4.0 Swap

So my dad just called me saying one of his employees is getting rid of her 1988 or 1989 Cherokee. As far as I know it runs well and the transfer case works, its just a rust bucket as its orginally from somehwere up north. I could get it for like 500 bucks. How hard is it to swap in the 4.0 and fuel injection? I assume that the AW4 and tranny would be wayyy to long for a CJ5 but are those a possibility as well?

Thanks for the info.

 

As Sparky wrote, the 4.0 is easy if the Jeep already has a 232 or 258.

If you want a 4.0L, the popular swap is a '92 and up "HO" engine. There was a major redesign in the cylinder head and fuel injection, and for all the effort involved in a swap, the later engine is worthwhile.

It's my impression that this swap isn't hard if you're technically saavy with electricity and wiring.

To me, here in MA, $500 sounds like a lot of money for a beater XJ. Around here, an '88 car is old ... and if it's rusty, it's unibody, so it may not be very roadworthy.

You can buy a pretty good used 258 for a few hundred dollars.

Here's a couple of articles about this swap - there's also a discussion board focusing on this swap - it's been discussed here before. You can find it if you search, or maybe somebody will reply that knows the URL.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/yj40l_swap/
http://www.jeepland.net/6cylboogie.shtml

 

http://www.cjoffroad.com/

The earlier Renix system is more difficult than the later SMEC Mopar style injection (92 and up and all YJ 4.0), but it can be done.

 

I say do it. Was the best thing I ever did to my jeep. At least look at the motor to see if its good or not. The 4.0 will almost bolt in place of a 258 and there usually fairly cheap to find. I doubt you'll be able to fit the aw4 and the t-case in a cj5, but its not hard to convert to your manual trans. Just need the correct flywheel and pilot bushing. If you can find the later HO motor I'd use that instead, more upgrades available, simpler wiring and a more common motor anyways.

If your really savy you'll put the crank and rods from your 258 into the 4.0 and make a 4.6 stroker motor.

Kevo

 

The AW4 is about an inch longer than an AX15, IIRC. The early AW4 will have a 21 spline output, so you wouldn't be able to swap a D300 on like you would with a later one with the 23 spline output.

 

yes you can mate a D300 to a 21 spline output transmission:

http://www.advanceadapters.com/products/52-3021--dana-300-input-shaft-with-a-21-spline-female/