If you want different go diesel the 6.2/6.5 uses small block motor mounts.You could go toyota v8 or a twin turbo v6.

 

My range should be lower. I basically inherited the Ram. I plan to do a mild rebuild (high mile engine, possible head gasket issue), so it won't exactly be free... But still pretty low $.

If I hand't fallen into the deal on the Hemi, I would have went LS. But since I did, I want to use it.

 

good luck and im excited to see it
What other plans for the build if you do it?

 

Honestly not much else. I already put on 235/75/15 Goodyear Dura-Tracs on Soft 8s, updated the brakes and shocks.

If did a lot of mods and some serious wheeling (Clifs, Badlands, Redbird, etc) with my Wranglers. I don't think I will be so aggressive with this Jeep. Keep it capable, but street oriented.

Maybe bumpers for clearance.

I really like how it drives as is, I just want a bit more power.

 

have you seen jrozar's jeep cherokee well rounded square build? If you want to keep it mild at least in looks you could do some of the things he's done.

 

Goodluck with the build, have you started a thread for it already ?

 

No, it is the same as chevy BIG block... and an absolute POS. My DD for 7 years was a 6.2 Dsl Chev van with a 454 swapped in. I did the swap.

 

I actually have wrapped my head around this one and even was half way to dropping in a hemi in my Xj when I watched a video of a Russian guy with a 6.1 hemi in his 2 dr xj. I can get the motor out of my local u-pull-it (Wrecked SRT8 GC) for $500 and get a full size dodge ram trans and tcase to throw behind it. But once I started lining up the costs it was just ridiculous as to how much I would have to spend for the wiring/ecu/trannybrain/custom trans mount and motor mounts, plus custom radiator setup and tranny cooler. Not only that but having to create your own gauge cluster because everything for those is electric, I mean the Holley learning system is nice but would you seriously dump $2100 on a harness and ecu? Anyways moving on down the line once all of this is done and say we do use the holley learning system, we are talking if your lucky and find a 6.1 or 392 in a u-pull-it or else plan to spend atleast $3500 just on the motor. In the end with all that goes into this is what the costs go into this swap.

6.1-392 Engine - $500 at a u-pull-it if you can find one or $3500+ elsewhere
2005+ Ram Trans and Transfer case at u-pull-it. $600-750
Wiring harness from donor vehicle - $100 a u-pull-it
Wiring harness from Holley with ECU - $2100 minimum
Custom Gauge Cluster - $300-400 depending on what you buy (Speedo,Tach,Oil,Volt,Gas,etc)
Mounts and Cross member if you do it yourself - Cost of steel :P
Radiator and Fans $300ish maybe $450 depending on how you do it.
Modification to the Tunnel to allow the transmission to fit - Depends on how good you are with metal.
Getting custom driveshafts $250 for front and probably same for rear.
Also doing this swap could end up in your divorce :P Calculate in half of your stuff as well.

Now for a logical man to do this for a MUCH easier swap instead of wanting all that HP he can get a 5.7 hemi out of a durango grab the tranny and t-case and all the wiring front to back and the gauge cluster and any other dudad that is need. Strip his current wiring out of the XJ. Put everything in place. Modify the dash slightly to accommodate the new gauge cluster. Create a painless wiring system for your heating and cooling needs. Also make sure to have a work around for the theft lock system in the ECU. get the drive shafts and also not have to modify the tunnel much other than a few gentle movements to the tunnel with the good ol' BFH. Custom mounts and crossmember and be less likely to have a divorce and commence to rebadging your Cherokee to Cherango and have spent maybe $3000 on everything and have a mild hp cherokee with a 5.7 hemi. Now the Reason I bring up taking everything out of a durango is because well it has everything you need motor/trans/t-case that has driver side drop, not only that the wiring to make it run and shift is actually very very simple and doesn't require much, plus you can get bored and put most of the wiring in and then have the ability to put a tuner in your jeep for a durango and be able to gain some ponies. Holy cow its 3am and I started writing this at 2am lol anyways food for thought for those actually wanting to do this.

Also think of the money you save going that route and where you can put that extra cash in the programmer and also a centrifugal supercharger kit and put some pretty nice numbers down.

Anyways good night

 

I looked up his thread. Well done! I got about 1/2 way through but will read the rest when I get time!

Makes me wish I had ponied up for Bilsteins. I had them on my 97, and OMEs on my 03 Rubi. Good shocks are worth the money. But I cheaped out and got some parts store units... I was still thinking budget winter vehicle... Not Hemi swapped beast... LOL

I did pony up for good Black Magic brakes. Also on all my Jeeps so far.

Holy poop dude! Good rant! Time to ease off the caffeine I think!

If I could get an SRT8 Hemi for $500, I would grab it! Should be able to sell it on line for way more!

I scored a deal on some 6.2 GM L92s (all aluminum truck version of an LS3) years back. Lets just say it was a good investment!

Anyway, I think some of you missed the part where I said:
A-I would keep the original NV3550 (5 speed manual trans)
B-I have a donor ram with the 5.7 for crazy cheap.

As far as gages go, I still hold on to the hope of tying into the stockers. If that doesn't happen running aftermarket is no big deal.

I'm not under the false impression that it will be "cheap", but with the low cost of the Cherokee initially, I could have a bad *** V-8 XJ for far less than a comparable TJ of JK.

Like I said. I dig this Jeep. It just needs some power. Could make for a fun daily driver, I don't have to go crazy on big axles, drive shafts etc. If I drive with some sanity, and the stock parts will survive.

 

Hemi engines are WIDE. Much wider than any LS. Packaging the engine into the chassis would be by far be the biggest challenge. Keeping the headers out of the driveshaft, steering, frame rails...ect

This is why Novak doesn't recommend the swap, nor carry any parts to do so.

 

True story. Though I think the electronics were part of Novak's hesitation to use MOPAR stuff. I realize the GM LS engine has superior packaging and aftermarket support.

The donor truck is 2 hours north of me at the moment, or I would do some measuring.

I was hoping for some specifics on what exactly would interfere. I am concerned about just that: the width and exhaust clearance.

 

Here y'all go!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFgMie8UFdc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OgSvWVlq3o