Has anyone done an engine swap with the Colorado/Canyon 4-popper? It seems like a natural. It is light, compact and has decent power stock (200+). More power than a Jeep six and lighter weight should egual better performance (maybe even better economy). What do you think?

I have an 06 TJ with a DOHC motor in it, the 2.4L.  It is light, much more powerful than the 4.2L in the '89 I just sold, and I get over 20mpg all day long.  Before I put the larger tires on it, I was getting 23-24 with the stock cookie cutters.

Well the only problem is that the Chevy 4 cylinder, like every non smallblock V8 based engine that Chevy has introduced in the last 2 decades, is probably prone to failure in small, cheaply made parts, and too-much wannabe techno gadgetry.  I have a feeling that those as-yet unproven engines will go the way of the 2.5L, the 2.8L, every single part of the Cavalier, etc etc.

Doesn't the straight 6 from the trailblazer have the IFS integrated into the oil pan for lower ground clearance?

The American car companies put so much money into the full-sized trucks and SUVs these days that the smaller ones and the small cars cannot hold a candle to the imports.  Their trucks are great, but which would you rather buy, a used Cavalier, used Escort, or a used Corolla?  The american companies put all of their effort into making what americans want to buy, HUGE trucks and SUVs with comy seats and tons of power.  Do you really think that Chevy ever REALLY expected the vast majority of H2s to be used off-road?  Here in socal, I have been out playing off road for the 5 years I have lived here and only seen ONE of them off road, while have tons of them with 24" wheels cut me off and pass me on the shoulder every day on my way to work.  I guess shoulder passing counts as off roading, right?

I would love to have one of those 6.0L engines from an H2 in my Jeep.  THAT would be a fun off-roader...........but the engine and necessary running gear would probably double the weight of my light 4-banger.

What is the funniest part of all that?  If you go buy an American car these days, chances are it wasn't made in America........but rather canada, mexico, or wherever.  (My TJ says "hecho en mexico" on it) But, you can go buy a BMW or a Toyota or many other "import" brands that were made here in the U.S., kinda funny isn't it?

You may well be right. I guess I was impressed by the HP. It would probably be a bear to get all the wiring to work together anyway, and it would need one-off adapters. But if it should prove to bulletproof, then ...

Dave