Is 2.0 Turbo Worth It?

[Guv]

Did it though? The 2.0 in the neon made 50hp less with 1/2 the displacement and 2/3 the cylinders. Then the SRT 2.4 turbo made both more HP and Torque. Both of those so long as you kept on top of spark plug/coil replacement, timing belts, and kept it cool lasted a long ass time.

The Magnum V6 at 3.9L made very similar power numbers to the 4.0 but had issues compared to the 4.0.

Hell the 2.7 DOHC LH V6 with all of its sludge problems made as much power as the 4.0 did, it just liked to stop running because dodge owners dont change their oil and the crank just couldnt plow through all the sludge buildup.

The 3.5 SOHC made MORE hp and torque.

The 4.0 is in the same blind veneration group as the 5.7. Its fine but nothing to write home about and has its own set of problems; and the only reason they are lauded is because everything around it was like getting punched in the balls while sand is thrown in your eye.

But it was an engine for a 4X4 and didn’t require 6000 rpm to move the mass.
It was a simple, reliable small truck engine, the JEEP was a small truck.
Today, most Wranglers are cross shopped with Tahoes, Pathfinders and Highlanders etc.

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[yokramer]

But it was an engine for a 4X4 and didn’t require 6000 rpm to move the mass.
It was a simple, reliable small truck engine, the JEEP was a small truck.
Today, most Wranglers are cross shopped with Tahoes, Pathfinders and Highlanders etc.

They were cross shopped with xjs, dakotas, s10s, 4runners, pathfinders, samurais, broncos, land cruisers, and such back then too. The 4.0 was fine but even back then the best thing that could be said about it was it was as reliable as a block of wood, and even then that was really just compared to anything else in the chrysler linup.

 

[Guv]

A block of wood is pretty foolproof

 

[Dusty Dude]

I wouldnt compare the Demon to the Vette they have completely different reasons for existing.

The closest these days would be the Mustang Dark Horse but even that isnt really pointed at only the drag strip.

Additionally, he's comparing a new Vette to an 8-year old vehicle in a time where we have seen unprecedented increases in automotive MSRPs. In 2018, a ZR1 stickered at $120k...and the ZR1 was an entire league above a Demon.

It's just not a comparison that offers any useful info.

We were discussing modern V8’s, not applications. First 1000HP from a production engine was 2023 in the Demon, followed by GM in 2025. The ZR1 you mentioned is before the MSRP increases, whereas both 1000hp engines were available after those increases.

It was all about the HP wars.

In 2018(your reference point), the ZR1 was 755hp for $120k, while the Demon was 800+hp for $85k.

I would have loved to have seen a Viper with that engine… that would have been a better overall comparison in application.

 

[James Westfall]

We were discussing modern V8’s, not applications. First 1000HP from a production engine was 2023 in the Demon, followed by GM in 2025. The ZR1 you mentioned is before the MSRP increases, whereas both 1000hp engines were available after those increases.

It was all about the HP wars.

In 2018(your reference point), the ZR1 was 755hp for $120k, while the Demon was 800+hp for $85k.

I would have loved to have seen a Viper with that engine… that would have been a better overall comparison in application.

I know - that was my point. The comparison doesn't work because those prices are for the cars+engines, not just the engines. It might have worked if GM put the ZR1 motor in a Camaro...but even so, Camaros are priced higher than Challengers so that probably wouldn't have worked either.

The Demon is a textbook example of a "HP wars" car because it was pretty much an engine with only what was needed to make it go down a strip with some level of safety. A Corvette (and even Camaro) of any trim is about a lot more than that - thus the higher price.

 

[yokramer]

I know - that was my point. The comparison doesn't work because those prices are for the cars+engines, not just the engines. It might have worked if GM put the ZR1 motor in a Camaro...but even so, Camaros are priced higher than Challengers so that probably wouldn't have worked either.

The Demon is a textbook example of a "HP wars" car because it was pretty much an engine with only what was needed to make it go down a strip with some level of safety. A Corvette (and even Camaro) of any trim is about a lot more than that - thus the higher price.

Also they only made 3300 of the Demon vs the Corvette that is mass produced and anyone can walk in and buy one. Not to mention the very specific conditions to get near that 1k hp mark.

 

[gato]

An aluminum block would lose weight, but would do nothing for reliability or performance improvement.

Would lose weight, but do nothing for performance improvement?

Weight is exactly what imakes the Charger/Challenger the laughing stock they are.

The vehicles are simply undrivable around a curve or a bump on the road. Charger/Challengers are boats, not cars, so it is fitting that they put a boat anchor (iron block) engine on the front.

 

[Dusty Dude]

Also they only made 3300 of the Demon vs the Corvette that is mass produced and anyone can walk in and buy one. Not to mention the very specific conditions to get near that 1k hp mark.

Sure you can walk in and buy a Z06 which is like going in to buy a Hellcat, but you aren’t just walking in to get a ZR1. They have only made about 1/3 as many as the Demons because they are hand building parts of them.

 

[gato]

This well respected shop owner and Jeep fan thinks the Pentastar 3.6may be the worst engine ever:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DwDKAYFZY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

[DaltonGang]

This well respected shop owner and Jeep fan thinks the Pentastar 3.6may be the worst engine ever:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DwDKAYFZY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Aren't you a ray of sunshine today.

 

[croppz]

This well respected shop owner and Jeep fan thinks the Pentastar 3.6may be the worst engine ever:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DwDKAYFZY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

There are worse engines out there.

The 1.5T from Honda is arguably worse IMO

 

[Guv]

One thing about the 3.6 is there are are buttload of them out there. 300’s, Chargers, Challengers, Rams, Jeeps and minivans (sorry, I had to include them ).
If they were that friggen turible I would think it would be more well known other than on a Jeep enthusiasts forum.
We might all be surprised at how many 3.6 owners don’t even know they have one.
One last thing, I bet the 3.6’s in some Rams and Charger cop cars get a fair amount of abuse.

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