Don't know where to start!

00TJGURL15

Member
Joined
May 19, 2015
Location
NC
So, I have a 15 yr old TJ ('00 Wrangler). She's slowly starting to detereate. I got a surprise radiator change Monday evening, updated thermostat since I was there! I'm running stock engine (had to put a header in it, in Mar, due to cracked exhaust manifold. I'm really wanting to upgrade the engine, but by the time I save up enough $$, I'll have rebuilt the dame 4cyl, and surrounding parts! Where do I start with upgrades if I'm constantly replacing OEM parts?!? I've seen some sick rebuilds, help!!
 
so you have 2.5 from what i'm getting
 
John Fuller said:
so you have 2.5 from what i'm getting
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Wow! That is alot of help!:shaking:

What do you want to do with the jeep? DD it? Wheel it?? Sled pull with it? Mud race it? Back to back pull it?? I think you get my point! The engine upgrades will depend on the application. .
 
Those repairs sound pretty typical for a 15 year old vehicle. If you want more power and fewer repair bills, trade it on on a newer model with the 4.0.
 
drkelly said:
Those repairs sound pretty typical for a 15 year old vehicle. If you want more power and fewer repair bills, trade it on on a newer model with the 4.0.
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That's what I'm thinking as well. So many options... Small 350 block, stroker 4.0, do I start with engines or transmissions? Agh!
 
krehel24 said:
Wow! That is alot of help!:shaking:

What do you want to do with the jeep? DD it? Wheel it?? Sled pull with it? Mud race it? Back to back pull it?? I think you get my point! The engine upgrades will depend on the application. .
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I'm a muddin type of girl, but I still need it street legal. Eventually want to pass it down to my son. Hit some trails in Uwarrhie this summer...
 
^^^glad to hear that comment. i'm a 4.0 guy but the 2.5....small simple stuff that makes huge difference on 4.0: pull the head and port it/gasket match the head and intake, the throttle body, long tube header with good catback exhaust, TB spacer with modified intake, loose the clutch fan, run Ford Injectors and if still in budget drop a bigger cam in it. All this done to 4.0 makes real good seat of the pants differences and well worth the time and little money involved but you get out pretty good results for what you spend....then in the meantime save up for 4.0 and harness to swap them and swap in a AW4 and you'll be real happy!
 
of course there's installing bigger gears and such but i just listed the easier engine mods to do.
 
Thanks a lot for the input! Now let's talk transmissions?... It shifts at a higher RPM than usual. I'm going to change the fluid and filter this weekend, add some Lucas slip stop to it. Should I do/look for anything else while I'm under there?
 
John Fuller said:
^^^glad to hear that comment. i'm a 4.0 guy but the 2.5....small simple stuff that makes huge difference on 4.0: pull the head and port it/gasket match the head and intake, the throttle body, long tube header with good catback exhaust, TB spacer with modified intake, loose the clutch fan, run Ford Injectors and if still in budget drop a bigger cam in it. All this done to 4.0 makes real good seat of the pants differences and well worth the time and little money involved but you get out pretty good results for what you spend....then in the meantime save up for 4.0 and harness to swap them and swap in a AW4 and you'll be real happy!
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How much hp are you netting with these mods? 10-15?
 
Don't change the trans fluid. 4.0 swap requires a 4.0 donor jeep so you get the right trans, transfer case, drive shafts, harness, motor mounts, transfer case shifter linkage, etc.
 
fixing to have a 98 XJ for parts...everything minus motor is there and pretty solid body interior so if your interested in the harness and such, let me know. it currently runs and drives fine but customer is buying the motor so the rest will get parted out. pm me if your interested...cut you stupid deal on harness and stuff since i never pull that anyways and have no need for it and i won't cut it when i pull the motor lol
 
i will have the motor out of the customers 98 XJ which runs but says bad camshaft???? i doubt it but will know for sure when i get it this weekend but lets say it is bad camshaft, you could have the motor for pretty cheap also and this would all about give you all you need to do a swap of what you're talking.
 
$ for $, you can likely swap in a 4.8/5.3 with a th350/400 or 700r4, etc. in lieu of a 4.0 swap. but then you will need decent axles if you plan to wheel it moderately
 
shawn said:
Don't change the trans fluid. 4.0 swap requires a 4.0 donor jeep so you get the right trans, transfer case, drive shafts, harness, motor mounts, transfer case shifter linkage, etc.
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I know, but since I don't have 4.0 to swap with, I just will have to check junkyards. But jeep parts/engines don't stay long in them!
 
rockcity said:
$ for $, you can likely swap in a 4.8/5.3 with a th350/400 or 700r4, etc. in lieu of a 4.0 swap. but then you will need decent axles if you plan to wheel it moderately
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I've been checking out some Dana 44s online. Trying to decide on the G2, ECTED, Detroit, or ARB lockers.
 
rockcity said:
$ for $, you can likely swap in a 4.8/5.3 with a th350/400 or 700r4, etc. in lieu of a 4.0 swap. but then you will need decent axles if you plan to wheel it moderately
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What happened to the guy that said he had airtight proof that V8 swaps into TJs weren't legal? Said his buddies all had their shit impounded... then he disappeared.

00TJGURL15 said:
I know, but since I don't have 4.0 to swap with, I just will have to check junkyards. But jeep parts/engines don't stay long in them!
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Once a TJ hits the junkyard, it's not worth touching. For what it would cost you to assemble all the parts you need, you could buy a complete wrecked runner. That's what I ended up doing. I think it cost me just over $1k all said and done. But it was a huge pain in the ass.
 
Like Shawn said, find a wrecked runner. Most of the jeeps in the yards are there b/c they were neglected to the point of no return. I gave up on finding a clean 4.0 after popping a few heads and looking in to the motor. Amazing what you'll find sometimes. Not saying that you can't find one they are just rare. Jeep XJs and ZJs are cheap after they've had a little damage
 
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