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Old 08-17-2016, 07:32 PM
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Hello and thank you in advance, I am new here and this is my first post, I have a 2001 cherokee sport and i lost the motor a few weeks back and got a hell of a deal on a low milege wrangler 4.0. 2005 to be exact. I noticed rite off the bat there are all kinds of differences and I can not use any of my front brackets or belt set up, so i just plan on running what i have. My issue is as you know the cherokee runs an mechanical fan on the passenger side and a electric fan on drivers side, the wrangler motor has a mechanical fan in the center, I plan on running electric fans any how but need to know what is the better way to go on this, I have researched all over and do not like the big oversized ford t set up, i would like to keep it clean and proportioned to the radiator, i plan on making a shroud and would like to run two 10 inch fans next to the factory fan but do not know of which fans to run, I hear of alot of fans cutting out by getting overheated, I live in arizona and the heat is crazy hot here lol. what fans do you guys recomend?
Old 08-17-2016, 09:19 PM
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Also I can not find any build thread on wrangler 4.0 swaps into cherokees, I know I cant be the only one doing this.
Old 08-18-2016, 06:39 AM
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you've got a fair amount of work ahead of you. you probably dont want to hear this but you should sell the wrangler motor for a profit and get a cherokee motor.
Old 08-18-2016, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by XJRed96
you've got a fair amount of work ahead of you. you probably dont want to hear this but you should sell the wrangler motor for a profit and get a cherokee motor.

Ditto!!
Old 08-18-2016, 12:21 PM
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im already half way there lol no turning back now, I Ordered iron man motor mounts as my bosses were broke and they will be here tomorrow, gonna stab it and go from there, I swapped over the sensors, intake, all that looked different so far and will see what happens. I just don't know of the clearance I will have on the radiator to pullys on the wrangler set up
Old 08-18-2016, 12:37 PM
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not a post on this forum but it's still probably the same cruiser as on here. maybe he can chime in if he sees this

TJ/WJ 4.0L Engine blocks underwent clean sheet design changes effective in the 1999 WJ Grand and 2000 TJ Wrangler. These blocks are not interchangeable with XJ/ZJ engine blocks. The reason is motor mount bolt holes and belt driven accessory mounting bolt holes are in different locations, or not present at all, TJ/WJ vs. XJ/ZJ.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/4.../#post14017944

and also

Some hole locations are not drilled/tapped, and some simply have no material on the block for a hole to be located in. The swap can be accomplished, but is not worth the efffort.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/4.../#post14051860

you just have to be aware that even if you put much time into it, it's not a guarantee that in the end it will all work fine. i agree with what they said above, but live and learn!

it's not stuff that is nice to hear, but it's what will save you time in the end. it's like when someone lift their jeep and repair a ton of stuff only to discover the frame is rotten. it sucks to hear from people you don't know that you should ditch the shell and start fresh on a new jeep, but it's what is the most logical and in the end saves a ton of time and money.

Last edited by Cane; 08-18-2016 at 12:44 PM.
Old 08-18-2016, 02:00 PM
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Wow a lot of good info on there! Gonna take me a while to read through it all, I'll see what happens with this swap and go from there, hopefully smooth and if not I'll have a 4.0 for sale haha
Old 08-18-2016, 08:39 PM
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do you intend on running AC?
Old 08-18-2016, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Cane
not a post on this forum but it's still probably the same cruiser as on here. maybe he can chime in if he sees this


http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/4.../#post14017944

and also


http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/4.../#post14051860

you just have to be aware that even if you put much time into it, it's not a guarantee that in the end it will all work fine. i agree with what they said above, but live and learn!

it's not stuff that is nice to hear, but it's what will save you time in the end. it's like when someone lift their jeep and repair a ton of stuff only to discover the frame is rotten. it sucks to hear from people you don't know that you should ditch the shell and start fresh on a new jeep, but it's what is the most logical and in the end saves a ton of time and money.
Yup. Here is the whole enchilada.

XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand Cherokee 4.0L engine blocks interchange.

2000+ TJ Wrangler and WJ Grand Cherokee 4.0L engine blocks interchange.

XJ/ZJ blocks, and the 2000+ TJ/WJ blocks do not interchange without significant modifications. (1991 to 1995 YJ and 1997-1999 4.0L TJ Wrangler blocks will interchange in XJ/ZJ and visa-versa).

TJ/WJ 4.0L Engine blocks underwent clean sheet design changes effective in the 1999 WJ Grand and 2000 TJ Wrangler. These blocks are not interchangeable with XJ/ZJ engine blocks. The reason is motor mount bolt holes and belt driven accessory mounting bolt holes are in different locations, or not present at all, TJ/WJ vs. XJ/ZJ.


XJ: "Regular" (not Grand) Cherokees 84-01
ZJ: Grand Cherokee 93-98 (Gen1)
WJ: Grand Cherokee 99-04 (Gen2)
YJ: Wrangler 87-95 (Gen1)
TJ: Wrangler 97-06 (Gen2)
Old 08-19-2016, 07:20 PM
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Mounts are on, need to modify drivers side mount as ac compressor is in the way, we'll see what happens ��
Old 08-19-2016, 10:12 PM
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Yes xjred I do plan on running ac, I'm gonna go get the lines from the lj the engine came out of, should adapt I hope. Got the motor in tonight, gonna modify the mounts tomorrow and go from there.
Old 08-20-2016, 06:11 PM
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Mounts turned out good, Motor is in, got a fan clutch and was able to use the fan off the Cherokee motor, gonna build a shroud and put a pusher up front for the ac, looks like I will have plenty of room.
Old 08-23-2016, 09:32 PM
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Well alil update, got the motor started, ran good, started hearing lifter noise and found out I had no oil psi, removed the opda, all good there, I thought it had something to do with the Cherokee opda I put in it but it was the same length as the wrangler one, I removed the pan and replaced the oil pump, primed it and re ran the engine, has good oil pressure now and no more lifter noise! THANK GOD! I built the shroud and put a pusher up front and it works great!
Old 08-24-2016, 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by cruiser54
Yup. Here is the whole enchilada. XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand Cherokee 4.0L engine blocks interchange. 2000+ TJ Wrangler and WJ Grand Cherokee 4.0L engine blocks interchange. XJ/ZJ blocks, and the 2000+ TJ/WJ blocks do not interchange without significant modifications. (1991 to 1995 YJ and 1997-1999 4.0L TJ Wrangler blocks will interchange in XJ/ZJ and visa-versa). TJ/WJ 4.0L Engine blocks underwent clean sheet design changes effective in the 1999 WJ Grand and 2000 TJ Wrangler. These blocks are not interchangeable with XJ/ZJ engine blocks. The reason is motor mount bolt holes and belt driven accessory mounting bolt holes are in different locations, or not present at all, TJ/WJ vs. XJ/ZJ. XJ: "Regular" (not Grand) Cherokees 84-01 ZJ: Grand Cherokee 93-98 (Gen1) WJ: Grand Cherokee 99-04 (Gen2) YJ: Wrangler 87-95 (Gen1) TJ: Wrangler 97-06 (Gen2)
I actually just replaced my '89 Xj's motor for a rebuilt 94 YJ 4.0l and nothing as was the same. The flywheel were different. The intakes were different, the water pump, the fan, the fan pulley, the a/c compressor, the ignition coil, the bell housing shield. Everything was different. But! It was so worth it.
Old 08-24-2016, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by 1989MichJeep
I actually just replaced my '89 Xj's motor for a rebuilt 94 YJ 4.0l and nothing as was the same. The flywheel were different. The intakes were different, the water pump, the fan, the fan pulley, the a/c compressor, the ignition coil, the bell housing shield. Everything was different. But! It was so worth it.
Exactly what I ran into here, I didnt have any luck finding a cherokee motor here expecially one that has a good head on it as well. i actuallyl like the pully set up better on this motor, time will tell i guess


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