00+ Engine/PCM into a 97-99?

[Yoda]

Hi guys, 1st post here. I was an active XJ guy for a number of years, then played with a 1st gen 4Runner, had some kids....and here I am.

I have my eye on a 97-99 Sahara. Its sitting in a field so I don't know the specifics, but it has Gambler wheels which I think were only on 97-99's. It hasn't run in 10+ years so the things that concern me most are:

1. Mice ate everything.
2. Motor is seized.
3. Frame is toast.

Thinking a bit ahead, I'd love to have a distributorless ignition system on there. If I swapped the 00+ harness, PCM, and related bits....would it be plug and play with a 97-99? Would it connect to the firewall and make all the gauges operate correctly?

This is more of a nice to have than a must have, but I'm curious. This will be a father/son project and I'd like to add some modern bells and whistles if it doesn't break the bank. Thanks!

 

[CharlesHS]

The '00 PCM and engine into a 97-99 will be more trouble that it's worth.
Wiring harness, sensors, distributor less ignition.... and more...

 

[Yoda]

The '00 PCM and engine into a 97-99 will be more trouble that it's worth.
Wiring harness, sensors, distributor less ignition.... and more...

Sorry, I had a typo in the header. I meant 00+ Engine PCM + harness into a 97-99. Not Engine and PCM. Whoops

 

[CharlesHS]

I believe there is a different type of communications on the earlier TJs then the later TJs.
I donot believe the later PCM is compatible with earlier TJs even with the harness.
The sensors are different along with other problems.

 

[CharlesHS]

IIRC the PCMs are 97-99, 00-02, 03/04 and 05/06 depending upon transmission and SKIM enabled.

 

[Yoda]

Thanks guys. I was thinking of going DIS just for the fun of it....but it doesn't look fun or worth it. A distributor will be just fine.

 

[Wildman]

As others explained trying to change the engine to distributor less would not be that easy. The PCM & dash talk to each other in two different ways.

Wrangler
				Year	Bus	Engines
				1996
				1997	CCD	2.5L, 4.0L
				1998	CCD	2.5L, 4.0L
				1999	CCD	2.5L, 4.0L
				2000	CCD	2.5L, 4.0L
				2001	PCI	2.5L, 4.0L
				2002	PCI	2.5L, 4.0L
				2003	PCI	2.4L, 4.0L
				2004	PCI	2.4L, 4.0L
				2005	PCI	2.4L, 4.0L
				2006	PCI	2.4L, 4.0L