double_0_7

I've been doing a lot of reading. I'm doing the suspension and stuff first, but will eventually get around to adding some power to my 2000 sport. This isn't really a thread about my truck though, so it just goes into Chat.

What goes into picking an engine to swap in?

Why does nobody seem to swap in either 4.7 or 5.7 chrysler V8s? Is it really that much harder than the SBC?

When considering an absolutely weird swap, what kinds of things should you look for? I mean seriously, at 3200ish pounds, the Cherokee isn't much heavier (if at all) than a LOT of cars powered by these newer turbo 2.0 4-cyl engines...

DustyWagoneer

Funny you should mention this.
When the little 2.5 I4 dies in my rig, I will hopefully be ready to do a 4.7 swap.
Of course you will wanna have some frame strengthing in place by then. The other thing is to do a complete deivetrain swap (transmission, transfercase).
I have the crappy little AX5, and the thought of having a modern automatic tranny is kinda nice.

The thing that is taking some time here is to source ALL the wiring for the swap.
Do you plan on using your factory gauges?
If so, how will you make the modern computer talk to them?
Personally I will more than likely use aftermarket gauges, or adapt something out of the vehicle I source the DT from.

Suspension is also the easy part.
I am sticking to the OME set up I have now with a few modifications.

Swapping in the 4.7 or 5.7 is the easy part.
getting it to run, and all your stuff working is the hard part.

Waynerd

Waynerd

double_0_7

Yeah...I bought mine for a project, and I really like the idea of a turbo kit for my 4.0 based on some things i've read here and elsewhere, but that's just out of the most available options.

One of the best things about the XJ for what I wanted to do was how light the thing is. Seems like at 3200 lbs or whatever they are, a LOT of engines/powertrains out there could really get the truck moving. But it seems there is just so much pressure to not do anything too far out there.

cleenrob

i choose an LS for my swap. i know its not an original swap by any means. but i dig it

if i were going to engine swap another one, i would chose either a vw 1.9 tdi mated to an ax-15, or a new LT 5.3 or 6.2 with either the 6l90e or 8l90e.

5.9/5.2 swaps in an xj aren't a bad option either, especially if the donors are zj's. and the pcms speak the same language so factory 97+ jeeps should have working gauges without to much issue( im sure the tach would be the hardest)

the new cummins 2.8 crate motor would a cool swap too.

i have even seen one with a full frame under it powered by a 12 valve cummins

00t444e

A 4.7 is a pile of junk and not worth swapping into anything, if you want a Chrysler v8 the 5.2 or 5.9 magnums would be the best option, or a 5.7 Hemi. For a diesel my choice would be a 4bt Cummins.

double_0_7

Because of power, reliability, smoothness?

Just asking. I have never owned one, but I have driven them, and they seemed fine...

cleenrob

i had an 03 dakota with the 4.7 and never had an issue with it. i liked it. not sure i would use it a swap motor tho.

GreaseMonkey17

There have been a lot of issues with the 4.7s and the 5.7 hemis. There is about 5 million times the aftermarket support for LS based swaps than any other engine for good reason . The LS swap is honestly over done in every spice of vehicle BUT they’re as reliable as a day is long , simple to work on and can be made to handle ridiculous amounts of power for not so ridiculous amounts of money . They’re also cheap and plentiful in the junkyard if you look hard enough.

00t444e

Reliability, they have issues with valves dropping, blowing head gaskets, and cams wearing out. If you get 200K out of a 4.7 you are lucky.