So on my way to work this morning my engine blew up. It only had 86k miles on it. I was quoted 2 prices, for a rebuilt motor it would be 4650+tax and for a used with 80k miles it would be 2650+tax. I was just wondering if these prices are good(ive called a few places and the rest quoted higher). Or if its not worth it and i should just bite the bullet and buy a new one because i only payed 5k for it when i bout it 6 years ago. And this is not something i could do myself, as i do not have the time nor proper tools/know how.

 

The $4650 is horrendous. The $2500 price is going to around what most shops would. You can find running Cherokees for $2500 easy. Unless the replacement motor has the tupy head on it, I would not bother putting any used 00-01 moor in it because the heads like to crack. Do those prices include install?

And what do you mean "blew up"? Overheated cracked the head? Cracked block, threw a rod?

There is a 96 2door 4.0 auto 4wd 127k miles on Atlanta craigslist for $2500 right now.

You would be better off buying a 91-99 4.0 and getting it swapping it in. There is a member on naxja that makes an adapter plate for the 00-01 exhaust to work with the earlier heads. I would get quotes for the labor only and supply the engine and adapter plate myself. I think the plate was $150. You can get a nice used running 4.0 for around $800 if you want it fast and "now".

Anyone know the typical hours a shop would charge to swap a 4.0?

 

I think both prices are very high!
You can buy a good running xj for 2500 or less!

What did it do when it "blew up"?

 

basically i was stopped a train and the rps started going really low and i was hearing this clink sound and than i noticed white smoke, about two blocks later heard this loud rattling noise like shaking bolts in a can and the rpm started dropping rapidly with the pedal depressed and huge amounts of smoke. after i stopped i say the smoke was coming directly from the block. towed it to the nearest shop because it would no longer even crank. my guess is the piston shattered but im not 100% because i didnt want to be charged more. they did say tho the motor needs to be replaced. and those prices are installed and the cheapest within 25 miles of me by about 2k

 

Shattered piston I would agree with, no way to be sure without tearing it apart. When I got my 01 it would barely turn over, tore the motor down and found the #2 piston shattered. Those prices are absolutely insane, I wouldn't pay more than around $500 for a 4.0, unless it was a 00-01 motor with a tupy head, even then I wouldn't go over $1000. That doesn't include labor though. Honestly I would find a HO motor to put your intake and exhaust on, a mount for the coil rail is easy to fab up.

 

everyone keeps talking about just the motor price, doing this myself is not an option, absolutley zero chance of me be able to do this

 

Then your best option is buying another cherokee.

 

That is a difficult spot to be in, it's not a bad job by any means but it requires some tools and you can rent the engine hoist. You just need to find a shop or person you can trust, find out how much you are willing to pay and make the decision. If you buy a reman engine you are going to pay a nice price. There are a lot of '98-99's you can get the complete engine for $800 or less. The problem is getting one you can trust. If you find someone who you can trust they can refresh a used engine for pretty cheap. They sell a kit that includes new rings, bearings, oil pump and gaskets. Depends on how much piece of mind you want to have is how much you are willing to spend. If you want a nearly new engine buy one from ATK and swap everything over and put it in. If you want to keep it cheap(er) get a wrecked '98-99 and throw it in.


I wish you were closer, I would volunteer my services to help you out.

 

I bet you can find a real good engine for $500-800 and someone to swap engines for $500

If you can't, buy another and scrap yours for $500-600 or sell it.

 

If you can't do the job yourself, you're going to pay out the rear for a new engine... esp a 00-01 casting.

Scrap it and buy a pre 00 xj.

 

DON'T scrap it. Sell it. Just for reference I bought my 2001 XJ with a FUBAR motor for $900. It wasn't in the best shape either, kinda neglected by the previous owner (torn seats, dirty as hell, weird smell, etc.), so assuming that yours is relatively clean, I'd bet you could get over a grand for it relatively easy. Get another XJ, I'd get a 99- to avoid the bad head casting, but that'll probably be the most cost efficient way to do it. Someone else can definitely use the Jeep, if I had the money I wouldn't mind picking another one up myself. If I were closer to Chicago I'd help walk you through the swap myself.

 

I would recommend looking for an independent shop outside of Chicago. I'm sure prices in the city are a premium. I live around Indianapolis and can get rebuilt 4.0 engines for $1500 with a 12 month warranty. You can usually get them installed for $500-1000.