XJ 4.0 swapped to a TJ

Zane Pearce

Zane Pearce

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Location
Lincolnton NC
So my 2000 TJ's 4.0 is toast, I have a line on a 99 xj motor to potentially swap into it. I have read plenty of people saying it can't be done and some saying it can. From what I hear my main worry should be the mounting holes for the motor mounts and then the alternator bracket/compressor bracket. Some other forums have claimed that because I have the brackets on my tj block I can swap everything over....does anyone have any experience with this?
 
My understanding if I remember correctly is you actually need a WJ block. The front accessories should be able to be set up how you need, but the block castings for motor mounts are different. Seemed like I had saw a company that made motor mounts to compensate, but not sure. If it was worth it to you I'm sure you could cut off and make your own mounts on the frame, but have to determine how in depth you wanna go for the swap.
ZJ-XJ= compatible
WJ-TJ= compatible


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The motor mounts wouldn't be that big of a problem for me, truthfully I care more about the brackets on the front side...my current tj block has various tapped motor mounts holes not being used as is and I am wondering if the xj block may have the same setup. I'm going to go and measure the mounts on the xj block and note where everything is mounted up today hopefully. If some fabrication needs to be done in order for it to fit I'm not all that worried. Also I would assume my 32rh tranny would mount just fine?
 
I just gave my friend with a 98 tj the engine out of my 99 xj. Swapped his TJ accessories over and the engine bolted right in. They didn't cast different blocks for different vehicles with different mounts
 
The long blocks on 91-99 TJ , XJ, ZJ, YJ will 100% interchange, period.
Starting in 2000 (WJs in 1999), the motor mount bosses that are cast into the block as well as the cast front accessory mounts are totally different from 99 and older.

The 99 back and 2000 up will NOT directly interchange with respect to the motor mount bosses and front accessory bosses. It can be done, but not without some fabbing.
 
jody, on the Cherokee was the change made halfway through the 99 year? I know on some of the jeeps the switch was made halfway through the year model so the 99 may end up with the 2000 changes?
 
Easiest way to put it is that a distributor equipped 4.0 will swap with another distributor equipped one.
A coil pack engine will only swap with a coil pack equipped engine.
2000 was first year for distributorless ignition on XJ and TJ. WJ started using it in 99
 
Jody is correct. I forgot to mention that those changes are effective after the 2000 model.
And if you can make an older one work with fab, you can swap the coil pack on the older style, as I just did this in my XJ last year. (Swapped a 97 into my 00)

I had to put my Cam shaft sensor in the block, put the coil pack on (I just left it on the plugs with no mounts, it seems very sturdy) and I had to get an adapter plate for the exhaust manifold as they are different. Adapter was from some random guy that I found online. He had already been thru the ordeal and made his own plate, so he got a bunch made up and sells them for like $100.


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So curious.... I am new to the TJ world. Just bought a 2000 TJ 4.0L for cheap. Motor is new brand with TUBY head but it is bare block. Only thing I have for it is the oil pan, valve cover, exhaust and intake. In the engine bay (still attached to the Jeep) the AC lines look like the compressor is on passenger side and the power steering lines are in driver's side. I literally have not brackets, bolts or pullies. I'm gonna buy a 4.0 at salvage yard but not sure which one to buy. Several Cherokees to buy but not sure what year. Can someone lead me in the right direction? Coil not a distributor for ignition. Is this the same as the xj to tj swap?
 
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