So went on the first longish road trip with her. Went to N.E. AZ to the mountains. 400 miles round trip, left on Friday it was 113 and heading up, there are several 6% grades so I was a bit worried about overheating. I normally run south on the temp gauge and lately at a red light in heat, the needle creeps to the middle but what the hell. She's definitely a pig going up hill and the needle did start to creep, then went a hair north of mid, shut the A/C off then bam, dropped right back down.

So got home today, turned the A/C on about 1/3 the way in, coming home believe it or not has a few 6% grades but longer ones. So with my eye on the temp, and the A/C set on 3 I set up the long grade, the gauge didn't move even with 2200 rpms at 50mph uphill. So my guess is, when the air is set less than high, she's running great, no heating issues.

I have a question though, the '97 has the same 4.0 as the 2k D2 right? 188bhp? Cause I've got to say, I need to check my compression. In my D2 I could hold speed up the hills no prob but with my new baby, not a ton of torque uphill.

 

Yes the DII has the same 4.0 as the DI, but because it breathes better it gets 190bhp.