ok so i have had my 1988 jeep Cherokee for 7 years now but it has finally told me f**k you i quit! it was getting old and started to show its age pretty bad. i also wanted the H.O jeep system so it is a little nicer under the hood and a better interior. considering that my jeep has been flooded twice by nose diving once in to a lake that i thought was a foot deep, and the other time by driving through an ocean crossing 3 feet deep. here is a list of problems that i needed fixed that by doing a body swap would be an automatic fix:

Brake booster had a hole in it
electrical system would not hold a charge more then 9 volts
Open radiator system!!! (cant wait to ditch the idiot bottle)
Vacuum disconnect axle (actually i liked it but the vacuum finally failed)
weather striping was falling apart
major stress cracks in frame and a 4" break near steering box
Peugeot BA 10/5 puke alot a5 speed was about to explode!
transfer case running on 5 bolts instead of 6
the fuesbox in the cab has been under water twice, still works for now (kinda)
RUST!!!!!!!
drivers window only went down half way

so these are all the problems my jeep had that i can think of right now, and this swap was gonna fix it. so i found the perfect jeep (for 500 bucks) from my brother who spun a bearing and the motor smoked more than slicks at a drag strip. so i was not worried about swapping all the suspension and transmission. i was mostly worried about swapping the engine from an 88 (which i got out of a 93 so it is a H.O. motor anyway) in to a 94. i know i am gonna run in to some issues cause i haven't dealt with a H.O. system before and have only worked on the RENIX (bless its heart) system. i will appreciate all the advice i can get. all is welcome and i look forward to getting the swap complete!

This is how they look now, and they should be swapped by the end of the week

 

pretty cool, if your putting the 94 motor in the 88 just swap over the wire harness and thoroughly inspect it for worn out connectors or wires.

You might want to invest in frame stiffeners and steering box brace this time around

 

more pics

94 jeep axle removed

The Chrysler 8.25 axle as removed with the suspension still attached (it is easiest this way)

axle removed from the 88 jeep, was easier on this jeep cause the lift was put in 2 years ago and everything was still nice and greased!

Dana 44 removed with all suspension and shocks attatched

Dana 44 and Chrysler 8.25 axle cover comparison

Dana 44 and Chrysler 8.25 pinion comparison

it was a little fun to push the Chrysler axle down the parking lot to the garage cause it was like having my own personal chariot, but pushing the Dana 44 with a Detroit Locker in it was almost impossible to turn! made funny clicking noise when i eventually got it to turn. also installed new poly forward bushing cause rubber ones were crap!

 

no it is the other way around. the 88 is going into the 94, but the 88 already has a 93 motor. i have a steering box brace to frame stiffener, but don't have frame stiffeners. any suggestions?

 

This is the before pic...the last time i will ever see my baby like this again. it is a sad thing really. sure i am upset, but after all is said and done i will be alot better off in the end. i am keeping the shifter know though.

this is my jeep with the 8.25 axle in it on stock suspension...something looks different here but i cant quite put my thumb on it

Dana 44 in front of stock suspension jeep cherokee

but i only parked it there for 10 min and look what happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dana 44 set under 94 jeep

 

outside view after rear axle install

under jeep view, cant install drive shaft cause didn't install SYE yet.

engine pic, nice and sparkly but i big POS! runs but smells like a tractor and sounds like a busted diesel

Front Dana 30 HP 3.07 removed and to be transferred to other jeep.


at this point i called it a day, it was only like 6pm but i was happy with the results of the day. i have a week to put these jeeps all together and hope to be finished by Sunday. my only problem is that my Long Arm upgrade doesn't get here till fri and i still need to take it to the shop on base to use there engine hoist for an engine swap. i don't want to tow it twice cause AAA will think i am crazy




.........more to come

 

what apartment are you at that lets you do this kind of work?! or do they know? easiest way to do the engine is to just transfer the long block and leave the accessories in their original jeep. good luck on everything.

zedpapa

 

I was thinking the same thing, I was changing my air filter and my apt manager came out and started yelling at me lol. Nice swap though and great pics, I'll keep watching.

 

What is an "H.O." system?

I don't know if they are compatible but you might just swap the short block. Use the head and manifolds from the newer motor.

 

High Output engines. The i6's that replaced RENIX in 1991-2001

 

well the apt. is the Hillside Gardens off of 54th and University, the grounds workers don't seem to care. they drove by like 8 times and 4 different people, they even came to look and were just curious. i also have a garage unit that i keep the 94 in right now (my trans am usually goes there, she is so sad right now out in the parking lot....) so most of my work goes on in there. i think the funniest thing was trying to push the front axle on 35" tires with all the suspension attached to it with a locker up front. ever tried to manually turn the axle with a locker in it? almost impossible. some guy came to help me cause i stated to roll down the hill!!! well i guess it helps that i am friends with the manager here. but anyway, here is an update. got the front axle in the 88 jeep and it runs again. had to swap the calipers over as well as the bracket was integrated in the steering knuckle and not bolt on like in my 88. that was a bloody mess, nothin a few shop rags couldn't handle.

front axle is connected by the shocks only, it is keeping it from falling off my floor jack

a front view, i just noticed how silly it looks with bushwackers and stock suspension and tires...

all back together! having issues with rear hand brake cables as the Chrysler 8.25 cables are 6 inches shorter the the Dana 44 lines.


now the rear drive-shaft is not hooked up yet due to a bad u-joint, but i plan to drive it to the store in 4wd (technically front weed drive now...lol) and pick up a new one. later on i will install the already short arm (lower control arms and on upper for now) till the long arm upgrade from rough country gets here on fri. cause i need to tow it to the shop tomorrow to do the engine swap (i am just borrowing there engine lift...). look forward to finishing this project by the end of the week, but out of all else it is a great (and hopefully one time) experience! look for more updates later today.



more updates to come....................

 

Sorry i haven't gotten back in a while, i have been busy. well here is the update i got the front axle in the jeep and realized that i didn't have my long arm kit in yet so i just put it on the jack and put it in place with the track bar, shocks and old lower control arms


here is the Dana 30 HP with a Detroit true trac and 4.56 gears going in to the front of the 94

springs are loaded up and shocks attached

long arm kit didn't come in yet so i used the old lower control arms to keep it in place till it came in

in the meantime i swapped out the broken rear bumper with the one from the 88, also i got to keep my awesome sticker in the back

new (old) bumper attached

 

the long arm kit came in today while i was swapping out the headlinner. the one in the 94 was bad but i am pretty sure the 88 doesnt need it anymore. the only issue was i had to cut some holes in it so the seatbelts, sound bar, rear light and front visors would fit in it. that only took me like 4 hours....but in the end it turned out quiet nicly.


head liner swapped in from my 88



HAPPY DAY!!!! long arm upgrade just arrived and is going in right now!

cross-member and arm mount locations..

 

and it is on. the long arm kit went on very nicely. it was so much easier to put the long arms on then it is to put short arms on. i was so relieved when i put it all together and the amount of stress that was avoided by it being so easy! the hardest part was drilling the frame and only cause it takes a steady hand. other than that it was awesome!!!

long arm upgrade is finally in


long arm clearance under the car from the side of crossmember

passenger side shot of whole arm

under the car and drivers side shot

 

well today i finished all of the suspension, it just required some brake calibration and bleeding, then i would be off. i did not get to the bushwacker fender flares yet, but that was soon to come.


My old jeep looks so sad sitting there with nothing on it!

so sad so sad

first drive off to check for suspension and drive train issues. a few were found but a quick fix...for now

found the first issue, the drive shaft angle was to extreme so i had to grind the slip yoke for clearance issues till the SYE was to be installed by my uncle at the local Jeep dealer (I love free work)

NP 231J....not sure what the difference is with the whole "J" thing but hell it works great