Help with 97 TJ SE 5.9 project

[lostintime]

So last weekend I bought a 97 tj from a guy that advertised it as a 2000. I knew right away that it wasn’t a 2000 after driving two hours to look at it. But I bought it anyways. It already had the 5.9 sitting in the frame. Front motor mounts and trans mount already welded in.

Now my first concern was the rear trans support. I have not seen anywhere this mount before. It has One mount on each side by the frame with one bolt through on each side. At the front drive shaft it has a loop that goes over top of the drive shaft. Has anyone ever seen this type of rear mount before and who makes it?

Next the transfer case seems to sit too high putting extreme angles on the driveshaft. No driveshaft yet still have to get one. The Jeep has either a 3 or 4” lift on it and 1.5” body lift with 33s on it.

It is a work in progress as the person I bought it from had it for 9 months sitting the way I bought it as the previous owner gave up on it. I paid more than I should have for it but the front fenders were almost perfect with just a couple of surface rust spots. I needed the fenders for my 98 to get it on the road again.

Now back to the 97. It came with brand new headers, brand new aluminum three core rad and new electric fan. It came with a brand new adjustable front trac bar, new vibrant performance cat. New three inch in and out stainless muffler but no other exhaust. The Jeep harness is there to the eco, no engine harness and no dodge harness for the engine. 2 ecms and both are for a 4.0l. It has a brand new Adams rear driveshaft with the proper yoke on the back of the transfer case but it is way too short the way the transfer case is sitting.

Well like I said it is a work in progress but I need to know about the trans mount to get that right before I proceed. Any help would be great

 

[Chris]

I think pictures would help tremendously.

There are a number of people here who have done 5.9 swaps including @RangerRick (who is always the first to come to mind).

Hopefully one of them will chime in, as they'll be way more help than I'll be.

 

[pcoplin]

My first V8 was a 5.9 in my TJ.

That style of rear mount is fine if the front are hard poly like the AA donut style engine mounts.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[lostintime]

I’m planning on dropping the back down about 1” as look at the angles the driveshaft has to be

 

[lostintime]

Does anyone know who lakes this rear mount? Does the transfer case not look like it is sitting too high?

 

[billiebob]

Transfer case looks great tucked up high, flat belly look.

I'd lift the motor to change the angle.
Only comment on the tranny mount is the lack of thought process to center the drive shaft in the hoop. That is only cosmetic but it is an indication of the thought process with everything else.

Very cool tho. The 5.9 is a way better engine than the hemi. And I was close to putting a 5.9 in mine when I put in a new 4.0L last year.

So did this start life as an SE ??

 

[lostintime]

Yes this started as a se. why would you want the transfer case tucked up so high? Raising the front of the engine will not give me the angles that I would like but dropping the transfer case would

 

[billiebob]

Yes this started as a se. why would you want the transfer case tucked up so high? Raising the front of the engine will not give me the angles that I would like but dropping the transfer case would

So flat belly skid plate is a personal goal. Agreed if it is high enough and you can fit a flat skid after dropping it, sure drop it. But if you have room to lift the motor, why not?

If you can fit the flat belly, drop the transfer case and remove the 1.5" body lift, I'd do that. I prefer compact and skinny and light. Lower the unsprung weight, lower the center of gravity, reduce weight, trim excess. The closer you stay to stock, the less you need to change. Wrangler completely stock is incredibly capable. But I love a 5.9 in a Wrangler. The first Brute had a 5.9.

 

[billiebob]

Raising the front of the engine will not give me the angles that I would like but dropping the transfer case would

Drop the transfer case 1", raise the motor mounts 1.5" the MML will give a better net result..

Is that a plastic oil pan on the tranny? If so, definitely keep it an inch above the skid.

 

[lostintime]

Ok that sounds like a good plan. Thanks

 

[Wildman]

I don't think you can raise the engine/ motor mounts any like you can with the 4.0. The stock intake manifold on 5.9 is tall already and you might run into clearance issues. Looking at your pictures I think the transfer case is fine but if you don't like the angle then install a transfer case drop.

Not the best picture but here is my rear driveline and I have a V-8, auto tranny & STaK's transfer case. I also have a high pinion rear axle. But you can see my angle and it looks about like yours would be.

 

[lostintime]

So something has to be done to the angles. I have the sye drive shaft for a lifted tj with 4.0l. I extended it as far as it would go and put in in place. The u joint yokes are binding.

 

[RangerRick]

Any progress on your 5.9 TJ project?

I believe the transfer case rear mount is a custom built unit, not necessarily an off the shelf item. Hard to say.

@Wildman is right on the intake being too tall to raise the engine any. I have about 1/2" clearance from the sound dampener fiberglass hood liner to the top of the air horn hat on my TJ. I can't even run the Durango air hat, I have to stick with the ZJ because it is short enough to clear perfectly with no rubbing anywhere.

If you want to raise the engine, you would have to go with an aftermarket intake setup that sits in the pushrod valley like more conventional V8 intakes to gain any meaningful clearance.

RR

 

[lostintime]

yes I have had progress. still playing with wiring but have engine running now. Dropped transfercase 2 " and that gave be a lot less of angle. Just got the currie adjustable uppers for tjhe rear yesterday and the shift cable linkage for the trans.
Hoping to have it on the road within a week or two.