How hard is it to take out the 4.0 and drop a new one in? I have a 91 XJ and am considering a new engine.

 

It will take four or five hours, working steady, to get the motor out. Longer to re-install.

Everything depends on how well you label things, quality of your tools and workspace, and whether you have help...and beer. The more beer you have, the quicker the engine comes out...but the longer it takes to put one back in.

 

Lol, so I figure beer when taking it out, sober up and Mtn Dew the next day for reinstallation. I would have 2 people to help me pull it, and I can label fairly well. I use none other than craftsman, from wrenches to sockets to torque wrenches, you name it. I can rent a hoist and own an engine stand. Lol, and btw, can I qoute that in my signature? That is just awesome "Everything depends on how well you label things, quality of your tools and workspace, and whether you have help...and beer."

 

mine took me a long freakin time. i have a 92. i built a new motor. using the head from a 96 and a block from a 94. i took the whole front of the jeep off to make it eaiser cause i didnt think my cherry picker would go high enough to get the motor out. i spent about a day getting the old motor out. then the next day i started moving stuff over from the old to the new and the spent about 4 eveings putting the newone back in. it didnt help that durnig all this the power went out for 3 days so i couldnt use a drop light. but yea it was a big job. my next one will go much faster

 

Figured this is the approach I'd take when I pull mine. Gonna pull the tranny and engine as one unit, figured it's easier as a straight out than trying to lift it up.

Figure a day to get it out, a day to put it in, and then another day to track down that last stupid connector that is keeping it from running.

 

I just finished putting a new motor in my 98. I labeled all the wires i pulled, unplugged everything, and set them aside, Set the fuel rail aside, unplugged the shift linkage. Unbolted the motor from the top, then bottom, as well as the motor mounts. Top two bolts we got with a long and short extension put together, and a double cardian joint on the end with the e-13 socket you need. once unbolted we had to lift up the motor a few times and lower it to crack it free. carefully wedged it out. Putting it back in you have to put the torque convertor in the tranny first and then wiggle the motor down in and then bolt it in, and then bolt the torque converter to the flywheel. put the motor mounts in, then hook everything back up. Thats what you need to DO.. but doing it is another story. Took us two 10 hour days just to swap the motors, plus another day replacing everything else and plugging stuff in. Dont forget to re-weld the exhaust manifold if its cracked.

 

I always suggest pulling the engine tranny together but am not used to working on 4x4's. I usually work on ford cars and trucks and mostly 67-79 F100's-F150's.
I just hate trying to either get the torque converter back and mated to the pump or getting the throw out bearing on right and keeping it in place while mating the engine and tranny while under a truck on a creeper. A lot easier doing that out on the floor and hanging from a hoist.
I didn't see a location but if you are near Charlotte NC I can loan you a hoist
clint

 

Absolutely...quote away...and pass the beer.

 

I think this guy is probably right on. The last motor I did was a big block chevy in and out of a Chevelle. That is not really a bad job and once the headers were dropped and the aux. stuff detached, they come out of there smoothly.

I have not done an XJ and from what I read in the other posts they are a whole lot harder to do. The issue with the cherry picker is a consideration. Mine will raise high enough to get a motor out of a CAR but SUVs like the XJ...maybe it would be a problem. I'd have a back up plan, that is for sure.

 

ok i left my trans in. the 2 bolts on top sucked but i made it work and just my opinion but unless you have done a engine swap before figure a day to get it out and 2 to get it in plus one to find that last frickin plug you missed.