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I bought a 2000 Jeep tj motor for my 92 comanche that I bought with a blown motor thinking it would bolt right in.. it didn’t so here’s what I had to do to make it work. It started out I took off the coil packs and bolted in my distributor and timed it.. the alternator, water pump and fan bracket all line but some holes are blind and need to be drilled and tapped. I decided to mount the alternator where the a/c was since the motor I bought didn’t have it. I bolted on intake and exhaust and had my flywheel turned down at work I heard after the fact your not suppose to but it seems to work. I bolted the tranny onto the block and went to drop it in. The engine mounts didn’t line up so I used the old mounts but had to cut and modify the driver side to work. The oil pressure sensors back by the fire wall so you need a 90 degree fitting to angle it away but factory wiring will reach and plug in, same with factory alternator wiring reaches up top. I ran my new belt with rope and brought it to the parts store to have them match it. The coolant sensor that use to go back in the block the hole isint there anymore so I drilled and tapped my thermostat housing so I can see if it’s overheating. To mount alt up top you need to cut mechanical fan off and run dual electric fans. Any questions comment and I’ll try and help out. My only reason for doing this was I bought the wrong motor and made it work.

I haven't started a build thread here yet, but I figured now is as good a time as any. My MJ started its life out as typical base model Comanche Custom with the 2.5L TBI, AX4, NP207. It is now undergoing some major surgery as I am taking on the infamous 4.0L swap. When it's all said and done, it will have a Renix 4.0 from a '90 XJ, an external slaved AX15 from a '96 XJ and either a NP231 or NP242. I have a build thread over on CherokeeForum ('86 Comanche DD) and I will continue to update it there, but as of right now, this thread will start where that one left off. Also, to aid fellow members here in potential swaps of similar nature, here's my photobucket album: Comanche. More in the next post...

I know, I know... this topic has been beat to death so much that a well trained mortician can't bring it back from ruins. Anyway... I'm not sure why so many people have told me that swapping in a 4.0 into my '86 MJ will require massaging the firewall with a BFH. The only problem I've seen is 4.0 radiator fitment and the hood latch is going to have to be changed. From everything else I can tell, the length front to back and side to side are near identical to that of my '88 XJ with a 4.0. So, what gives? Can someone shed some more light on this for me? Perhaps I'm missing something? My goal is to snag an HO engine and AX15 (external slave) and mate it to a Renix 4.0 wire harness and ECU. Will that work also, assuming fitment isn't an issue?