johnj92131 Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Well, then go for it. It is your truck. Most of all, it is your toy. What ever you choose to do, you will learn something by doing it with your own hands. Because your current truck is a 4 cylinder, I would suggest that you look for an all aluminum Chevy/GM engine. That will help your front end and will help your cooling issues. It will also give you a bit better mpg in the real world. I would even suggest you look at the 4.8 version of the Chevy/GM engine. Lots of power there and a lower purchase price with more choices for you as the buyer (EVERYBODY wants the 5.3/6.0 version 400+ horsepower). 285 horsepower and a very wide, flat torque curve will do wonders for a light weight truck. Consider buying the engine and an automatic transmission together. Yes, an automatic transmission! It will save you money and effort to mate a different trans to the V8. More important it will save you headaches when you do the electronics and the wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 If you find a clean donor Cherokee you'll have all the wiring and PCM and mounts you need to do the install. And its all bolt in. No need to fab any parts or buy expensive adapters. I myself wouldn't even bother with a stroker. A good reliable fresh 4.0 is all you need to do what you want to do. Do gears in the axles ands you'll have all the oompf you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callmehickross Posted February 16, 2017 Author Share Posted February 16, 2017 Well, then go for it. It is your truck. Most of all, it is your toy. What ever you choose to do, you will learn something by doing it with your own hands. Because your current truck is a 4 cylinder, I would suggest that you look for an all aluminum Chevy/GM engine. That will help your front end and will help your cooling issues. It will also give you a bit better mpg in the real world. I would even suggest you look at the 4.8 version of the Chevy/GM engine. Lots of power there and a lower purchase price with more choices for you as the buyer (EVERYBODY wants the 5.3/6.0 version 400+ horsepower). 285 horsepower and a very wide, flat torque curve will do wonders for a light weight truck. Consider buying the engine and an automatic transmission together. Yes, an automatic transmission! It will save you money and effort to mate a different trans to the V8. More important it will save you headaches when you do the electronics and the wiring. I was actually considering the 4.8 just because you can get a donor truck 5 speed behind it with 4x4 from factory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callmehickross Posted February 16, 2017 Author Share Posted February 16, 2017 If you find a clean donor Cherokee you'll have all the wiring and PCM and mounts you need to do the install. And its all bolt in. No need to fab any parts or buy expensive adapters. I myself wouldn't even bother with a stroker. A good reliable fresh 4.0 is all you need to do what you want to do. Do gears in the axles ands you'll have all the oompf you need. I hear what your saying but I just feel like it's a lot of work for something that comes stock in a jeep at that point it would literally be cheaper to buy a 4.0 Comanche and swap my lift and 4.10 rears over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 I don't think there's such a thing as a break even engine swap, unless you start with a vehicle with very minimal value (like my 86 that didn't come with an engine/trans) and then perform the most junkyard of swaps imaginable. If you want to do things clean, nice, and correct, just the 'little things' will easily add up to more than the vehicle can be resold for. Just swapping a 4L from an XJ can get expensive, since it typically turns into a large case of 'while we're in here.' Something like an LS swap I would be happy if resale was 50% of the money 'invested.' It reminds me of one of my friends coming over and looking at my "built" (sorta) XJ and saying "Wow, you probably could sell this thing for way more than you have into it!" Uh, no, I've got $10K+ in it, and it's a budget build that I might be able to sell for $5k. And that's not counting thousands of hours of labour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 the 4.0 would destroy my ax5 let alone if I stroke it no need to worry about that because the ax-5 won't bolt up :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 It reminds me of one of my friends coming over and looking at my "built" (sorta) XJ and saying "Wow, you probably could sell this thing for way more than you have into it!" Uh, no, I've got $10K+ in it, and it's a budget build that I might be able to sell for $5k. And that's not counting thousands of hours of labour. If I had a penny for every minute I spent just staring at my CJ figuring out how I was going to run this wire, or mount that electronic throttle pedal, or route this fuel line and secure it with that bracket, I'd be comfortably retired and off four wheeling somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 If you find a clean donor Cherokee you'll have all the wiring and PCM and mounts you need to do the install. And its all bolt in. No need to fab any parts or buy expensive adapters. I myself wouldn't even bother with a stroker. A good reliable fresh 4.0 is all you need to do what you want to do. Do gears in the axles ands you'll have all the oompf you need. I hear what your saying but I just feel like it's a lot of work for something that comes stock in a jeep at that point it would literally be cheaper to buy a 4.0 Comanche and swap my lift and 4.10 rears over But the reality is that a 4.0L (or a stroker) swap is a LOT less work than a V8 conversion from another make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 If you find a clean donor Cherokee you'll have all the wiring and PCM and mounts you need to do the install. And its all bolt in. No need to fab any parts or buy expensive adapters. I myself wouldn't even bother with a stroker. A good reliable fresh 4.0 is all you need to do what you want to do. Do gears in the axles ands you'll have all the oompf you need. I hear what your saying but I just feel like it's a lot of work for something that comes stock in a jeep at that point it would literally be cheaper to buy a 4.0 Comanche and swap my lift and 4.10 rears over But the reality is that a 4.0L (or a stroker) swap is a LOT less work than a V8 conversion from another make. Yes, you can actually just go to a wrecker, or on CL, or the classifieds here, or even a parts store, and buy parts to do the swap that will just bolt on and fit. Once you do something beyond the OEM, you can wind up with everything being custom, modified, or one-off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Just to chime in on everyone sayi g cooling and frame issues.... Novak solved all those issues. Aluminum racing radiators and mounts that wrap around the frame... All at a price though. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callmehickross Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Just to chime in on everyone sayi g cooling and frame issues.... Novak solved all those issues. Aluminum racing radiators and mounts that wrap around the frame... All at a price though. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk What I failed to mention is I already have that type Of rad and three electric fans fabricated and installed in my mj I had to do fabrications because I have a 86 So cooling shouldn't be an issue for me especially if I look for one with an aluminum block , I'm sure iron would be fine as well the radiator even has a build in trans cooler I payed more for it then I did for my mj (let the roast begin) I wish I knew how to upload pictures from my phone I've been dying to make a build thread but I don't care enough to go buy a computer lol I'm sure I could use a friends but that seems silly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Just to chime in on everyone sayi g cooling and frame issues.... Novak solved all those issues. Aluminum racing radiators and mounts that wrap around the frame... All at a price though. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk What I failed to mention is I already have that type Of rad and three electric fans fabricated and installed in my mj I had to do fabrications because I have a 86 So cooling shouldn't be an issue for me especially if I look for one with an aluminum block , I'm sure iron would be fine as well the radiator even has a build in trans cooler I payed more for it then I did for my mj (let the roast begin) I wish I knew how to upload pictures from my phone I've been dying to make a build thread but I don't care enough to go buy a computer lol I'm sure I could use a friends but that seems silly I'll pm you and tell you how. But the Novak rad and trans cooler is sweet that what I have. With an iron or aluminum block it'll keep Temps below 200 if you buy there three fan setup as well. It's pricey but worth it. The cooling is solved once you get that. Open or closed. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callmehickross Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Just to chime in on everyone sayi g cooling and frame issues.... Novak solved all those issues. Aluminum racing radiators and mounts that wrap around the frame... All at a price though. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk What I failed to mention is I already have that type Of rad and three electric fans fabricated and installed in my mj I had to do fabrications because I have a 86 So cooling shouldn't be an issue for me especially if I look for one with an aluminum block , I'm sure iron would be fine as well the radiator even has a build in trans cooler I payed more for it then I did for my mj (let the roast begin) I wish I knew how to upload pictures from my phone I've been dying to make a build thread but I don't care enough to go buy a computer lol I'm sure I could use a friends but that seems silly I'll pm you and tell you how. But the Novak rad and trans cooler is sweet that what I have. With an iron or aluminum block it'll keep Temps below 200 if you buy there three fan setup as well. It's pricey but worth it. The cooling is solved once you get that. Open or closed. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Got the app thanks Now that I have it I'll start working on my build thread when I get some some Here's a quick picture of where it sits now Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now