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Motor swap questions

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Old 07-11-2016, 06:54 PM
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Default Motor swap questions

I'll start by saying I have not owned a Grand Cherokee of any kind, but I have owned several XJs and know my way around the 4.0L motor.

A friend of mine is selling his 02 WJ with a blown motor (I'm assuming a cracked head problem that went unchecked). The rest of the jeep is in fair condition, some small dents on the rear hatch and a few spots of surface rust (we live in the NE). He tells me before the motor went everything worked great. He is the kind of guy I would trust.

So anyways... I have an XJ with a rebuilt motor in it. It is the older style motor that doesn't have the bosses for the coil pack mounts, but I think I can come up with something that would work. My XJ motor does have the newer style intake so I'm thinking the accessories should mount up okay. I'd hate to give up my Banks header but I'm guessing there's no way to convert the jeep to a single cat system? Also, are there any differences in oil pan design from the XJ to the WJ? Can anyone think of any other issues I may come across doing this swap?

Thanks.
Old 07-11-2016, 08:04 PM
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Blocks are different. Motor mounts and mounts for accessories are completely different.
Old 07-11-2016, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by bigbadon
Blocks are different. Motor mounts and mounts for accessories are completely different.
So you're saying the bosses in the block itself are different?

Thanks for the help
Old 07-11-2016, 09:03 PM
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Yes the mounts are different and the oil filter was moved for clearance of the new mounts. The internal oil passages were changed to pass oil to the new filter location on the lifter gallery.

They did this to balance the 4.7 and still use the 4.0.
Old 07-12-2016, 09:25 AM
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interesting...so what 4.0 motor years are the same?
Old 07-12-2016, 09:11 PM
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99-04 WJ. the XJs and TJs still used the old block, from what I've been told.

Look at the engine and if it has the oil filter sticking out of the block high on it's side, it'll fit. If you want to go this way, crate engines were still made up to 07. The 99-01 had the head cracking problem, but the head was redesigned and was installed somewhere in the 02 production run. These had a "TUPY" cast into the head between the #3 and #4 exhaust valves.

Last edited by dave1123; 07-12-2016 at 09:15 PM.
Old 07-13-2016, 07:06 AM
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Later TJ's also got the WJ "clean slate" engine blocks.

I bought a WJ thinking my low mileage 4.0L XJ engine would swap right in.. I ended up buying a rebuild.
Old 07-13-2016, 11:25 AM
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If in good shape and everything is in working order that 02 WJ might be worth a rebuilt engine for it, they made improvements in the 02-04 model years that solved problems from the 99-01's.


I have both an XJ and the WJ for a DD it is as comfortable as our 13 Town Car with every option.
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