My '84 need more oomph. Ideas?
 

My '84 XJ has the lovely 2.5L weak-in-the-knees engine. Is there any way to get more power from this motor reasonably? Any engine swaps that would fit the existing tranny? Need some ideas. Would replacing the existing carb with the 2BBl ones make a noticable difference? Other than letting me remove all the vacuum doo-dads and most of the EGR, would a new carb be worth it?

Ideas for more power?

More air in, and more air out=more power!! I wouldn't expect too much from your tweaker squirrel motor than you've got.:brickwall: It's not known as a powerhouse!! TrueBlueXJ has a 2.5, he may have some more suggestions than I, HTH!!

get the four oh :)

Lets dig this bad boy up...

My 85 has the 2.5 carb although I haven't driven it yet...I have read that it is a bit anemic...any tips?

4.0L. Or since you don't have it in yet... B&S the thing (the 4.0 that is)....

Got it solved! I sold it and purchased a '92 Sport with the 4.0! Whee! Much better now.

Told ya the 4.0L would work!!! :grin:
Now ya just have to get another for the other Jeep...

Don't mess with the 4.0, man. Since you have to do major surgery for any other engine, anyway, go with a blown small block V-8....LOL.:head:

<~ Look at my SN, like I can argue with that ^^^ ??? :cheers:

Seriously, I believe one of the other guys already mentioned this but put a cold air intake with a good free flowing filter on it and a free flowing exhaust, probably 2.25". Make your 4 banger the best air pump it can be. The next best thing is lower axle gears. Especially if you have bigger tires going on it, Go deep with your gears. I had 5.29 gears in my Toyletta with a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder. With 33s and even when I went to 35s, it went like hell!

True...remember the 2.5 is like a 2/3 4.0L

At a salvage yard it'll cost you about $300 (local price) and a day's work to rip it out. They had engine lifts at the one I went to.

I've heard putting a later model 4.0 into an 84 XJ is major surgery. If you take on that project, definitely get all of the wiring and the computer that goes with the donor engine. If the donor rig has an AW4 auto tranny, get the TCU and wiring for the tranny, too.

Could always check craigslist, see if someone with a 4.0 is wanting to trade it for something a little more fuel-friendly for a winter driver.