Engine swap or better options?

[Aaron252016]

Hello, with the recent floods over in Florida my jeep got the worst of it, it didn't get into the air intake and I thought I got out of it pretty well but I just found out one of my engine cylinders is cracked and is misfiring... I have put a lot of hours into my truck and I really don't want to sell it, my mechanic told me not to fix the issue directly because it's an engine with 200k miles. I'm thinking about just swapping it out with a 4.0 (it's currently a 2.5L). I'm guessing with labor it'll be around 5k? I recently spent 3k on a new ac, radiator and brake lines.
Is this the best option? I really don't want to just cut my losses and sell it as is.

 

[Wildman]

Hello, with the recent floods over in Florida my jeep got the worst of it, it didn't get into the air intake and I thought I got out of it pretty well but I just found out one of my engine cylinders is cracked and is misfiring... I have put a lot of hours into my truck and I really don't want to sell it, my mechanic told me not to fix the issue directly because it's an engine with 200k miles. I'm thinking about just swapping it out with a 4.0 (it's currently a 2.5L). I'm guessing with labor it'll be around 5k? I recently spent 3k on a new ac, radiator and brake lines.
Is this the best option? I really don't want to just cut my losses and sell it as is.

What year is your TJ?

If you do a search on engine swaps you'll find a ton of information. Honestly IMO if you're going to do an engine swap you're better off going with a V-8. To swap a 4.0 into your rig it's about the same amount of work to swap in the V-8. And you'll really be a lot happier with the V-8.

You V-8 options are:
1) Dodge Magnum V-8 either 5.2 or 5.9
2) Hemi- 5.7 or 6.1 or 6.4 but it's $$$$$$
3) Chevy LS 5.3 or 6.0 or 6.2

The Dodge Magnum V-8 was used in Ram trucks, Dakota trucks & Durango SUV's. It was also used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The nice thing about them is that it's fairly simple to blend the two wiring harnesses and the V-8 PCM can talk to the TJ's dash so you don't need aftermarket gauges.

The Hemi is a more expensive swap but it's a newer engine and has more power. You can get a wiring harness made for this swap.

Chevy LS is a popular swap and has a lot of aftermarket support. To make it work you either need to replace the gauges or run two PCM's for the stock gauges to work.

Edit: And if you're paying to have the work done you're going to be shocked at what it will cost to have even a 4.0 swapped into your Jeep. For any of these swaps you're going to need:

1) New transmission
2) New transfer case or input gear
3) New motor mounts
4) New radiator- Might not for the 4.0
5) New wiring harness or blend in the needed wiring
6) New exhaust

And a ton of other items.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

I am not advocating 4.0/stroker swap (Magnum V8 would be my choice) but I wouldn't say it's the SAME amount of work as a V8. Close, but a little less. Wiring would basically be plug and along with a lot of other accessories, bits, and bobs. Still @OP, you are looking at welding in New motor mounts to the frame to put a 4.0 in it, so at that point, why not V8?

 

[CajunJeepNate]

If you were happy with the 2.5, then replace it with another 2.5. This is the cheapest option.

 

[Rickyd]

If you're paying for the work it will cost a ton and take a long time if you can even find a shop to do a swap for you.its a lot of hours to gut the drivetrain and correctly install and troubleshoot another.

4.0l swap you'd be best finding a 4.0l jeep to part out.

V8 swap get ready for 10k$ or much more.r2.8l cummins would be sweet too and also spendy

Paying to have work done I'd choose a 2.5l.

 

[Chris]

I'd say it just depends on how deep your pockets are and how much you love your TJ.

 

[GregBelleville]

If you have comprehensive (aka other than collision) insurance coverage that may cover the engine damage if it was related to the flooding. I realize with these cars getting older tho that a lot of people won't have physical damage coverage on these cars any longer.

 

[Wildman]

I am not advocating 4.0/stroker swap (Magnum V8 would be my choice) but I wouldn't say it's the SAME amount of work as a V8. Close, but a little less. Wiring would basically be plug and along with a lot of other accessories, bits, and bobs. Still @OP, you are looking at welding in New motor mounts to the frame to put a 4.0 in it, so at that point, why not V8?

I did say it was ABOUT the same amount of work. Yes the 4.0 wiring harness is already made so all you have to do is change it. Once you've blended the Dodge & Jeep harness same thing.

And yes it's going to cost a pretty penny to have the swap done. When I did my swap in 2006 I paid to have the V-8 put in at the time. And it was over $10K but I'd added a lot of extra parts too.

 

[Aaron252016]

Thank you all for your responses so far, it's a 1998, and I really don't have the time and space to do it anymore unfortunately so I would have to pay someone to do it.

 

[Aaron252016]

If you were happy with the 2.5, then replace it with another 2.5. This is the cheapest option.

Yeah I don't mind swapping for another 2.5 but I just think for the price I'm paying, I might as well add a couple extra horsepower no?

 

[Wildman]

Read this thread. They got a remanufactured 2.5 engine.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/finally-found-a-remanufactured-engine.61758/page-4#post-1306342
Again swapping in even a 4.0 isn't going to be inexpensive.