OK, here is the scoop. I spoke with Tyson from Clegg again tonight and I found out some bad news.

I am currently running a 2000 xj 4.0L motor. It has the casting #53010449 AA. The camshaft positioning sensor is located at the top of the bell housing at the very rear of the motor.

The motor I have and am planning on building and installing into my 2000 xj is a 1994 xj 4.0L motor. It has the casting number #53008405. I have no idea where the camshaft positioning sensor is located on this motor.

The guys at Clegg auto told me that these are not compatible and that I am pretty much screwed here.

My question is why do I need to the sensor to be located at the back of the bell housing? If I am installing a 1994 motor and the sensor is in the spot that it should be on the 94, why does it even matter? If the sensor stays on the bell housing, why won't it work with the 94? Is it a huge issue to switch the 94 ignition system and computer into the 2000? Would an aftermarket computer management system fix this issue? Basically, I thought I had all this figured out because I had done a lot of research and was reassured that a 4.0 is a 4.0. I can switch it no problem. Now I am out a bunch of money on this motor and might just have a greasy garage ornament. Any help would be HUGE! Thanks.

 

you have a 2000 which i am assuming runs the coil rail unless its been altered but anyways the cam position sensor should be on the passenger side of the block where the distributor would go on an older motor

 

from my knowledge all the 4.0s are pretty much interchangeable as far as block in concerned i could be wrong so do not quote me but i do not believe you are screwed with swapping engines

 

There are actually three different 4.0 block castings.

 

There are multiple block castings. I have 2 different ones. There is of course something where the distributor is generally located. I'm guessing it's the oil pressure sensor or something. But I was his told that the camshaft sensor is located on the top of the bell housing and runs off the flywheel on the 2000 and up.


Has anyone put a non-2000 motor in a 2000 xj here with success? This project feels like a disaster and it has hardly even started yet. Lol.

 

when we tested my buddies cam position sensor at school i am almost positive we tested the sensor where the distributor was. and there are 3 castings but what all did they change on them?

 

are you talking about the camshaft or crankshaft position sensor camshaft position sensor needs to run of cam signal not crank signal flywheel is connected to the crank not cam

 

I think he means crank.

 

The crankshaft position sensor is located on the driver's side back of the block rear. The cable runs up to a plug to a bracket on the back of the intake. The cam position sensor is inside the distributor. In 2000 they did away with the distributor but I believe that thing they have stuck in the distributor hole still has the camshaft position sensor in it.

 

Correct.

 

OK. That was pretty much what I figured. I just wanted to bounce it off you guys. I think I should be alright. I sure hope so, I ripped into her tonight and am getting it ready for the machine shop.