Option for engine swap 2000 XJ

[Skeeter]

Hey yall I'm new to this forum so I may not be in the right place to ask this question but I got a 2000 XJ 4.0L 4x4 with 300k miles and instead of doing a rebuild I'm wanting to drop a new motor in but I dont want to put in another 4.0L (even though it's a great motor) it has the AW4 trans, not sure about T-case. I would like to stay away from the LS swaps due to costing an arm and a leg.
So what other choices do I have with minor frame/body fab?

Any and all info would help.

[jsparhwk]

I’ve always wanted to do a diesel swap... but haven’t yet, is that even on your radar?


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[Skeeter]

Yeah that was on my radar for a while going back and forth with the 4BT cummins or the OM617 Mercedes but both seemed to be out of my ballpark at about $14k when I'm looking more towards $10k or less depending on the donor.

At the moment I've been looking into the Chevy 350, 305, or the 4.7 Chrysler/GM, or the ford 5.0 but I just dont know where to find adapters and or what all needs to be pulled from a donor or bought.

[HotBox]

How about a 5.2 or 5.9 magnum swap. Easy to find and both were available in Jeeps. I've seen some threads of plopping them in an XJ so its definitely do able

[Skeeter]

I have not looked into the 5.2 or the 5.9 Magnum. I have seen those threads as well but I have not looked into them as of yet.

[bajabronco]

How about a 4.7 stroker? It's not a 4.0 anymore :P and you get a lot more power and torque without having to change a ton of things out, like a V8 swap. I just grabbed some good stroker #'s and you are looking at around 290hp @ 5100rpm, 340lbft @ 3700rpm, That is about the same as 5.9L Grand Cherokee numbers which are 245 hp @ 4,000 rpm 345 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm and it is a new engine as well. Just something to think about. The stroker is a bolt in. Of course if you can find a cheap wrecked 5.9 and have good fab skills, that could be a fun project. Don't underestimate the hidden cost for a complete engine swap though. All the little things tend to add up quickly!

[HotBox]

I can only comment on the 5.9 as I had one in my Grand Cherokee. Absolute beast. Anyone who's owned one or driven one can confirm. Would definitely be cool and one of a kind. Simple enough to drop the whole drivetrain in and around me they're found for a grand or less for everything

[bajabronco]

Here is the thread on the 5.9 swap in an XJ - https://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1125381

[IslanderOffRoad]

LS truck motor.

[smokeyyank]

Just about any swap is going to cost a good amount. Issue with all the swaps is cooling challenges. TDI conversion is a good diesel option if you haven't looked into. I'd vote against a 4.7 swap. Yes, I have one in my WJ and love it but it's a love hate relationship with that thing. Was just rebuilt and not even 10k it either threw a rockers arm or dropped a valve seat. Still trying to get that figured out. 350 is going to be the best V8 option.

[IslanderOffRoad]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Hey yall I'm new to this forum so I may not be in the right place to ask this question but I got a 2000 XJ 4.0L 4x4 with 300k miles and instead of doing a rebuild I'm wanting to drop a new motor in but I dont want to put in another 4.0L (even though it's a great motor) it has the AW4 trans, not sure about T-case. I would like to stay away from the LS swaps due to costing an arm and a leg.
So what other choices do I have with minor frame/body fab?

Any and all info would help.

Check out the sloppy mechanics group on Facebook. Its the home of low budget LS swaps. Truck motors can be cheap, often in a donor vehicle so you've got all the parts.

[cal]

Yeah LS swap is about as cheap and easy as it gets. Pretty much any other swap is going to involve a lot more custom, or harder to find parts, or leave you with something that is a serious downgrade from the 4.0.

[clydefrog]

LS Swap will be in the $10k range for it to be reliable or a DD, plus or minus a couple thousand depending on your emissions laws and what your Jeep already has (ei: i needed to long arm mine to fit the cats for the swap, you may not have to in your state...just an example of cost variations).

I know you said no LS swap but then you said your budget was $10k to $14k.......LS swap would be the easiest and most economical.

[5.9longarmXJ]

5.2 or 5.9 in my opinion is easiest and cheapest

Fuel pump requires no change and fittings are identical
Stock gauges are retained and computer will talk to them as long as it is the same bus “CCD”

Wiring is 95% the same. When I custom built my own harness using the 5.9 and my 4.0 harness, most of the colors matched.

If anyone is serious about the swap, I am more than willing to provide help

[5.9longarmXJ]

Transmission options are 44re or 46re for auto. Manuals would be either nv3500 or ax15. The np231 transfer case will bolt right up to any of these. No adapter required

Downside is by today’s standards, power output is low
5.2 230 hp 295 ft/lbs ish
5.9 245 hp 335 ft/lbs.
both will burn gas too. I get about 13-14 mpg in mine.