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engine swap

Old Dec 12, 2011 | 09:42 AM
  #1  
jeepin4fun97's Avatar
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa 52577
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Ok I have a 97 jeep Cherokee se with 3" lift. The motor yo me is kinda weak.. im wanting to swap it out with one that has a lil less miles on it but I need to know what 4.0 will work ... do u match a bin # up with one or what ... any help would be great thanks
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 10:04 AM
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
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91-99 should work. But are you sure it's your motor that has the problems? or is it maybe something simpler? clogged cat? problem with fuel delivery? etc... Is it smocking or knocking or anything?
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 10:10 AM
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From: New York
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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So your saying because the motor seems week you want to swap it out? How are all the other working systems. These engines last a long time and your gonna go through alot of headache just to swap a motor because this one is "weak".

Is the motor atleast blowing blue smoke (oil) out of the tail pipe? Knockin? Overheating?

Make some sense for us here guy
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 10:21 AM
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From: Flint/Asheville
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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Any motor from 91 or 92 to 98 will work. How many miles does your have now? What size tires? Gearing?

I think you will be disappointed with a motor swap cause it wont be much of an improvement for the cost. Bolt on things like removing the mechanical fan, headers, 99+ intake, neon injectors, bored TB will have a greater affect.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 10:24 AM
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
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Originally Posted by TheJerm
Any motor from 91 or 92 to 98 will work. How many miles does your have now? What size tires? Gearing?

I think you will be disappointed with a motor swap cause it wont be much of an improvement for the cost. Bolt on things like removing the mechanical fan, headers, 99+ intake, neon injectors, bored TB will have a greater affect.
x2 on the bolt ons, I'm running everything he just listed and my jeep puts down some torque. But those aren't going to fix any other underlying problems you may have... the 4.0 really wasn't a slouch from the factory, and if your motor's got good compression and everything is tight, I'd try to diagnose the problem before I got into any upgrades.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 11:39 AM
  #6  
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From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
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What size tires and have you regeared?
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:19 PM
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa 52577
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Ok the motor is blowing white smoke... I go through at least six quarts of oil in two weeks.... I have 31x10.50r15 on it now and stock rear end and gears... I know a guy who has an early 90 for like $300
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:23 PM
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa 52577
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Has 195526 miles on it
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:38 PM
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From: Flint/Asheville
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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Thats not kinda weak, that either a blown head gasket, cracked head or you have a piston with a hole in it. You can use the 90 block but not the 90 head for it wont match the ports on your intake/exhaust.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:42 PM
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From: Lagrange Park, IL
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6L Stroker
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I really want to put a lot of work into my jeep but as of right now it is kind of a piece of ****, I just want some feedback if its worth it, it is my first car and I dont want to get rid of it,

Last edited by thelittlejeepthatcould; Dec 12, 2011 at 12:50 PM.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 12:45 PM
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
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Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
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How's the body? clean or lots and lots of cancer? your motor should only be middle aged at 192,000 miles. These 4.0's go closer to 400-500 thousand miles if they're taken care of. If it's solid, put another motor in it... if it's rotting away, it may be time to pass it on and find a solid one. It's probably just a head gasket though unless the thing has been massively overheated numerous times.
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 02:46 PM
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa 52577
Year: 1997
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Engine: 4.0
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Originally Posted by Donnie_K
How's the body? clean or lots and lots of cancer? your motor should only be middle aged at 192,000 miles. These 4.0's go closer to 400-500 thousand miles if they're taken care of. If it's solid, put another motor in it... if it's rotting away, it may be time to pass it on and find a solid one. It's probably just a head gasket though unless the thing has been massively overheated numerous times.
Well there is some cancer on the roof dent in the right rear door. But its in pretty good shape other then the paint coming off in some places
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 02:48 PM
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa 52577
Year: 1997
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Engine: 4.0
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engine swap-forumrunner_20111212_144755.jpg



engine swap-forumrunner_20111212_144830.jpg
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 03:20 PM
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From: Iowa
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
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For what it is worth, there is a member in Des Moines that had a 98 complete motor for sale.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f11/se...threads-65890/

Dig through the pages, it is there somewhere.

Bob
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Old Dec 12, 2011 | 05:43 PM
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From: Columbus, Ohio
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0, comp cam, 99 intake, apn header, neon injectors, Thunderbolt 2.5" High Flow Cat
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Hell, that don't look bad at all, Build it!
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