As mentioned in my first post, Im kind of wanting to get a feel for which motor I should rebuild to put in my 2000 sport.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f8/xj-happy-124931/

It would be super nice if I could continue to drive the 2000, and rebuild the drive train out of my donor 98 sport, but thats not a deal breaker...

Am I to understand the 2000 has no distributer cap (it has coil/paks)? The 2000 also has a little more stock hp, and torque.

Can anyone tell me the perferred motor of the two? (dependability, hp, gas mileage)?

Any help here, would be highly appreciated.

 

I can't help you much. I think it's pretty likely there might be mismatch issues using a rig with PCM for a dizy and an engine with coil packs. (& visa-versa).

I think you will find the differences in HP/Mileage are not great.

One huge deal, the 2000 has the "infamous" 0331 head. Revised, or maybe replaced heads will have a "TUPY" foundry mark, in the oil filler hole! (I hear)

There's a start. You might want to "bump" your thread in the afternoon.

EDIT: the 0331 can crack right in the middle. Mystery coolant loss...happens.

 

Put the 2000's intake on the 98.

 

Along with your coil packs and sensors so everything plugs in.

 

OK. I get your issue now. Still don't for sure know your answer. Guess there is some reason you don't want to simply put the wider wheels on the 2000?

I think the OBD II setup in your 98 is a fine deal. It's my thinking though, that if you really wanted to swap the engine into your 2000, you would need to modify, (slightly) the 98 head to accept the coil pack. EDIT...I GOT HEADS MIXED UP. (removed some text)


Not knowing better, I think a coil pack PCM needs to stay with a coil pack, and further, swapping PCM's between years....sounds messy and dangerous! To me anyway.

Glad you all are OK! Just a guard-rail and a Ford in trouble.