teamxj

I've been searching for a while on here to see if the renix block and the H.O. block is the same but found nothing yet, the motor blew in my 94 XJ and I have a 89 wagoneer with a good motor, so can I use the renix block with the H.O. head and intake ext and make a H.O. motor ?

4wdparakeet

Yup there are a few things you'll need to switch but it works.




Parakeet

cruiser54

You can use the whole motor.

The following is for Renix into HO but it works the other way, too.

Make sure to use your flywheel and the intake gasket for the manifold used.

Cruiser’s HO into Renix Swap

This swap is easier than some will lead you to believe, generally those who have never done it. Those of us who have done it, like myself, will share with you the things that need to be done for a successful swap. Just think of it as swapping in a long block.

The HO and Renix have some differences but none that can’t be overcome very easily.

Any HO engine from an XJ or ZJ through 1999 can be used. One running change was that the rear of the head was no longer drilled and tapped for the temperature gauge sender beginning in the 96 model year. The sender can be relocated to the threaded hole in the thermostat housing taken from the HO engine. You’ll have to extend the wire to that location. Some brave souls even drill and tap the HO head for the sender.

You will be using the intake and exhaust manifolds from your Renix, along with all your sensors and wiring. Since the intake ports of the HO are slightly different, you use the Renix gasket. Exhaust ports are identical.
You will need to use your Renix distributor as it is different than the HO because they use different fuel management systems. The flywheel or flexplate from the Renix must be used so your CPS gets the correct signals. The valve cover from the Renix allows you to keep your CCV system intact and requires no modifications.

The HO block will have a plug in the coolant galley on the driver’s side of the block, closest to the front, which needs to be removed so your Coolant Temp Sensor can be installed in it’s place just as it is on the Renix. It requires a 5/16” square drive or a modified 3/8” drive that has been ground down to fit. Do this before installing the engine.

As for the knock sensor, which is located just above the oil pan on the driver’s side of the engine about mid way, all the blocks I’ve seen are threaded for it. If not, I’ve heard they may be drilled but not tapped. Tap the hole if that’s the case.


Revised 03/28/13

teamxj

Ok that's a lot of help that's a lot, I did find a XJ that I bought for the motor it's a 91 2 door with the HO and it's been rebuilt with 20k on it so I'm going to put it in my 94 and call it a day , is there anything I should do/change/look for win doing the swap ? I am doing the 00/01 XJ intake and PS swap and the injector swap and I have a bigger TB and a TB spacer, the plain is to put on a turbo later after I work out all the bugs of doing the swap

cruiser54

That should be VERY straight forward.

teamxj

Ok thanks for all the help

hbracing13

What about the coil? On the ho motors in attached to the block and renix is not the pass fender. The only reason I ask is because I just noticed that not since I'm swapping in my 89 renix block in a 99 and noticed that. Should a make a bracket so that it some what in the same location?

PDEM87

Just use the coil and mount from the 99. The short blocks are interchangable. The only difference is a slightly different cam profile which has a little more lift on the renix version.

cruiser54

A bracket would be fine.

cruiser54

Actually, the cams were the same through the mid to late 90s.

Outlaw Star

Heres a link to some info I used when designing my stroker and camshaft http://www.jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/tech_specs.html

cruiser54

That's the one I was remembering.