Ok, so I'm looking at doing some engine work on the 2000 XJ that I have. I have the stock inline6 with 78K on it. The only thing I put on is a AFE intake, which helped a little on breathing, throttle, etc.


Here are my options...


1. Buy a 392 Hemi off eBay with very low miles, get all the other components and have someone put it in. Issue I see is getting ALL the parts and then possibly having to worry about a new tranny, transcase, etc.


2. Buy an LS3 (or equivalent) off eBay and probably find it complete. Parts are more easily available but feel I'll run into the same issue (tranny, transcase, etc).


3. Buy a stroker kit for like $2500-4K, have someone put it in and keep the stock I6. Possibly look into a new or rebuilding the tranny due to not being able to handle the HP/Torque of the new stroked engine.


Anyone have any ideas on the best way to go? Any done or looked into any of this? Advice? Anything?

 

If you run a v8 your stock trans and t case will need to be swapped out also.I would stroker what you got or go ls with a 4l60e and a flipped dana 300.You can get a good used truck 5.3 and 4l60e cheap enough and buy a dana 300 t case off ebay and buy the flip kit and twin stick it.

 

The real question is what are you trying to do? Do you have larger tires? Stock gears? What axles do you have? gears will go a long way in shifting power to different speeds. Why not buy a supercharger for the i6.

 

Buy a fast car if you're wanting to go fast. A Jeep Cherokee isn't built for speed and to give a Vette a run for its money.

 

^^^ I have to agree....you can upgrade the head on the 4.0 to get more HP. I think Edelbrock makes an aluminum head that is lighter and gives you more horsepower. You have a 2000 so it's not a bad idea to ditch the 0331 head anyway.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ed...view/make/jeep

 

You missed one option, the best IMHO. That being you have an engine with 78.000 mi. except for the head it may run to the 300,000 mi. mark.


As suggested replace the head if the rest is all in good condition and run it out, or rebuild the engine stock OEM with a new head and have the best of both worlds.


Complete engine/trans/TC/cooling/gears/etc. swap and a different differential for the front, the one you have is weak. You will have a $hit load of money in it before you start on anything else for it. Then your paying for someone else to fab all of it together so it works MO-Money still.


You may want to reconsider on a swap and what your going to do with your XJ in the long run, if a full blown "Crawler" then you may be on the right track.