Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

2001 TJ Inline 6 Swap

Rory

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Messages
14
Location
Tampa
I have a 2001 TJ with I-4 in it, and recently just bought a 2003 Rubicon as a donor rig. Plan on taking the axles/engine/trans/pcm etc. is there anything i would need to buy to do the engine swap besides the motor mounts? And also, would love any recommendations for where to find them or anything else I might need. I know everyone says just do the V8 swap, or sell the 4 cylinder and fix the 6. But this jeep has a lot of sentimental value to me, and would like to keep it, and just spice it up. (Plus, I got the Rubicon for a good deal)

Thank you in advanced for any tips/help.
 
I have a 2001 TJ with I-4 in it, and recently just bought a 2003 Rubicon as a donor rig. Plan on taking the axles/engine/trans/pcm etc. is there anything i would need to buy to do the engine swap besides the motor mounts? And also, would love any recommendations for where to find them or anything else I might need. I know everyone says just do the V8 swap, or sell the 4 cylinder and fix the 6. But this jeep has a lot of sentimental value to me, and would like to keep it, and just spice it up. (Plus, I got the Rubicon for a good deal)

Thank you in advanced for any tips/help.

You’ll need to take the dash and engine harness from the Rubi too. This way you’ll get the O/D switch. You’ll want to re-loom the engine harness. You can stagger and splice the four fuel pump wires after the TCase along the rail.

You might plan to re-locate the locker air pumps to get them out of the TCase skid. 🤔
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood
honestly I'm not sure it wouldn't be easier to just tub swap your 2001 onto the Rubicon. The only thing left of your 2001 would be the tub and the interior but it'll still LOOK like your Jeep.
 
honestly I'm not sure it wouldn't be easier to just tub swap your 2001 onto the Rubicon. The only thing left of your 2001 would be the tub and the interior but it'll still LOOK like your Jeep.
I would but that frame is shot on the Rubicon, to the point where I wouldn't want to try to tackle it
 
  • Like
Reactions: freedom_in_4low
You’ll need to take the dash and engine harness from the Rubi too. This way you’ll get the O/D switch. You’ll want to re-loom the engine harness. You can stagger and splice the four fuel pump wires after the TCase along the rail.

You might plan to re-locate the locker air pumps to get them out of the TCase skid. 🤔

The Rubicon is a manual, with a brand-new trans. And I'm like 80% it has Eletronic lockers, could be wrong though I'm not too familiar.
 
I would but that frame is shot on the Rubicon, to the point where I wouldn't want to try to tackle it

Ok, well to my knowledge the engine mounts are in a different place on the frame, so you'll need to be able to locate and weld the 4.0 ones onto the frame in the right place and cut the 4cyl horns off.

If you're planning to use the Rubicon transfer case I'm not sure what you need to do with the belly skid. The 2004 skid won't mount to the 2001 frame and I believe the 241 was the driver behind changing the skid to begin with, so I suspect there may be a clearance issue with the 241 and the 2001 skid.

Everything else should pretty much be bolt-on, there's just a lot of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
The Rubicon is a manual, with a brand-new trans. And I'm like 80% it has Eletronic lockers, could be wrong though I'm not too familiar.

Ok on the manual. You’re still going to need the wiring for the Rubi locker switches, so you need the dash harness. So nothing really changed from my post. You need all those harnesses.

The Rubi lockers have an electrical component that tells the air pump to turn on to engage the locker inside the diff. The pump is located on the TCase skid toward the rear on the drivers side.

As far as the TCase skid, the holes are in different spots on the frame rails. You’ll have to figure that out. Black Magic Brakes has the nutserts, but remember the 97-02 are different size than 03-06.
 
Ok, well to my knowledge the engine mounts are in a different place on the frame, so you'll need to be able to locate and weld the 4.0 ones onto the frame in the right place and cut the 4cyl horns off.

If you're planning to use the Rubicon transfer case I'm not sure what you need to do with the belly skid. The 2004 skid won't mount to the 2001 frame and I believe the 241 was the driver behind changing the skid to begin with, so I suspect there may be a clearance issue with the 241 and the 2001 skid.

Everything else should pretty much be bolt-on, there's just a lot of it.

Didn't think of the skid plate, good to know thank you. Do you know any good places where i could find the motor mounts.
 
Ok on the manual. You’re still going to need the wiring for the Rubi locker switches, so you need the dash harness.

The Rubi lockers have an electrical component that tells the air pump to turn on to engage the locker inside the diff. The pump is located on the TCase skid toward the rear on the drivers side.

Okay good to know, I will have to look into that. Thanks :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT
How about the rubicon frame? If you have the room you could pull both front ends while they are next to each other. Pull the engines and start measuring for what is needed.

that's definitely the way to do it. My TJ to LJ swap would have been a massive PITA if I hadn't pulled them both into my garage side by side. And that was just suspension, axles, transfer case, winch and bumper, didn't touch the engines or the harnesses.
 
How about the rubicon frame? If you have the room you could pull both front ends while they are next to each other. Pull the engines and start measuring for what is needed.

Yeah you know I guess that one went right over my head. LOL
 
that's definitely the way to do it. My TJ to LJ swap would have been a massive PITA if I hadn't pulled them both into my garage side by side. And that was just suspension, axles, transfer case, winch and bumper, didn't touch the engines or the harnesses.

When I use to do frames for the body shop. I would back it into the bay then unbolt the body, raise the body up then transfer all the suspension, motor and trans over to the new frame sitting the next bay over. Then I would roll the new chassis over and drop the body onto it. Day and a half to two days total time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NashvilleTJ
I don't know if there is fuel pressure differences between the two years and motors. You should probably swap fuel tanks and fuel lines.all electrical too.

I would approach this as a frame off build. Take the body off both jeeps.it will go so much faster and easier if you find a friend with a tractor or a-frame to lift the tubs off.Then start with the drivetrain and fuel system swaps. People put np241's in older jeeps so I don't think you'll need the skid.look up threads where guys swap them into older tj's.

Once the welding and everything drivetrain is swapped and bolted in the way you find it on the rusticon I would start the electrical harness and evap swap. Basically everything from the rusticon tub.take lots and lots of pictures of how everything is routed as you go to the point you think it's rediculous.especially the electrical in the dashes.

Rubi's didn't come with ABS so now would be the time to get new non-abs lines for the Dana 44's if yours has abs. it is an easy job.especially with the tubs off.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: NashvilleTJ
I kinda 4.0 swapped my 4.0 Jeep...my 97 got totalled...bent frame and tub. Got a 99 4 cylinder tub and swapped the engine/transmission/harness/PCM/cluster + interior over. The 99's dash was cleaner than mine and I removed the plastic and painted the metal frame to keep it that way. I used my engine mounts from my 97 frame.


-Mac
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts