Friends sister has a 2001 Jeep XJ Classic.

He says she brought it into the shop because of "engine problems". He doesn't know if it overheated or what. I'm assuming that the head is cracked. He also mentions that it "runs but stalls". I'm thinking that is the CPS acting up.

If the head is shot, i don't know how much she drove it being like that. I'd just assume the worst and say i'd have to swap in a whole new motor. (new being a 4.0 on Craigslist with as low of miles as i can find.)

Is it possible to swap in a 1999- engine with the distributor into a 2001 XJ? Or are there more sensors, etc etc, that make it not ideal to even try to put a 1999- 4.0 into a 2001?

In other words, if the oil is milkshaked, and i suspect the engine bearings are shot, etc etc, what is the best way to fix that? I want to avoid the 0331 head at all costs.

Obviously if the oil isn't milkshaked, and just the head is cracked, i'll just get a JY head (avoiding the 0331) and swap that in.

The engine is my #1 concern.

Other than that, there is the occasional rust, but it's not bad. I'm not sure on the miles, but it's probably going to need engine work either way.

It has the LP D30 in the front and i think it has the D35 in the rear. (I think he said it has ABS.)

What other questions should i be asking? How much would you guess i could get if i were to part it out?

How much would you personally pay for it? When he sends me pictures, and asks his sister why it went in for engine work, i will update this thread.

Thanks for the help!

That's almost impossible to answer. XJ's vary quite a bit in price depending on where you are and the unknown engine condition just adds to the uncertainty.
You might check what similar XJ's are selling for and subtract worst-case costs for engine overhaul or replacement, plus any other major problems you uncover and start there. That may not leave much residual value, but the truth of the matter is with a bad motor there is no value to most buyers. They'll pass it up and buy one that can be driven.

She's asking $1,000. I think i can knock it down to like $600 considering it doesn't run. Think worst case scenario i could make $600 back parting it out?

Most running XJs here are in the $2500-$4500 range.

Me personally, I'd only pay $500-1000 max for a non running XJ. And it would have to be almost perfect otherwise to pay that for one not running. But pricing varies a lot on where you live. For that price range here, I could buy a slightly older, running XJ. I only paid $500 for mine, running perfectly, and drove it home.

I'm fairly sure the 2001 PCM for the coil packs won't get along with a 99 with a dizzy. For starters. (I'm not positive about the change being dead on 99) Also finding a head might be a little harder than we'd like. I guess guys have fabed coil pack mounts...might be an adapter for the manifolds is necessary as well, to use an earlier head.

Might be if you got lucky you might find an 0331 with a "TUPY" foundry mark in under the oil filler. I've seen posted those are the up-graded 0331's.

Never touched one! I've just followed the forum here for a bit. If my 90 dies I'll be looking for something with a distributor!

Depends on what there is to sell and whether there's a market for it that won't kill you with shipping. Good trans? Transfer case? Body parts? Interior? Rims/Tires? You might be able to do $600 or better.

So for the $500 mark i should take it?

I'm going to have him take some pictures, and then i'm going to go look at it.

If its rust free 500 is a steal and just get a new motor from a 98-99 you can use and use the 00-01 specific stuff do a search on here on how to do it..