driving older, torquier, pushrod engines I suppose.

 

[Birdman330]

Whether or not we care for it, we shouldn't be shifting until 4k (torque peak). I'm guilty too. Too much time driving older, torquier, pushrod engines I suppose.

I shift at two sets of rpms, 2500 city, 3000 interstate acceleration. I don't use first except on inclines or if I'm heavy. After spending about 3 months piddling with different rpm shift points those two are optimum for max fuel efficiency. Of course the issue is I don't think the gears are wide enough IMHO on that. It feels weird going down the streets at 30/35 mph in 4th gear. Of course I drove a five speed for so long is probably half of that and being used to 3rd gear.

 

[CzarKJ]

I shift at two sets of rpms, 2500 city, 3000 interstate acceleration. I don't use first except on inclines or if I'm heavy. After spending about 3 months piddling with different rpm shift points those two are optimum for max fuel efficiency. Of course the issue is I don't think the gears are wide enough IMHO on that. It feels weird going down the streets at 30/35 mph in 4th gear. Of course I drove a five speed for so long is probably half of that and being used to 3rd gear.

Ya with the 5 speed 30mph is right inbetween 3rd and 4th. Could run 4th but it doesn't feel right so I usually run 3rd around 2300rpm at that speed

 

[Birdman330]

Ya with the 5 speed 30mph is right inbetween 3rd and 4th. Could run 4th but it doesn't feel right so I usually run 3rd around 2300rpm at that speed

With the six, 35 is at roughly 2500 so I up shift at that point mainly out of habit, and the engine noise gets to me real quick. The gears could seriously be a bit wider. I will even up shift earlier just to keep the tach down sometimes if speed limit is 25 and I'm running 30, but depends on the level of the road.