Help with a build
☠ CF Sheriff ☠

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
If it's the AMC 2.5L out of a jeep it will drop right in, and you gain fuel injection (either TBI or MPI) [still need to add fuel pump]. I'm not sure any other modifications to make it work, but i know a lot of people have done TBI conversions that you can pull info from.
MJ>XJ
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 17,836
Likes: 7
From: Griffin, G.A.
Year: 1990
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0 I6
from what i understand the block and heads are the same... so just reuse the old stuff... if your capable of swapping in a motor that doesnt belong in there in the first place why cant you rebuild the motor you got?
We're trying to put this thing together spending as little money as possible. He works at a temp service and needs the transportation but has very little money. He could sell parts off his 88 jeep and probably buy a used motor but rebuild would probably cost him way more than he can come up with plus I like doin this kinda stuff. Does anyone have pics of the 4cyl, 80's and 90's??? I want to keep the carb and distributor, wonder if the 90's models accept those?
Last edited by antbanks; Jan 3, 2011 at 05:29 PM.
MJ>XJ
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 17,836
Likes: 7
From: Griffin, G.A.
Year: 1990
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0 I6
doing any kind of motor swap will cost far more then a rebuild of the current motor... no doubt about it... cheaper to find another... and doesnt cost as much as you would think to rebuild yourself... probly less then $500...
☠ CF Sheriff ☠

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,197
Likes: 18
From: Aberdeen, MD
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I-6, 703 Injectors, Brown Dog Super Engine Mounts
agreed. You need to the same engine (or the same model engine) back in if you want to avoid spending a ton of money.
I live on the north side oklahoma city oklahoma. I am building a 455 olds to put in my 78 buick regal and the machine work on the block and crank cost $775 and the head work is a little over $800....what kinda rebuild are you talking about, I think I seen a kit for that engine (2.5) for almost $400. It was locked up when we got it and freed it up screwin with it, it has water in the oil and I think it was locked up cuz a cylinder was full of water, I'm not real confident this thing will be rebuildable, hopefully someone just ran it in some deep water or maybe a head gasket instead of a cracked block or head. I may try to get down there tonight and check compression and pressure up the cooling system. It ran but had to poor fuel down the carb....kinda sounded like a silverware drawer in an earth quack though
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: cny
Year: 87-99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Why not just drop the olds V8 in, lol. Joking aside, I saw an article a while back on someone who put an olds 350 diesel in a gen I xj. I'm sure you know that people will practically give away 307s and 260s that have nothing wrong with them, just under powered. I remember the article stating the swap was pretty straight forward. I've contmplated it a few times, lol, especially when I had a 4 banger xj.
Ok I see where you are going and you're right, clean up with new bearings and rings....if the crankshaft is ok and no cracks
Thats actually not a bad idea but if I do that I will be trying to port the head and swirl polish the valves, find some supercharger blah blah blah....don't think that would get much power out of it.
BUT!!!!! I am taking a 403 olds out of the regal
but would have to find a trans and t-case unless someone makes a bell housing adapter-olds to jeep? How did the 4cyl xj perform??
I will take some pics and more as I disassemble, if we swap engines I was gonna get both jeeps side by side and take off front clip to see straight down the trans tunnel, I have been measuring stuff on top and both seem pretty close
Thats actually not a bad idea but if I do that I will be trying to port the head and swirl polish the valves, find some supercharger blah blah blah....don't think that would get much power out of it. BUT!!!!! I am taking a 403 olds out of the regal
I will take some pics and more as I disassemble, if we swap engines I was gonna get both jeeps side by side and take off front clip to see straight down the trans tunnel, I have been measuring stuff on top and both seem pretty close
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: cny
Year: 87-99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
My 4cyl kee was okay at best, not enough power to get stuck, lol, but also had to work much harder than the 6 in hilly areas on the highway, so gas milage suffered. X2 on durability (speaking amc 2.5) good engine as far as that goes.
There is BOP adapters out there to jeep stuff ($$$), but, if I were to go that route, I'd grab a 700r4 and a 231C from an S10 blazer and run a simple chevy to BOP plate (They can easily be made at home, or purchased from jegs/summit). I mention that because all the parts would be fairly cheap to obtain and maintain, and another thing no electronics
(minus the t/c lock up).
There is BOP adapters out there to jeep stuff ($$$), but, if I were to go that route, I'd grab a 700r4 and a 231C from an S10 blazer and run a simple chevy to BOP plate (They can easily be made at home, or purchased from jegs/summit). I mention that because all the parts would be fairly cheap to obtain and maintain, and another thing no electronics
(minus the t/c lock up).
Well I guess I will take all this stuff apart before deciding what to do, if the 88 wasn't so rough and dinged up we would use it, the 84 has a VERY straight body.
I just chunked a 94 s10 blazer 4x4 with the 700 and 231, my dad used the trans and threw away the t-case and now I'm pissed
I still have the trans to t-case adapter.
I am using a 700r4 with beefy internals on the 455 olds so I can use the trans adapter as a template to make another but I'll save the olds motor for my xj when I find one...I will try to get so good pics tonight, let u guys see.
Another question...the 84 has a 207 t-case, 88 is a 231, whats the difference and will they interchange??
I just chunked a 94 s10 blazer 4x4 with the 700 and 231, my dad used the trans and threw away the t-case and now I'm pissed
I still have the trans to t-case adapter.I am using a 700r4 with beefy internals on the 455 olds so I can use the trans adapter as a template to make another but I'll save the olds motor for my xj when I find one...I will try to get so good pics tonight, let u guys see.
Another question...the 84 has a 207 t-case, 88 is a 231, whats the difference and will they interchange??


