Not to tempt fate, but I'm conviniced I'll never kill the 2.5L that's in my little '89 YJ.

To breifly recap, I bought this little red Wrangler from a chick for $500, bled and filled the clutch master cylinder, and have been pounding out the miles on it ever since. Sure, I've upgraded the axles, added a lift and some armor, and so on, but the engine and tranny are still bone-stock. Which is the meat of the matter.

I'm a power guy. I don't need to go blazing down the road at 100mph, but it sure is fun getting up to that speed in well under 10-seconds before backing right down. I've got plans for a tranny swap in an upcoming issue of Jp, but the engine just won't let me down enought to yank it.

I threw some tune-up parts from Crown Automotive on it, pulled the oil pan and resealed it, and that's it. The little thing always starts, never runs hot, and bangs out 18mpg on the freeway even with the blocky Swampers. I'm really having a tough time justifying breaking out the cherry picker.

Eventually the 5,500rpm shifts will get the best of it and the 2.5L will pop. When it does I'll fill the space between the fenders with either a worked 6.2L L92 or an LS3, either of which will make at least 500hp. But until then I guess it's 4-popper-ville for me.