Ok, Doc. It is an honest question - cause all I know is that Howard's car has stuff done to it I'd never think of.

And MAN, can that car take on Hellbender! (I didn't go all the way with it, cause I don't own it... but still.)

Jim's has to be really something in order to top it. Challenge accepted - be sure you and he are there next fall !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yea, but I mean 'most modded with original engines'.

 

Holy smoke, I'm the new guy here and I've already started the "Mod Wars" and associated race schedules. Boy, what a forum!
Actually, I love to see owners do mods to their cars and especially like the ones who go all out to build a screaming monster out of a little recognized, beautiful car with lots of potential! It's really cool.
But I guess I look at these cars a little differently. If I want muscle and go, I use my Corvette or Mustang GT Convt. They do haul _ss! But on my Crossfire (and I mean no offense to anyone who has different perspectives) I really prefer the Limited model with its adequate N/A V-6 and "clean" trunk look (No SRT style fixed rear wing and no "windmill" on top of the engine). I just like the stock look and feel of the pristine, original car and enjoy keeping it factory stock. I'm definitely not against improvements to my car, but I really am not interested in changing its looks or "character" at all from when it was new. And no, I don't want to race any of you! So maybe that helps explain my interest the subject of mods?

 

It's all in fun.....and I love the hellbender Mark....just ask BigKid...

 

Not even with your Vette or GT ? Just kidding. Welcome to the Forum.

 

No need to...
You affection for that stretch of road is well known, Doc.

 

I think the N/A benefits the most from modifications in that the three major mods really wake up the engine and give it the power that you'd expect from more recent cars (just think, if the Crossfire was built in 2013 do you think it would have come with 215hp?). Pure power might not be the strong point like the Corvette or Mustangs but there is definitely a certain finesse to a tastefully modded Limited

 

What he said....

 

+1 for rayth

 

Here's a simply primer for N/A engine mods :

 

Hey, that's a great photo and "mod primer"! That's the first photo that I have seen that actually shows the locations of the parts/mods that are being discussed Great information for a "newbie". Thanks.

 

When you do these mods in stages.. you don't fully realize the end results. Having gotten the wife a purely stock roadster, and driving it after mine having these mods, I almost hated driving it.. LOL. I had only taken it out for test runs after the mods, and never really just "drove it" till Thanksgiving Day.

I was then impressed with how her car performed.. (almost as good as mine.. )

My "intake air horns" and cored cats are bound to be good for a spare 15HP!!

 

What mods do you have, MrM?

DCAI, cored Cats - what else?

 

Actually DHAI as they say (no worse temps than stock-but free flowing) Eurocharged tuned and 74MM throttle body. Just those 3 can put a nice extra kick in the car.

And as a foot note Previous Owner had cats stop up on him.. thus cored.. Not just a "let's see" adventure. It might throw a cel once a month with app. 1500 miles driven in that month.

 

The issue is that the engine design is from the last millennium. That said what has changed is not so much the torque peak as the torque band.

The Pentastar 3.6 is rated up to 305 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. NA on 87 PON. However 90% of the peak (~240 lb ft) is available from 1800 rpm to the 6400 rpm redline. To do this takes a DOHC system with variable vale timing both intake and exhaust.

This allows a super low cruise RPM for max MPG on the road but does have one disadvantage for many: with the very flat torque curve there is no feeling of acceleration, just suddenly you are going very quickly.

Since the '12-'13 Wrangler was available with Pentastar and six speed manual, that could be an easy swap, my only concern would be hood clearance with a 60 degree V-6.

 

Boy, you guys really love your mods! I have to admit that you are getting me interested. BUT, I just got my totally stock Crossfire and have really only driven it once, and that was home from the dealership to my storage facility! I tend to store my "special" cars during the winter months to avoid the "foul weather" (and we are having a bunch of that this year). But driving it home was wonderful....I thought it ran and performed well. But, of course, improvements can always be made and I will probably end up doing some of those.
I sense that a lot of you on this site are of the "younger generation" and/or are real performance "geeks" (no insults intended). But having aged to the point that I have, I find myself afraid of things that go fast (lol). The acceleration potential of cars like my Corvette and Mustang are amazing to me, but when I really get on them, I always "chicken out" before I freak out.....a whole lot of difference from when I was younger! One could argue that the cars are "wasted" on an old guy like me, but I still love to drive them and love knowing that the power is there if I get a wild hair and want to thrill myself. So, what does the future hold for my "new acquisition"? Time will tell!

 

Suspect you would be surprised how many here date to the first half of the last century.

That said, I would not swap an engine unless the original was blown. However if you could see the crank from the side, I'd probably replace with a US based engine and am really a fan of "even fire", an odd fire engine can never sound like a XK Jag on bananas or Corvair on trombones besides even fire is a lot easier to tune.

 

They are just cars like the vette, Camaro, mustang. Our go-fast parts are just harder to come by. Did you know your hood would do this? LOL...

 

I wonder why I always hear those new wranglers always get horrible gas mileage then? Arent those motors pretty heavy as well?

I bet the motor mounts are completely different but it would bolt up to the trans. Beyond that, the electronics would be impossible for a factory working car. You will lose the factory instrument cluster, heated seats, key, cruise, motor wing, traction control, ABS, airbag's. All of it.

The de-tuned Mercedes M112 E32 motor isn't that bad. Dual phase plugs for emissions, knock and efficiency. Easy to get parts since you can get them from so many models including the V8's. Easy to work on. Variable intake tract. Light. And extremely reliable.

 

The old wranglers didn't get any gas mileage. I have owned several. I like the new ones, and they get great mileage compared to the old, but that isn't saying much. I just can't justify the price for a new wrangler. But in a few yrs. I may own another. I just pulled a new one out of the snow with my ole' Hoe though. Maybe my ugly ole' Hoe is the way to go...and just save my $$$$$$$$$$ I wouldn't want that engine in a XF. Hell, the MB engine is why I liked the XF to begin with.
Here's the ole' Hoe and few of the new grille on ole' blue
Carjock, if you keep clicking on the photos, you can snoop around in the engine bay. As they will enlarge.