Engine Or Transmission?

[Latamir Laroux]

First of all I am so glad to be back to the forum. Life got super busy and weird and now I can focus once again on my personal life and my YJ.

I have a bad left knee that needs to be replace but I am "too young" by VA rules. I loves my clutch, but I love less pain more lol.
The old 4.0 is about to give up on me so I have two solutions and I am asking for opinions on which is the lesser of the two evils.

I have two donor vehicles 1)XJ with a 4.0 and a AW4 2) Dodge 1500 ram with a 318 and TF999

The XJ's 4.0 is easy to install but the Transmission has a control unit that has to be graphed in. The TF999 is easy to install but the 318 would be more difficult to install.

So, which would you pick to install?

I plan on gathering all parts for this install as well as a new lift kit, SYE, and other stuff and in April or May I plan to do a full frame of job.

 

[TerryMason]

My vote is for a TJ upgrade!

Seriously though, I don't have any input on your question, other than to say take a bunch of pictures, and start a build thread in the Jeep Builds section.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

v8 for ease of install. Novak has motor mount adapters for $220.

 

[Latamir Laroux]

Yea the actual mounting and install wont be that hard for either I am more concerned about the wiring.

 

[superj]

There is a page on doing the xj auto trans install into a yj. Guy makes it look really easy, too. Google that and see how that seems

 

[Latamir Laroux]

I am half way temped to go the hard way all the way around the 318 and the AW4. That way I get a v8 and a good overdrive for the road.

 

[0III0forlife]

The 5.2L would get my vote. A lot more low end grunt, more bang for the buck if you ask me. Either trans is good. AW4 if you are on the street more, TF999 if you are not.

I am contemplating the swap up to a 5.2L once my 4.2L gets tired.

 

[Latamir Laroux]

The decision has been made. I was looking over my shelf of motors and noticed I had a engine from a CJ7 with a cracked block, but the crank and rods are good. So, I will stroke a 4.0 to a 4.6, port polish the head, add a header, exhaust, larger TB, and other upgrades, and put the AW4 in.

 

[superj]

to the 4.6? i had the 4.5 in my 87, it was ok with a carb but with fuel injection, i bet it will fly