i got me a 87 xj,242 I6,,and im wantin somethin with more power. ive found a Ford F-150,302 engine with auto transmission for around 350 dollars...but all im wanting to know is,is this engine swap even possible?
im also open to suggestions for other engine or upgrades that will gie more power
Thanks

lol... Get rid of one of the most reliable engines ever built for a ford?

Id rather run an AMC smallblock and keep the AW4.

For 350 or less you could buy a used CD box (Like a 6al), update your injectors/fuel rail, new intake and exhaust.
Another 200 would get you a good cam that the ecu would still like.
That would easily give you a good bump, and still keep the torque down low where you want it.

what year is that f150 motor? you may find it actually doesn't even put out as much power as the inline 6. Our 6 cylinders beat out alot of V8's actually.

Most 302/5.0 Fords are in the same HP range as the 4.0 engine.
Even the 5.0HO in a Mustang was only rated 220HP just 45 more then you have stock.

IF your going this route, get a 5.0HO from a 88-92 Mustang.
Forged pistons, low tension rings, of course roller cam.
Then add a set of good aluminum heads and you can easily make 300+ HP from the stock short block.

i think,but not too sure,that the f150s year is a 82 thru a 88..but im not 100%sure that is right,....but im not too sure about goin through all the rtrouble now since i can just upgrade my engine for the same $. do yall know some easy but good upgrades i could get for less than 350$?

What he said. I have the stock motor out of my '88 I've been wanting to swap in. They were rated at 225 and the good years were '87-'92 just for the record! Yea, it's not a whole lot more hp but they do make a lot more torque. 87-92 was 300ft lbs compared to the 4.0 220-225. The f150 motor isn't a whole lot different. It won't have the forged pistons but unless you're using nitrous or boost that's not a concern. People give away the stock HO cams and intakes. Or buy a bolt in cam from Ford, Trick Flow, etc. and find an explorer or cobra intake. Not only is it a pretty big hp/torque improvement in stock form but companies like Trick Flow make complete bolt-on top end kits with aluminum heads for really cheap that will bolt on 100hp with the stock bottom end and you can turn them to 6200rpm all day And the stock '89 and newer A9L computer with mass-air will run a cam and heads just fine without much tuning other than fuel pressure.
Another big plus is the 302 is short and light. It's about 40lbs lighter than a 4.0 and shorter so it will keep the weight farther back which is huge in the mud! Add a set of Aluminum heads and you can take another 40lbs off that. Plus more room in the front of the engine bay and a more simple accessory setup makes it easier to work on and easier to delete heavy junk like the a/c compressor that never works anyway. So 100+ hp and 100lbs lighter for less than $2k sounds like a reasonable swap to me. And the sound of a lopey 302 in an XJ
Lastly, if reliability is your concern, I haven't found anything harder to break than a forged 302. We have beat and beat and beat FAST (500+rwhp blower, turbo, nitrous) stock short block 302s in Mustangs for years and they put up to some serious abuse. The block is weaker than the rotating assembly and can split down the lifter valley if it sees over 500rwhp for years but I think you're asking for a lot of other breakage if you have that in an XJ

I would start by going on Mustang forums and looking in the classifieds for an A9L ('89-newer HO) mass air computer and buy a mass air meter and harness. This will make tuning a hell of a lot easier for future mods like a cam or heads if you decide to.
Another thing to remember is regular 302 and Mustang HO cams have a different firing order, but it's as easy as switching the plug wires around.

Edit: Thought you meant $350 into the 302 sorry.

Intake, Header, and a big bore throttle body are a good start, along with a free'r flowing exhaust. Then maybe pulling the head and having it ported and polished. You'll be surprised what you can get out of these 4.0's. Glad to hear you're making the right choice in keeping it.

PS - you were never going to be able to get a complete 5.0 drivetrain and convert the XJ to accept it and make it run for $350.... not even close.