JJMPB

tell them to give us a live axel in the R/T model

RLSH700

Well, I believe you are going to get your wish before long on both. If they were going to upgrade the 3.7L, I don't see why it wouldn't have been upgrade already as they just updated the 4.7L which gets an impressive 300-310hp & 330ft-lbs of tq without using 4 valves per cylinder, VVT, or GDI. If they would upgrade the 3.7L it might produce around 260hp and ~260ft-lbs of tq given the percentage upgrade to the 4.7L. The issue is that I doubt the 3.7L would find much use outside of trucks since it isn't a very high tech or very smooth engine. I've never been found of that engine and that engine is the only reason why I won't buy a used Liberty unless it has a CRD.

The 3.8L on the other hand is a much better engine than what one would think. That engine has a very good reputation and is only suffering from neglect like most of Chrysler's engines from before the merger. The engine produced 215hp & 245ft-lbs back in 2001 and they have been cutting the power for reasons unstated ever since (probably either to encourage people to want to upgrade to the larger 4.0L, or to cut costs, or both). If they would add VCT and bump the compression a bit like GM did with the "High Value" engine, it could be competitive again. I'm a little concern about completely abandoning their current 60 degree V6 since they have an excellent track record for reliability (with the exception of the 2.7L) and I'm worried that replacement engines might fail to be quite as good.

Again I will say I would like to see them use a V6 Hemi utilizing the lower cost of building, the MDS, and output and reliability that the has in its advantage in all applications of the 3.7L and the Wrangler as well as the Dodge LX cars. Would you be satisfied with that or do you think that the idea of a pushrod V6 should be completely abandoned?