HO Throttle body swap and cooling system?

[HillbillyXJ]

Have access to a '91 with a blown motor. I have a '90 XJ with "older style" throttle body and cooling system. Any advantage to doing the swap with the '91 system into the '90? Mine has been reliable enough with 190K on it, but after market stuff for the 91's is alot easier to come by. Does it really make a difference to make the change? Yes I tried the advanced search but no real match.:repair:

[Chero-King]

If your looking for big power gains, dont excpect any with the throttle body swap unless your taking the intake and header with it, which you probably are and even then you'll maybe get around around 6-7hp and only around 3-4 to the rear wheels, I was going to swap a 91 header and intake but was advised not too for the reasons just stated. And as for the cooling system, Im about to swap the 91 cooling system into my '88 this weekend, so I'll let ya know how it goes.

[HillbillyXJ]

Chero-meister,
Kewl, mang. Thought of the intake and header, header to be replaced with Borla and I guess rerouting some vacume lines? Cooling system would be great if it works as a swap, I hate these stinkin plastic tanks with the cheesy rad cap that never holds. Would you mount the new overflow tank in the same location as the old system tank?

[Chero-King]

Chero-meister,
Kewl, mang. Thought of the intake and header, header to be replaced with Borla and I guess rerouting some vacume lines? Cooling system would be great if it works as a swap, I hate these stinkin plastic tanks with the cheesy rad cap that never holds. Would you mount the new overflow tank in the same location as the old system tank?


I've heard good things on here about the borla header
And like you said you'd have to re-route some lines.
and yeahh the cooling should be a pretty easy swap,... I think im going to mount it in the same place, havent really thought about it though.

[5-90]

The "volume" tank ("football") can be had cheap enough - from Morris 4x4 Center. With cap, it's still half of what the dealer wants, and I get enough to keep a spare on hand and change them every four years anyhow.

Aftermarket parts for the AMC242 are hard enough to come by, granted, but if you're looking for upgrades, you'll want to start with the OBD system that comes from the 1991 donor (since that's what all the aftermarket upgrades are geared toward - OBD.)

If you're not subject to the Air Police, like we are here, you are allowed a degree of latitude and creativity in modifications, and I'd like to suggest the MegaSquirt fuel injection controller - it's a DIY setup that is also available as a kit, designed by Bruce Bowling and Al Grippo. Google it if you want more information, I seem to recall it being expandable, fully programmable, and handles forced induction well (and I'm inclined to think that it is also adaptable to exotic fuels as well...) I'd like to try it myself, but I'd like to try it in "real-world" situations, and CA won't let me...

5-90

[Chero-King]

Chero-meister,
Cooling system would be great if it works as a swap, I hate these stinkin plastic tanks with the cheesy rad cap that never holds. Would you mount the new overflow tank in the same location as the old system tank?

I swapped the cooling system in today, it was surprisingly easy. Radiator fits perfect, and once you bypass the old plastic tank everythings good.
I havent mounted the new tank yet but Im going to put beside the airbox against the fender, you have to move the EGR solenoid and a few wires but fits nice and tight in there.