The Birth of the Fast Family Hauler: The Jeep 5.9

After quickly becoming one of America's best-selling SUVs, the original Jeep Grand Cherokee competed with the likes of the Ford Explorer, Chevy Blazer, and Toyota 4Runner. In a risk to attract a new type of buyer to the brand, Jeep rolled out the first ultra-capable, high-performance SUV. Join me in turning back the clock with facts and a story you didn't ask for, but I tell you anyway.
Special thanks for those that have supported the research and development of the video, you know who you are! And of course, 'THE SQUIDD' for inspiration.
Written, narrated, and edited by: Julian Higgins
Music:
Dramatic Intro Music - VFXZach
Real Gone- Sheryl Crow
1AM On my way!- Ballpoint
Fahrenheit- Neon Nox
Ascension- Scott Buckley
Inspiring Cinematic Background Music- Michael Nik Music

[@carlocarletti6912]

have 5.9 from 1998, buy it new when i was 18, in Rome, Italy. still in my garage

[@Highlander1432]

Go make me a pizza Margharita

[@carlocarletti6912]

Fist you need to pay, do you have money?

[@Highlander1432]

@@carlocarletti6912 I will trade this 5.9 liter dodge engine It leaks oil from every gasket

[@dejanu551]

do you sell it?

[@EC-ki5wv]

Oh my gosh i bet the gas must be insane in the city

[@cecilmcgee5764]

I had that that exact 5.9 limited in silver. I looked forever for it. It was really great until it decided to blow one of the cylinders and cost Chrysler $7,000. Not to mention basically replacing all of the infinity gold speaker's. And trapping me outside the middle of the night in lake Tahoe because it couldn't get off of a snow embankment where I had to have a sheriff come and pull us out or we would have died. And also its flipped the front left rotor which prompted me to get rid of it But beyond that it was really bad ass and I loved every minute

[@xjhigg]

Yeah, it would be silly to say they were perfect, or even close to it. That is crazy that you almost got stuck in Lake Tahoe with it! Thanks for watching :)

[@jeepstertj556]

don't forget with the edition of the magnum engines you now have mopar performance behind you and can make that 360 into a 408 stroker putting down over 400hp

[@user-ss6vo4oz4c]

هل توجد واحد منها في العراق

[@marcmartino476]

Ironically, I have a 5.9l JGC with the 408 stroker! It makes about 450hp. The problem is the tranny is still a 4 speed, so the gears are super long!

[@jeepstertj556]

@@marcmartino476 i had a 408 in my 99 dakota rt. that thing would rip

[@swatscorner]

Love it!! Great video. The ZJ is super nice looking. Had no idea of the design history, though I guessed it was based on the XJ

[@xjhigg]

Thanks my friend. :)

[@GaiusPrimusMatius]

Love this car....my dad bought a new one in 1994 Laredo 4 L and was a beauty ....was realy something in the eyes of other people....greets from Portorose Slovenia ❤❤❤❤

[@WAEMIDIV]

I know Synthwave when I hear it! Neon Nox is incredible. So was the video. I guess I gotta get a ZJ now

[@xjhigg]

Thank you! I thought it was fitting with the overall timeline, then again I am biased. Let the hunt begin. Cheers!

[@sparkie5571]

please get a zj or a 5.9 zj I would watch every video like 50 times over

[@WAEMIDIV]

@sparkie5571 Imagine the possibilities! If I had endless money I'd already have one. Usually the Niners are pretty expensive

[@patrickmichael3384]

The 5.9 limited made SUVs never the same again.

[@chrisdecker8630]

You did an awesome job on this man

[@xjhigg]

Thank you so much for watching, cheers!

[@sonthaidds]

Of all the Niner videos on KZbin, yours is the best. Liked and subscribed.

[@xjhigg]

Thank you!

[@streetroyalty1]

Love the 5.9! Miss my black one!

[@xjhigg]

Me too! I had black and stone white, both were a riot even at high miles. Cheers!

[@saddrums]

The interior was a huge upgrade in the 5.9, it was calf grain leather! My father and I both had zjs, mine was a 97 limited 5.2 and my dad has the 5.9, and the difference in the leather is night and day

[@GreenHawkDrive]

Hey man just came across your channel. Keep it up, looking forward to future content!

[@xjhigg]

Thanks for commenting and so glad you're enjoying it. :)

[@pyrrhus17]

LOVE MY ZJ

[@kirbyhurst]

Nicely done 🔥

[@xjhigg]

Kirbyyyy! Thanks man :)

[@danevasko3608]

Really nice job!

[@jacksondean8602]

You learn something new every day

[@xjhigg]

I'm happy to hear that :D

[@ralphvaccaro2638]

Good job on the Video

[@awakeFromNib]

It's a very fascinating story

[@xjhigg]

I was certainly impressed. A seemingly vehicle turned into something different for its time.

[@WilliamSmith-vg7kc]

Another banger

[@xjhigg]

Thanks dude :)

[@stevemino142]

The 5.9 litre chrysler magnum is just a LA 360 cubic inch small block 245 hp and 330 lb torque from the factory the 360 came out in 1972 as a replacement for the 340 small block

[@bobcoats2708]

Nice job!

[@xjhigg]

Thank you! Cheers.

[@bledwhite409]

I love my ZJ so much! I have a lifted 4.0 Laredo; runs like a dream

[@starwolf621]

Cool video! We had a silver 5.9 that we bought new and drove for 17 years.

[@jorgerodrigogomezflores5711]

Dad had a 5.2 Grand Cherokee back in the day, and it was gorgeous, but the fuel consumption was just too much, far more than his 80-Series Land Cruiser, a much larger vehicle, when the 5.9L came out it was great looking and interesting, but he never even wanted to test drive it thinking on the fuel bill.

[@xjhigg]

12 MPG in the 5.9 was a good day. Thanks for watching!

[@jorgerodrigogomezflores5711]

Sadly, he ended trading both of them for a brand new Range Rover 4.6 HSE thinking that the aluminum body and smaller engine would give him better results, gross mistake.

[@Danny-sp9yu]

We need the story of the tj next

[@Jimmy-wl2iw]

Owned two, loved them driving a Navigator now

[@timkincade9763]

Your defiantly not jeep cult , no more wave for you

[@NormanconEVE]

Went to go back and rewatch the A Legend is Made, the xj video. Not sure what happened to it but its no longer available... I'm really sad. I love that video. Hoping it comes back up

[@xjhigg]

It’s back! Sorry there was a technical error.

[@NormanconEVE]

@@xjhigg Yay! Time to watch that for the 8th time hahaha.

[@ramcharger9146]

I have a 5.2 and the 5.9 work for Chrysler for many years believe it or not you can actually put more power into the 5.2 and it's more reliable especially after all the work I did to mine with the 508 cam amazing

[@-fuk57]

Imagine going 124 MPH in a Jeep from the 90's.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

It'll go 145. Theres a guy on here that has it cammed and tuned and winds his out occasionally.

[@xSpliiz]

Attainable dream car has gotta be a 5.9, right now I own a 1995 5.2l orvis edition. Maybe look into an Orvis video? Thought they were pretty cool and for 1995 my Orvis edition has all power seats and all power windows...

[@ytelpeloncito5151]

I had a 318 ZJ .. had a Comanche too 88 .... wish I'd a kept both. Ida put the 318 in the MJ.. Ida had some fun sometime.

[@BlackHawk295]

Man I still want a Niner Zj, I absolutely love my 5.2 and want another XD

[@xjhigg]

I've had 3 of them, and boy they're fun! The 5.2 is a heck of a motor too. Just don't watch the gas gauge! Thanks for watching.

[@xsyphen4869]

I found a loop hole within a race between the Mitsubishi pajero Evo and the jeep grand cherokee 5.9 limited. The pajero had a 7.4 second 0-60 and a top speed of 130mph. But test show it actuality had a 0-60 of 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 138 mph. This was due to the gentlemans agreement. But compared to jeep manufacturers saying the jeep had a 0-60 of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Jeep said 7.3 Motor Trend said 6.8

[@ramcharger9146]

I have the 96 limited purple with the 4.0 I have the 97 Laredo and I have the 98 orvis 318 trail edition come with skid plates all underneath built the motor things great

[@michaelyour1289]

Nice video! You should make a video about the dodge Dakota

[@xjhigg]

I'll look into it!

[@ramcharger9146]

Ram chargers are giant Jeeps on steroids I love them to death

[@bwalton1968]

Can you narrate my life XJHigg?😍

[@xjhigg]

It could be arranged.

[@Highlander1432]

He'd make you a non binary lipstick wearing asylum seeker

[@ChristianWTR1]

Love my niner

[@rafterwhomestead]

Bring us the WJ video!

[@PreparedOverlander]

I am so glad they dropped that 5.9 in the ZJ, because that led up to the 5.7Hemi in the WK, which I do own to this day.

[@timkincade9763]

Go for the 6.1 ✌

[@PreparedOverlander]

@@timkincade9763 Plenty of power in my WK, dont need any more.

[@davidfarmer]

I wonder if it was faster than the 4runner with the super charged 5vz. technically the trd supercharger was a dealer add on, so it usually isn't even mentioned, but it made about 245 hp as well.

[@timkincade9763]

245 hp is weak , GC have V8 , dam the penastar 6 puts out over 293 hp

[@brantisonfire]

To be able to find a nice 4WD ZJ with a 4.0 liter and a five speed would be like winning the lottery.

[@xjhigg]

denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/denver-1994-jeep-grand-cherokee-speed/7646376728.html There ya go. ;)

[@brantisonfire]

@@xjhigg Too bad I'm 2,000+ mile away and just bought a new car about two months ago. : (

[@xjhigg]

So I guess finding a nice 4WD ZJ with a 4.0 liter and a five speed that's local and for sale when you haven't just bought a new car is like winning the lottery on steroids? Haha. They always pop up at the worst times.@@brantisonfire

[@brantisonfire]

@@xjhigg Yes, to be more specific about it.

[@bledwhite409]

I have one! 😎

[@NektarVision]

BEEP BEEP*** COOLANT SENSOR BAD

[@jamessellards7157]

That wasn't the biggest engine available in the MOPAR parts bin, tyne 8.0 liter magnum and the Viper V10 was available!

[@xjhigg]

Obviously the Viper engine is bigger, but was not "available" in the sense that it would fit in this application.

[@OzarksWildman]

Wait! What about the Lamborghini LM002?

[@xjhigg]

Definitely an honorable mention! But between only 328 examples, a $300,000+ price tag, truck frame, and seating for 4, it didn't nail the practicality segment that the 5.9 targeted. Similar ideas but the LM002 didn't have any real affect as it was an overpowered Hummer (military vehicle). I feel like the 5.9 was more than that, just my opinion though :)

[@flaircraft]

I had a 5.9 ZJ a few years back. Quick off the line, but ran out of breath quickly thanks to the intake manifold having been developed to suit the smaller 5.2 engine. Its biggest weakness was that it used the same crappy NP249 transfer case used in most of the 5.2 ZJs. The TC only had 2 settings; AWD (aka full-time 4wd) and 4-low. There was no 2WD capability, so gas mileage sucked on-road and it got stuck offroad all the time. 2WD gets you stuck; 4WD gets you UN-stuck. And they didn't have exploding gas tanks on collision. That was a narrative put out by attorneys looking for $$. The ZJs met all govt collision standards etc., and any risk of fire wasn't higher than any other vehicle. Reminiscent of the fake news about gas tank fires on the Ford Pinto or GMC squarebody trucks. I got sick of the dealer calling me and offering to install a free receiver hitch on my 5.9 - which comes with the receiver hitch as standard equipment. The free hitch install was part of Mopar's attempts to shut up the BS claims from the ambulance chasers. The dealer was so stupid (imagine that) that they wouldn't even acknowledge that a receiver hitch came with the 5.9 package. The 5.9 is rare enough that a lot of people don't know what it is, but you'd think that at least the DEALER would know lol.

[@flaircraft]

@@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305 2wd gets better gas mileage than 4wd because you're not spinning the front axle. The gearset and bearings etc. in an axle are one of the biggest sources of power loss in a drivetrain. I already kindly explained in my original post why awd (aka full-time 4wd) gets you stuck - there's no safety net. You got into the mess with all 4 wheels being driven, so there's no option to send power to even more wheels to get you out... so you're stuck.

[@ericharrison619]

@@flaircraft "Not spinning the front axle" If only the ZJ had manually locking front hubs would your "not spinnig the front axle" apply. The front axle, hubs, gears, and front driveshaft spin on every factory 4x4 ZJ ever made when ever they move, has nothing to do with what transfer case you use. Try and learn a thing or two about the subject you want to argue about before looking like an ass.

[@cooper02ful]

@@flaircraft on the zj (and most jeeps) your front driveshaft is spinning as well. So the axles are spinning

[@flaircraft]

@@cooper02ful Yes absolutely. There's a lot of friction in an axle (especially in the ring+pinion) which eats up horsepower. Since they're spinning all the time, they take horsepower to drive all the time. More horsepower to drive = reduced MPG.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

I just became stupider reading your post. Hitches were not standard.

[@NEB13]

Lightning cherokqueen

[@xjhigg]

Yessirrrr

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Great video and research. I've owned four of these ZJs. 2 5.9s one of them new. I don't know what it is about these Jeeps in particular but every videos comment section just turns into just a bunch of misinformation and people that have no idea what they're talking about. I even had a guy tell me that the 3.6 pentastar would smoke my ass 🤤😂🤣

[@yukik199]

I miss true American cars so much. Chevy impala, crown victoria, Jeep and others. Nowadays Jeep cars are just a shadow of how great they used to be.

[@xjhigg]

"They don't make 'em like they used to!"

[@timkincade9763]

Zero complaints about my 2021 GC WK2 trail Hawk, 2015 WK2 Laredo, 2016 wrangler JKU , or 2017 MK patriot i currently have. The old 1975 CJ5 , 1979 CJ7 golden eagle, , 1987 GW and 92 cherokee lasted along time before rust took them away , but what we have today is incredible. I've been jeep cult all my life never owned anything but jeep ✌

[@slowstang88]

I had no idea there was a 5.9

[@xjhigg]

The more you know! Thanks for watching.

[@Nick-rn7uh]

Let me tell you that this jeep had enough stock power to wipe out the 44 out back and we'll everything behind the trans was rebuild within the first 1000 miles of owning this thing lol

[@the-pezinator]

Man, you gotta equalize your sounds, the music and static is ear rape but when you talk, it's just fine. but I do like the rest of the video, very good besides sound.

[@xjhigg]

Working on it! Hard to get it right on my basic software, but it will improve. Cheers!

[@the-pezinator]

@@xjhigg Awesome!

[@JayWocken]

Companies "beg" to have their ads on race cars? I guess racing teams just have money pouring from their asses and corporate sponsorships are more annoying than anything

[@xjhigg]

Correct. There’s this company called Red Bull, they’ve made a pretty big deal out of the whole racing thing. Sure just one example, but large companies always fight to sponsor the winning teams. You don’t have to agree, but the opinions I submit are not far-fetched.

[@77dongle]

These are terrible for the climate, but damn they’re also beautiful in their way

[@mikem9536]

The real terrible thing about the 5.9L is that is barely beats the 4.7L.

[@timkincade9763]

Climate 😂😂😂

[@mikedaspike6738]

first :)

[@xjhigg]

Yes you are! Cheers

[@TRXMOE]

Great info and gret voice, but those lil joke bits with will Farrell, Back to the future, no signal tv , etc take away from ur content. Please consider removeing them from ur future videos...

[@xjhigg]

Sorry! That's my style and the way I like to do it. :)

[@BobNob1]

the newer ones are faster

[@necrodh]

Really?😮

[@mikem9536]

The 5.9L is barely any more powerful and heavier than my 4.7L

[@timkincade9763]

6.1 fits real nice in the WK2 , 6.4 is a whole lot of money for a working guy with a big family. ✌