1999 Cherokee - perfect donor
 

Hello. I've got a 1999 Cherokee 4.0 with a cracked block. I'd like to know which donor vehicles (year) are perfect swaps (electronics, etc) assuming I get the entire donor vehicle and can do full vehicle. Would a 2002+ Cherokee engine [full long block with all accesories] with the tuffy "fixed" 0331 head drop right in and plug up and go?? Trying to find the easiest 'complete' swap.

THANKS!

XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand Cherokee 4.0L engine blocks interchange.

2000+ TJ Wrangler and WJ Grand Cherokee 4.0L engine blocks interchange.

XJ/ZJ blocks and 2000+ TJ/WJ blocks do not interchange without significant modifications. (1991 to 1995 YJ and 1997-1999 4.0L TJ Wrangler blocks will interchange in XJ/ZJ and visa-versa).

TJ/WJ 4.0L Engine blocks underwent clean sheet design changes effective in the 1999 WJ Grand and 2000 TJ Wrangler. These blocks are not interchangeable with XJ/ZJ engine blocks. The reason is motor mount bolt holes and belt driven accessory mounting bolt holes are in different locations, or not present at all, TJ/WJ vs. XJ/ZJ.


XJ: "Regular" (not Grand) Cherokees 84-01
ZJ: Grand Cherokee 93-98 (Gen1)
WJ: Grand Cherokee 99-04 (Gen2)
YJ: Wrangler 87-95 (Gen1)
TJ: Wrangler 97-06 (Gen2)

It's going to be difficult to find a 2002+ that's compatible, I suspect, since they stopped making the Cherokee in 2001. ;)


The perfect donor is a 1999.

Cruiser, thanks for the response. So just to be clear, even though it is a cracked block on my 1999, I'm going for a "complete" engine. This is due to questionable head and other surrounding oddities and bad work.

For example: If I find a 1998 'donor' Jeep Cherokee and pull the complete engine out, would I have any trouble hooking it direct to all the accesories [electronics, wires, connectors] of the 1999? I know the 'block' is the same, just more concerned about it matching up with the dash and computer stuff on a 'complete' swap.

Sorry, there are probably terms here I'm not using correctly, as I'm not near as mechanical as you guys.

Excellent question.

The way I would do it is get a 91 to 99 engine. Use your distributor, intake and exhaust, flywheel etc.

I should have known this before I posted. My Jeep Cherokee IS a 1999, but was built in late '98 according to the sticker. Turns out the 0630 head I thought was added later actually came with it. This might change/ease the complexity of dropping a 98 [or other] complete engine in there. I still have a block with a giant crack, but I've got a good "actually manufacture year" for finding a straight swap and not getting the bad head. Right?

Build date is normal. they were made beginning in June the previous year anyway.

You're in good territory with your vintage 4.0.
2000 and later had the crappy head. Your range of selection is actually quite large.