HappyTrails

I have 140,000 on my '02 Dakota Club Cab with a 4.7 and love it. Bought it new. We maintain it right, of course. It is responsive, robust, and very smooth running. It is one of the last V8's with the power from the low RPM torque, not the high RPM's of the new engines designs. Fuel economy is not that great. Just 14-17 mpg. About 1 or 2 mpg less than the XJ. The HO that came in the Grand Cherokees for a while was a step in the right direction. Reportedly, there was some quad valve development in the works, but the auto industry decline in the late 2000's killed the project and Chrysler was cut loose from Daimler, downsized and you know the rest of the story.
In my view the 4.7L V8 was very good, light weight, and filled the niche of V8 power for those who did not need a testosterone monster motor to tow a three axle fifth wheel.
However, any derivative would probably not have much attraction in the market that is now filled with 25 mpg full size trucks. Those newer engines are very different designs.
BTW, strangely enough, the best spark plugs I have found for the 4.7 are the often hated Bosch Platinum +4's. Don't know why, but they make that engine run remarkable smooth.