I just blew my motor and it is the start of my build I had a 2.5L but thats gone now, Im looking to put a 4.0 in and Im trying to research but I cant find a link that would help me because I want to swap my motor trans and axles may as well make it a 4x4 while Im at it, so if anyone can help me out I would apreciate it a lot

 

The easiest is to find a 4.0 4wd for cheap (totaled), and swap everything into yours, and I mean everything. 2wd-4wd swaps are common, and fairly straight forward. You will need the entire vehicle for the engine swap so that you will not be hunting missing items. It can be done, and depending on how much knowledge/experience you have, it wont be a quick deal, with everything said, I personally would find an affordable XJ like you want. I'm not going to say dont do it, I'm merely offering options,no need to waste time/money thats unnecessary.

 

Rebuild the 2.5! just another suggestion.

 

I agree with both statements. either way, with how cheap XJ's are I would think you could be out ahead just buying a 4x4 XJ with a running drivetrain.

then part yours out for a little return money.

 

^x2 It will probably be easier to to get a 4.0 4x4 model then transfer your mods over and part it out. There aren't too many XJs with a 4 banger. It's almost guaranteed money.

 

yup, don't waste your time with the swap. You can buy another Jeep for what it'd cost to swap to 4.0 4wd...

 

[QUOTE=austinjoe13;1552564] There aren't too many XJs with a 4 banger. QUOTE]

really? I have seen quite a few listed for sale since I bought mine. &
before I started being a regular on here, I saw ads for several, & bought one myself because of price, $1100, in near perfect shape, however, I definately saw more with the 6, probably saw more incorrectly listed with a V6 4.0, than 4cyl though, lol.....

 

[quote=kps;1552618]Must be my area then. People around here aren't too willing to part with their 4x4s anyways.

And ZJs marked as cherokees lol. Pisses me off!

 

Around here $2500 gets you a XJ with rusted out rockers and floor boards. This is probably why he wants to convert to the 6.
Getting a different or crate 4 would be a sensible route. But, not everything in life needs to be the sensible thing to do.

Why don't we just answer his question, rather than questioning his decision.

 

id get your recent jeep in the air and start stripping her and repairing rust and or other damage you deem necessary to fix that you want done. get new motor mounts and tranny mount, anything worth doing while your looking for your donor vehicle and parts to make things go faster.

 

when you get new to you motor, since you will have it out of said jeep if i was you id get get it on a motor stand flip the motor over change oil pump, change out rod bearings, timing chain, timing gears, new gaskets for headers, intake, valve cover, rear main seal, it will save you lots of time and trouble in the future, and do the same with the tranny, chance your front and rear seal, tranny filter and gasket. hope this helps

 

Thanks for all this but I'm pretty set on doing the swap because this little jeep was my first car and I mostly want to do the swap because I want to learn how to do this kind of work and I bought it for 500 bucks so if I do something wrong it's not a huge deal.. plus I want to lift it and continue to beat the hell out of it haha

 

You can rebuild that 2.5 for dirt cheap if you do it yourself... I think we spent something like $200-300? rebuilding a 97 to go in my buddys wrangler. All depends on how far you plan on taking the rebuild really...

 

I could do that but it would be either for sale or I'll make a new toy with old jeep parts haha like a badass gocart thing but I want the i6 for my jeep and I really want an ax15 trans mostly because I really want to lift it but stripping it and all that is probably starting today and I might even start a build thread because I'm rebuilding the whole jeep

 

Also anyone know where I can find a totaled xj? Like early 90s would be great and money is an issue so cheap! Haha