97 Jeep TJ 2.5L to 5.9L Magnum... to MOAB!

[dgoodwin10]

I am gearing up to do a Magnum swap in my 97 TJ this winter (build thread will come) and my wife and I decided we need to take it somewhere fun after all the bugs are worked out, so why not go out west? The trip would be September or October of 2022 and last 10 (ish) days.

The general route would be Birmingham to St Louis to Moab on the trip out and the return trip would go through Dallas. A few questions for the collective knowledge here:

1. Between St Louis and Moab, what are the routes / things to do OR absolutely NOT do?
2. What scenic trails / roads are there to take in Colorado that are reasonably close to our route?
3. The Moab part of this trip is a bucket list item for me, the wife not as much. What EASY trails / restaurants / local shops are a must do? I'd have about a day, possibly 2 here.

The proposed route:

The Jeep:

 

[ponykilr]

Is the 5.2 and 5.9 the same bell pattern as the 4.0? Just wondered this the other day when I was daydreaming and mowing…

 

[dgoodwin10]

Is the 5.2 and 5.9 the same bell pattern as the 4.0? Just wondered this the other day when I was daydreaming and mowing…

It's not, but there are options to adapt to several different transmissions (ex: an early 90's dakota bell housing will adapt you to an AX-15).

 

[ponykilr]

It's not, but there are options to adapt to several different transmissions (ex: an early 90's dakota bell housing will adapt you to an AX-15).

I bet there’s a Dodge bell housing for NV3550/3500. Interesting, lots of Dodge trucks out there with bad transmissions sitting around. LA is a good motor.

Your trip sounds great. I’ve been as far as CO and I tell folks unless you’ve been out west you can’t comprehend it.

 

[77GreenMachine]

So I’ll be the dickhead to ask… why a 5.9 magnum?

Not here to rag you and tell you why you should go LS instead, just curious the reason you’re going that direction?

 

[shelby27604]

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It's not on your route, but oatman AZ is a pretty cool, middle of nowhere town populated by wild donkeys that seem to live off the feed that the handful of tourist that go there feed them.

Pretty sure there is a canyon out that way that everyone thinks is great too.

 

[ghost]

In for the tech... I have a 5.9 out back that I want to put in my xj.

 

[dgoodwin10]

So I’ll be the dickhead to ask… why a 5.9 magnum?

Not here to rag you and tell you why you should go LS instead, just curious the reason you’re going that direction?

Valid question - that's actually where I was headed with this until I ran across the Magnum swap. The 2 driving factors were cost and integration of factory parts. I'm a GM guy and am absolutely on the LS bandwagon, but it's a GM engine going into a Chrysler product - nothing is plug and play and a bare bones, hope the junkyard 4L60 doesn't have more than 1 neutral, swap cost is a quick $3500 ($5k is realistic).

On the flip side, the late 90's Mags in the Dodges and Jeeps are built and (more specifically) wired almost identical to a Jeep 4.0 / 2.5. Advance Adaptors sells engine mounts that replace the factory mounts and use a dowel to locate themselves on the frame, allowing a 5.2 / 5.9 and 44re / 46re to set the 231 transfer case back on it's factory mount. The TJ body harness plugs straight into the Mag PCM and all the gauges, etc. work and the remainder of the wiring is essentially blending the Mag and TJ engine harnesses together. It is possible to do the swap with almost no aftermarket parts, down to the radiator and mechanical fan. My running estimate for a 5.9 / 46re swap is right at $2500, including a rebuilt transmission and $500 in contingency.

In for the tech... I have a 5.9 out back that I want to put in my xj.

Stay tuned!

 

[jeepin' jen]

Valid question - that's actually where I was headed with this until I ran across the Magnum swap. The 2 driving factors were cost and integration of factory parts. I'm a GM guy and am absolutely on the LS bandwagon, but it's a GM engine going into a Chrysler product - nothing is plug and play and a bare bones, hope the junkyard 4L60 doesn't have more than 1 neutral, swap cost is a quick $3500 ($5k is realistic).

On the flip side, the late 90's Mags in the Dodges and Jeeps are built and (more specifically) wired almost identical to a Jeep 4.0 / 2.5. Advance Adaptors sells engine mounts that replace the factory mounts and use a dowel to locate themselves on the frame, allowing a 5.2 / 5.9 and 44re / 46re to set the 231 transfer case back on it's factory mount. The TJ body harness plugs straight into the Mag PCM and all the gauges, etc. work and the remainder of the wiring is essentially blending the Mag and TJ engine harnesses together. It is possible to do the swap with almost no aftermarket parts, down to the radiator and mechanical fan. My running estimate for a 5.9 / 46re swap is right at $2500, including a rebuilt transmission and $500 in contingency.

Stay tuned!

This is the route we were taking too until I fell in love with a Samurai. We had the running donor vehicle & the adapters ready to rock 'n roll Definitely looking forward to watching this swap!

 

[77GreenMachine]

Valid question - that's actually where I was headed with this until I ran across the Magnum swap. The 2 driving factors were cost and integration of factory parts. I'm a GM guy and am absolutely on the LS bandwagon, but it's a GM engine going into a Chrysler product - nothing is plug and play and a bare bones, hope the junkyard 4L60 doesn't have more than 1 neutral, swap cost is a quick $3500 ($5k is realistic).

On the flip side, the late 90's Mags in the Dodges and Jeeps are built and (more specifically) wired almost identical to a Jeep 4.0 / 2.5. Advance Adaptors sells engine mounts that replace the factory mounts and use a dowel to locate themselves on the frame, allowing a 5.2 / 5.9 and 44re / 46re to set the 231 transfer case back on it's factory mount. The TJ body harness plugs straight into the Mag PCM and all the gauges, etc. work and the remainder of the wiring is essentially blending the Mag and TJ engine harnesses together. It is possible to do the swap with almost no aftermarket parts, down to the radiator and mechanical fan. My running estimate for a 5.9 / 46re swap is right at $2500, including a rebuilt transmission and $500 in contingency.

Stay tuned!

Fair and valid points!

 

[ghost]

Valid question - that's actually where I was headed with this until I ran across the Magnum swap. The 2 driving factors were cost and integration of factory parts. I'm a GM guy and am absolutely on the LS bandwagon, but it's a GM engine going into a Chrysler product - nothing is plug and play and a bare bones, hope the junkyard 4L60 doesn't have more than 1 neutral, swap cost is a quick $3500 ($5k is realistic).

On the flip side, the late 90's Mags in the Dodges and Jeeps are built and (more specifically) wired almost identical to a Jeep 4.0 / 2.5. Advance Adaptors sells engine mounts that replace the factory mounts and use a dowel to locate themselves on the frame, allowing a 5.2 / 5.9 and 44re / 46re to set the 231 transfer case back on it's factory mount. The TJ body harness plugs straight into the Mag PCM and all the gauges, etc. work and the remainder of the wiring is essentially blending the Mag and TJ engine harnesses together. It is possible to do the swap with almost no aftermarket parts, down to the radiator and mechanical fan. My running estimate for a 5.9 / 46re swap is right at $2500, including a rebuilt transmission and $500 in contingency.

Stay tuned!

Please post lots of info here.I'm looking to take a 94 5.9 and mate it to my 94 XJ. Your swap will be a great start on the tech I believe.

 

[willness33]

How about a 5.9 in a scrambler?

No real tech to be had here as its mated to an nv4500/d300. Wiring harness and gauges were all made to be plug and play.

 

[ponykilr]

If the body harness is plug n play for a TJ, then it’s just a matter of sitting the motor in place with the factory motor harness?

 

[dgoodwin10]

If the body harness is plug n play for a TJ, then it’s just a matter of sitting the motor in place with the factory motor harness?

Yes, I'm using the engine harness from the donor 99 Durango as the base for the wiring harness and will only have to make a handful of changes to it. It will go largely unmodified.

 

[ghost]

Yes, I'm using the engine harness from the donor 99 Durango as the base for the wiring harness and will only have to make a handful of changes to it. It will go largely unmodified.

Are you going to post up your changes? I've looked for some info on options for me. One a stand alone "hot rod" harness and using the donor vehicle. Very interested in what you do with details.

 

[dgoodwin10]

Are you going to post up your changes? I've looked for some info on options for me. One a stand alone "hot rod" harness and using the donor vehicle. Very interested in what you do with details.

I'm documenting absolutely everything and will post all my resources and notes as I go. I have a bad case of CRS (can't remember shit), so I have to write it all down.