Topic: perhaps Jeffy would know =)

[Grundar32]

been pondering putting a 4.0 in my jeep i know i'd be turning my back on the 4banger thing but i  tend to do alot of highway and the power would be real nice ...

ive been doing some research and i belive if i got the driveline out of a 90-95 cherokee i could make the transplant ... the thing im iffy on is the wiring setup .. i have read a few articles that say the internal wiring on the wrangler is diff on the 4 and 6cyl. and would the cherokee have what i needed for wiring or not...

 the reason im going for a cherokee and not another 6 cyl wrang is that the prices on a 6cyl wrang in this area have become sick in comparison.. secondly i figured since i have done some stuff to my 4 cyl drivline perhaps i would throw together (like it's that easy ) the cherokee with my old 4cyl. and have a beater to well.. beat on ..

just wondering if you had any info on this stuff

 thanks ,Tyson

[Jeffy]

Most Cherokee's are autos.  Most autos are AW4's.  These are computer controlled, I beleive.  They are rather long also.  The Cherokee would have a different bulkhead pinout since they have a lot more stuff to deal with.  The harnesses may be long or short in some places also.  You'd really want a pin-out on both before starting.  You'd also need to figure out how you're going to shift the tranny. You will still need to figure out engine mounts.  XJ frame moutns probably won't be usable.   Also, 4.0L's are different then 2.5L's.  Not as simple as a Wrangler to Wrangler but if you have the donor right there, it shouldn't be too hard either.  Then again, if you're going to do a whole swap, you might consider a 3.4L, 3.8L or even a 4.3L combo.

[Grundar32]

i know id have to get new mounts and weld them to the frame.. i did find a write up on a 4cyl to 6cyl swap but they both came for wrangs .. be sides the motor mounts the only issue he had was the wiring in the pass compartment...

and i have been going for the rare 5 speed .. not a big auto fan ..

 i work at a volvo aftermarket specialty shop and am close friends with the owner, he goes to auction and i have been scoping out for the ones with 5speeds they are rare but do exist so i havent givin up hope.

perhaps you know of sites i can look up wiring pertaining to this issue

[Jeffy]

Honestly, I'd go for something better then an AX-15.  Probably cobble a NV3550 to it to make it all worth it.

[Grundar32]

oh dont worry i have big dreams for my lil guy , but it gets overwhelming if I dont go step by step and until i hit lotto that's just the way ill have to do things :wink:

[Jeffy]

Well for reliability I'd gear it low, keep it light and keep it simple.  There's a reason why several buggies have gone with the 2.2 and a 2-speed auto.  I believe one even uses a VW air-cooled engine mounted mid-ship.

With a stock 2.5L, AX-5, Klune V Goliath (2.71) and an Atlas II 4.0:1, Jason Bunch did rather well.  It's a long combo but is rather stout.  Although a 4 speed Atlas or a 3 speed StaK would keep the length down quite a bit.

[trailblazer95]

i'm familiar with a lot of buggy setups, 2.2 Turbo Ecotec, 4.3L, 5.7L, Saturn Transaxles, the whole nine yards.  I've been up close and personal with rockcrawling rigs for the last 5 years, and I'm friends with a lot of the drivers.  

Honestly, the most bang for your buck is the GM Shortstar engine.  Lots of competitors are using it this year, it's an all aluminum block, extremely lightweight, packs a hell of a punch (around 200hp), and a slight bit smaller than the 2.5L.  Here's a pic of one installed in a comp YJ.  

Of course, you'll need to run D60's for axle strength.

Now, I know of a couple who are running setups similar to Jason Bunch from Tri-County Gear.  What Jeffy forgot to mention is that Jason ran the D30 upfront with the Warn hub conversion, 37" tires, D44 in the rear, and finished in the top 3 for almost two years in a row.  To me, this seems like the way a stock class rig should be built to limit breakage.  I'm building mine very similar, actually.

[Grundar32]

ok guys your going to have to talk a bit slower.. the cheese is starting to slide of my cracker :?  ..... first .. not too sure what  a 4speed atlas or 3 speed stak are.. im kinda guessing they are trany's..i've been doing most of my searching on Jeep parts mainly.. and the main stream stuff... im all about the keep it simple thing ...i really dont know alot about the engines of other makes besides jeep and..... volvo  :roll: .. i will be using this jeep as a DD as well as wanting respectable off-road capabilities. i do appreciate all the info and help but i just dont see me doing compitition rockcrawling... not yet at least  :shock:

now im off to do more homework to find out what a "Klune double Stak 7 speed" is  :D

thanks again Tyson

[Jeffy]

An Atlas 6.0 and a Stak are multi-geared transfer cases.  A Three speed would be, 1:1, 2.72: 4:1.

You could combine a Klune V with a Stak but you'd be geared awefully low. If you had a Davis (4:1) and the Stak in low (4:1), a stock transmisison (3.94) and stock gears (4.10/4.11) you'd be looking at a compound low of 259:1.

But then the Stak is going for $3000 and the Atlas 6.0 will go for more.

I'd K.I.S.S. and go with a super short HD 231 with a 1.25" chain and a Klune 4:1.  Depending on your overall gearing, you'd be >172:1.

[Grundar32]

ok just got back from the quick homework session.. that was fun i learned about the atlas 4 speed ,stak and the klune underdrive.. but i dont think the klune would fit my thing... the stak seems kinda cool ill have to keep that in mind when the time comes...... my thoughts are this... first switch from my current driveline of .. 2.5L, AX5, np 231(stock). to a 4.0L(rebuild to stock for now) AX15, and np 231( with SYE ... this wouldn't be too expensive and easy to do)....  from that point do axles.. then look into trans/transfer swap...  in the end my dream for this rig..( i have 2 rigs in mind) would be a nicly tuned 4.0  with a nv4500 and atlas(possably a stak now) with D44's front and rear 4.88. detroit rear and OX front .. thats all i want . is that too much to ask  :D  :D

but i dont claim to know all.. so im open to learning other ways of doing things :)


I'm not looking to crawl over the world, just to leave my little mark :twisted:

[trailblazer95]

then keep it real simple.  just get some bigger axles, bigger tires, a flexy suspension (SOA or good quality lift), and add some traction with lockers.  Honestly it'll get you almost anywhere you want to go.  My YJ on 33's with ARB's goes pretty much anywhere you point it.  As long as you realize you can't make it up everything...All that other stuff is just convenience.

[Bounty Hunter]

Why install a 4.0L and end up with just another run of the mill 4.0L jeep with a hacked up install?

Go for something more unique, with more potential :twisted:

[Grundar32]

whoa nelly ?? hacked up install??  dont think you know me and im sure i'd do a cleaner job then 90% of the dimwits dishing out advice on these sites. besides it's my rig and i think i know what I want .. but thanks of the opinion :D