six cylinder in 79 Cherokee

I'm looking at buying a 79 Cherokee, it is cheap and in decent shape, but it has a six cylinder engine (and 3 spd manual). I know they are torque monsters, but can they really pull a rig that big, or will it be a dog????

It will have torque, but they are gutless hauling or pulling. It soesn't take much uphill incline to dog em down. You can pick up aftermarket goodies to overcome those problems from Clifford Research, but then there goes your wallet.

If you live in flat country its a good deal, but hilly country forget it, get somthun with more oomph.

[parker2jeeps]

Is it gray and from a guy named spencer? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/givemebeer.gif[/img]

if its a 258, you can do what I did. Slapped on a 92 4.0 HO head, toss that old dist and put in a C&^%y HEI dizzy. get the right adapter and put a motorcraft 2100 2bbl carb (found a most Jeep 360s)on the intake. Oh yea, you would also need to the the ehxaust maniforld for the 4.0 head also. Do not get a 4.0 head from 90 or older, must be 91 or newer. There are some things that need to be done to the head but you can have them done for under 250.00
Before I did all that I to would get dogged down on easy inclines, even on the freeways, after the upgrades, only time I down shift now is if I am off-road and meet a REAL steep incline.

[Junk Yard Genius]

Nothing wrong with the distributor you have...
http://www.junkyardgenius.com/ignition/jeep/jeep07.html
Distributor is one of the things Ford did correctly.

Also, you may try using a GM HEI module, here is the wiring diagram,
http://www.junkyardgenius.com/jeep/c...heidiagram.jpg

If that isn't enough kick, try having the distributor recurved for faster (& more) advance, or using the Ford E-core ignition coil.

I'd do the factory ignition upgrades above. Doesn't cost you anything but tune up parts and makes a bunch of difference.

Before I did the head, HEI distributor, ect, I'd swap in a V-8.
360 CID engines are cheap, everywhere and a direct drop in.