2000 Jeep TJ 318 5.2 Magnum Swap Build

Wildman said:
A lot of it depends on what transmission you are going to use. I'm sure you can do it without the body lift but in the long run IMO it makes more sense to have it. Plus I think it helps for exhaust clearance.


I think part of that depends on what size tires you're running and what you do with your rig. I've seen a Dana 35 break with a 4.0 and 31" tires so I'd not trust it for too long behind a V-8.
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I would not of wanted to do the swap without the body lift. Its easy and cheap enough to do, why not just do it as per AA recommendation. :) As you said, it DEFINITELY helps with clearance-makes things easier all around.

To comment on the second part of that, I disagree. People break D60s, D44s, anything. Its all on knowing how not to be a dumbass in my opinion. :) I beat on this TJ pretty hard, AND its on 35s-which the internet wizards said would shatter the Dana 35 instantly. It could last a long time, or 1 day. Kinda like people who talk about motors that are indestructible...there is always someone who manages to blow it up due to being a moron. Now in no way am I saying that the Dana 35 is a great axle, it is far from that. I just don't see a point in changing it until it breaks. (mainly just advice for Ephry73) It reminds me of how the internet world says the AX-5 is the weakest transmission in the world. I have in fact broken one with the weak 2.5L in the TJ...but then again, a good friend of mine who has a OM617 Benz swapped TJ and beats on that to the extreme and has yet to destroy his AX-5 he put behind it, because its simply what he has to use at the time of doing the swap. Crazy.
 
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Ephry73 said:
I have been re-reading the post as a great source of information. The 1" BL should be good if the airingal keg intake is being used is what I have gathered. Since I plan o running a different intake (lower) and shorty T headers I think I will be ok. Can't be sure until the time comes. I have been gathering parts and such waiting for the swap.
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Yeah I tried to make this build thread as detailed as possible to help others out in the future. Definitely get the 1" BL. I think it just made everything easier. I never wanted to beat the firewall in or any of that other shortcut crap just to reuse junk stock driveshafts, etc. Just did things that made sense to me. I am always hanging around for more questions also! I ended up ultimately parting this particular TJ out, rather than selling to someone else when my family grew with the addition to my 2nd daughter. I wouldn't have wanted to see someone drive off in it, so I parted it out, helped out a bunch of other TJ guys with good deals, and bought a JK with more room...now its on 37s and modified, because lets face it...its hard not to modify a Jeep ;) Ill always stick around for other questions though. :)
 
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Whitetrash said:
I would not of wanted to do the swap without the body lift. Its easy and cheap enough to do, why not just do it as per AA recommendation. :) As you said, it DEFINITELY helps with clearance-makes things easier all around.

To comment on the second part of that, I disagree. People break D60s, D44s, anything. Its all on knowing how not to be a dumbass in my opinion. :) I beat on this TJ pretty hard, AND its on 35s-which the internet wizards said would shatter the Dana 35 instantly. It could last a long time, or 1 day. Kinda like people who talk about motors that are indestructible...there is always someone who manages to blow it up due to being a moron. Now in no way am I saying that the Dana 35 is a great axle, it is far from that. I just don't see a point in changing it until it breaks. (mainly just advice for Ephry73) It reminds me of how the internet world says the AX-5 is the weakest transmission in the world. I have in fact broken one with the weak 2.5L in the TJ...but then again, a good friend of mine who has a OM617 Benz swapped TJ and beats on that to the extreme and has yet to destroy his AX-5 he put behind it, because its simply what he has to use at the time of doing the swap. Crazy.
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Yep I've broke the HP60 in the rear of my Jeep twice already so as you said ANYTHING can be broken. But IMO if you're going to the trouble of swapping a V-8 into your Jeep why would you want to keep a marginal axle in the rear? Sorry but I don't want to be out on a trail 20-40 miles from town or parts and break and then either have to leave my rig there and go get a new shaft or whatever I broke or have to be towed out if it can even move. And I've done the log strapped to the frame & axle so it can be towed before and I won't do that to others. So while you can run the Dana 35 as a short term fix IMO I wouldn't trust it for the type of trails I run.
 
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Whitetrash said:
Yeah I tried to make this build thread as detailed as possible to help others out in the future. Definitely get the 1" BL. I think it just made everything easier. I never wanted to beat the firewall in or any of that other shortcut crap just to reuse junk stock driveshafts, etc. Just did things that made sense to me. I am always hanging around for more questions also! I ended up ultimately parting this particular TJ out, rather than selling to someone else when my family grew with the addition to my 2nd daughter. I wouldn't have wanted to see someone drive off in it, so I parted it out, helped out a bunch of other TJ guys with good deals, and bought a JK with more room...now its on 37s and modified, because lets face it...its hard not to modify a Jeep ;) Ill always stick around for other questions though. :)
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The parts I got from you definitely helped brother.
 
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The 1" body lift absolutely helps with exhaust clearance and bell housing . I used an open air cleaner on the factory keg.

IMG_2053.jpg
 
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All great points here. Definitely taking notes. Since I don't foresee doing any major wheeling (other than just rough terrain for camping, or the like) in the near future, I will stick with the AX-15 and a super Dana 35 in the rear. I'm on 33'" tires and with my current lift it is staying like that for a while. Main reason for the swap is to get better output and reliability especially since my 4.0 motor is very high mileage already and will kick the can soon
 
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I just sold a throttle body about 5 months ago. If you GO BIG I've got a 4 barrel 1200 cfm throttle body.

Why is the manifold gold? You can buy the AirGap from Hughes Engines.
 
Wildman said:
I just sold a throttle body about 5 months ago. If you GO BIG I've got a 4 barrel 1200 cfm throttle body.

Why is the manifold gold? You can buy the AirGap from Hughes Engines.
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They currently show out of stock. Been like that for a bit. Bigger TB wouldn't be a bad idea, specially if I go with the torquer camshaft.
 
Ephry73 said:
They currently show out of stock. Been like that for a bit. Bigger TB wouldn't be a bad idea, specially if I go with the torquer camshaft.
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I haven't been watching so I didn't know they were out of stock.

The TB I have is an off brand job that I got for $150 off Ebay.
 
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1614045882249.png



Found the info for it:

MAP: LS style MAP sensor (Part Number: 12614970)
TPS: PCE366.1009 (Use PCE366.1010 when using PCE366.1009)
IAC: PCE108.1001


It sells for $165 on Ebay. PM me your address and I'll send it to you in a flat rate box thru the USPS. If you can use it give me what you think it's worth.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1200-Cfm-4-...oAAOSwFAteotF0
 
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Whitetrash said:
Well, last night the engine was placed in its final resting place! Sorry for the poor lighting, my garage doesn’t have the best of lighting, so to take the pictures we used my buddys light bar on his 360 swapped TJ. Just glad to have it in there! Now for all the small stuff, clutch/flywheel, driveshafts, installing trans and T case, etc. but at least the engine is in there now! Super excited!!
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I’ll try to get some better pictures up this weekend!
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loving the build. I just picked up a 98 jeep grand Cherokee with the 5.2 to put into my 98 tj. My tj was a 2.5 manual but gona convert it to auto using the gc trans. I was wondering how did you find the motor mount placement on the frame? Im ordering the kit from advance adapters.
 
wickedjeeping said:
loving the build. I just picked up a 98 jeep grand Cherokee with the 5.2 to put into my 98 tj. My tj was a 2.5 manual but gona convert it to auto using the gc trans. I was wondering how did you find the motor mount placement on the frame? Im ordering the kit from advance adapters.
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The mounts from AA have little dowel pins on them that fit into little holes on the frame on each side. Youll see when you get the mounts. :)
 
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Whitetrash said:
The mounts from AA have little dowel pins on them that fit into little holes on the frame on each side. Youll see when you get the mounts. :)
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awesome thanks for the info. Im gona try and use the zj engine and trans harness bc I gona convert it to auto. hoping I can just get away with plugging tj dash harness into zj ecm. I have to start tearing down the zj this week so I can pull motor. your thread is definitely going to help
 
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