Need Everyones Opinion on a TJ Engine Swap.

[jeepin916]

Hey everyone, I have finally saved up enough money for an engine swap into my TJ, but now i am in a little predicament. At first i wanted to swap in a V8, and i decided that i wanted to do a dodge 360, but now i was looking over how its going to be a pain in the butt to do all the wireing and keeping with original emissions components.
I have red into a 4.7 stroker for the jeep 4.0 engines and like the idea of them but i still wan tthe power of a V8, The 4.7 would be easier all around to install there would be no extra adapters, no wireing problems and dont have to make the harness, i can keep all my original components and i heard that a 4.7 can produce the power of a V8. Is the power of a V8 in a jeep really going to be necessary?.. or should i stick with the simpler project of a 4.7?
Problem is now that i have the money i dont know what to do, is it worth the time and energy to but a V8 and install it?.... or should i weld in the mounts for the 4.0 and build a 4.7? i allready have a computer for the 4.0 engine and i allready have a 4.2 crank and internals to start the 4.7... i just DONT KNOW WHAT I WANT.......... PLEASE HELP

 

[Snitty]

i would WITHOUT a doubt go with the AMC stroker... it is such a bad ass mod... i've been getting parts together for a while for it... i have the crank and rods... just need the time and seals

 

[jeepin916]

well correct me if im wrong the stroker consists of the 258 crank, either 242 or 258 rods and all others from the 4.0 including heads and intake and stuff? of course ill be puttin in a preformance cam.

 

[west747]

even tho the 4.7 stroker sounds like a really cool mod nothin beats the sound of a v-8....if you have the time, money and know how i would go with a v8 swap. i would use a sm 350 tho :lol: good luck

 

[Utah_jeepster]

pound for pound and gas the 4.7 stroker kit will give you the extra power needed to do anything in your jeep. From throwing sand to climbing the nastiest trails at Moab.

 

[jeepin916]

thats what im leaning towards now the 4.7, there too much work in a v8 swap that i dont have time for.
the small block 350 will be a pain, computer and all that stuff has to be hooked up to pass emissions and safety in NY and no one can tell me how i can go about hooking up the airbag and keeping street legal emissions, the wireing will be a nightmare and ill have to fab up trans mounts and some how make a return line for the fuel for the V8 since jeep likes to use returnless fuel for emissions purpose, ahhhh seems like the 4.7 is looking pretty good right about now, i got about 2k to spend so i hope i spend it wisely hehe

 

[Snitty]

well correct me if im wrong the stroker consists of the 258 crank, either 242 or 258 rods and all others from the 4.0

it uses the 258 rods.. and most of the time, the crank needs some modification

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

What engine is in your TJ now?

 

[firemanharry]

STROKE IT!!!

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Two words, HEMI TJ :twisted:

 

[jeepin916]

i got the 4 banger in my TJ now but i can ahve mounts welded for the 6 cyl but for the cost between the v8 and the 4.7 build it would deffinatly be cheaper to do the 4.7. also theres alot of modification that ill have to be doing on allmost everything for the V8

 

[Snitty]

well.. if you want to do the 4.7... you'll need to have machine work done, and you'll need new pistons... if you want to do it right, you should also have the rotating mass balanced, replace the bearings, seals, and all gaskets... i doubt that a correctly done stroker would be cheaper than a v8

 

[jeepin916]

well the stroker kit is alittle over 600 bucks that includes pistons crank rods gaskets seals and an oil pump all i have to do is get the block bored .030, and maybe get the deck milled and the head milled. but i was planing on using the crank out of the 258 that i have getting that balanced while the block i have is getting cut, and buying the pistons and cam, everything else is stock from the 4.0 block, except for the fuel injectors, and im going to get 32lb/hr injectors from a mustang,

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

I still think it would cost the same, or less, to do the v8. Either way you're looking at replacing the transmission and possibly the transfer case.

Have you considered any other engine types, like the 4.3L V6? Or are you limiting yourself to the 4.7L because you already have the 4.0L block?

 

[jeepin916]

im not limiting myself im just trying to keep it simple i dont want to mess with all the wiring harness and all that stuff, i have a 97 TJ and i need to keep all factory airbags and emissions ezuipment in the vehical and it needs to pass both safety and emissions test every year, if i go to a V8 ill lose my airbag, and emissions might not pass.

anyway wiht the v8 ill have to still get a trans and a transfercase,and i figured that the 4.0 was alot easier to install

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Well, your new engine will have to be '97 or newer in order to pass emissions, and have all the factory emissions equipment in place. Contrary to popular belief, the 4.0L will not just plug right into the 2.5L jeep by simply adding a 4.0L engine wiring harness. You'll need a computer to match the engine, and there will be a lot of splicing to get the sensors matched up. Hence the argument that it's going to be about the same cost and aggravation regardless of which engine you switch to.

Check your local emissions laws, some are as picky as allowing only engines that would have been built in that model vehicle, so you'd be stuck with the 4.0L engine.

I've put a 350 in a YJ before, my 'ole 88 Laredo. It was a carbed engine, and I wasn't in an area that required emissions testing, so it was fairly simple. If I had to do it today, I'd put in a newer GM 4.3L Vortec V6 (easy to mod for gobs of power, lighter than a v8) or, really dreaming here, the all aluminum 4.2L I6 from a TrailBlazer or Envoy that puts out 275 HP stock :shock: The GM 4.2L is smaller and lighter than the 4.0L, with about 100 more HP.

 

[LadyJeepFreak]

WAhooooooooooooooooooooooo HEMI! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[jeepin916]

hmmmm we got that rule about having the only engine that came with the year model or the vehical also but i dont know how stiff they are with but i dotn want to take a chance with it,

 

[Snitty]

yeah... if you are paying 600 for the stroker kit, you'll still need about 300 in machine/balance work... you can find a carbed 350 with trans/case for less than 600 itself

 

[jeepin916]

i cant use a carbed 350 what ever i use has to be newer than 97 its a law here in NY, snitty