ok, i'll start with some basic info here. i have a 1990 cherokee laredo 4x4 with the inline 6. pulled my oil pan down upon the engine not staying running and making a god awful clunking sound. found that cylinder #6 threw a rod and destoryed the block beyond repair, like it's reeeeeeally bad. now here's my dilemma. i've asked a few questions on here already about a possible V8 swap and i've been sent to advacdedadapters.com and whatnot and cannot even find an option for a jeep xj much less my transmission so i've pretty much decided to just swap in another 4.0. upon looking for them on craigslist and ebay i found alot of 4.0's just none from a 1990's model jeep. what years of the xj's are completely interchangeable? what years could i be able to do a direct swap with? i'm up for the possibility of buying a whole nother jeep if i have too just for the engine but seeing as how i'm not a master fabricator, i need something that will directly bolt into my 1990's engine bay and hook up to all my electrical connections, fuel connections, and transmission. sorry if this sounds repetetive but i'm just trying to be as specific as i possibly can to get a good answer. thanks for reading all this and any and all advice on the situation is GREATLY appreciated.

 

anything from 88 to 95 should pretty much bolt right up. not positive on a 95 but definately 88 to 94. anything in those years you should have no problems whatsoever. especially seeing that yours is a 90. good luck

 

as far as i know the blocks are pretty much the same from 87-00 with the exceptions of some sensor ports. zj and tj/yj 4.0's can be swapped as well.

i put a 98 engine in my 91 without issue

 

If you are looking for a motor that is direct swap it has to be an 87-90,if you what to just use the bare block and put your stuff on it,it can be an 87-98,in 91 jeep switched from the renix control system to the chrysler control system,91 was the first year for the h.o motor,none of the controls or the manifold is the same,you would have to use your distributor,flexplate,sensors,manifold,etc. in 99 they used a different head and intake.

 

check out a long or short block

 

short block on a inline 6?

 

Novak is the only company that I've been able to find that makes any parts to swap a V-8 into a Cherokee. I'm using their motor mount kit and may buy a set of their headers too.

To the best of my knowledge, no one makes an adapter to allow the use of a jeep auto tranny behind a V8. FWIW, I installed a 4L60E.

A short block is nothing more than an engine without the cylinder head. Long block is a complete motor from pan to valve cover but no bolt-on's