Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

Cheap, fast and easy is a 2.5L long block.

 

Welcome back...

All in the details...

2.5L, I'm guessing YJ...

List out what you have and where you think you want to go please. Kinda like the old "Fill Out Your Profile" rant but you did sorta (with no details).

Again Welcome back.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/40BEER.gif
Dale

 

Yeah sorry about the lack of details. I was in a hurry and upset about the situation.
Alright it a 95 wrangler 5 speed with a 2.5. Right now its bone stock, aside from my CJ hard top and doors. I didn't really have any big plans for it because of the 2.5 so I was just going to do a 3in body lift and some 32's. But now that I'm in need of a new motor I'm looking into maybe going with something bigger and better so I can take it a little further. Now I'm thinking 4in suspension lift and a little bigger tires. All thoughts and experiences with swaping motors welcome. BTW I've already done a motor swap in my 95 cherokee blown 4.0 to new 4.0.

Thanks Kyle

 

If you have 1/2 the bad luck i have there's no such thing as a quick easy swap for anything besides what was in there from the factory and that can even take a while.

If it's a daily driver and you need it back quick find another 2.5, they are pretty cheap because every one swaps them out. The 2.5's best friend is gears. I don't mind them with stock tires but as soon as you go bigger they start to get really doggy. My parents have a yj 2.5, auto, 3.73's, 31" swampers and it's a major dog, if it had 4.10's or 4.56's it would be a pleasure to drive. I'd spend the $500-$1000 (depending on if you do it your self or pay some one to do it) on gears instead of a motor.

I think the easiest swap is a 4.0 though i've never really researched it but i know you need the motor, trans, atleast a t-case input gear, drive shafts, wiring harness, computer not sure on fuel pump, clutch parts, and motor moutns. There's a ton of parts to swap over, granted they are pretty much all factory bolt ins but they add up quick and take time.

In the words of H8monday "i'd rather have a fuel injected 4 banger then a v8" and i agree with him. To swap in a v8 your going to need motor, trans, and probably a t-case adapter or settle on a full size truck t-case unless you use a s10 700r4 or nv3550 and s10 231. Then you have wiring, fuel pumps, radiator, power steering lines, drive shafts, motor mounts, the list goes on and on.

If you have a budget of less the 2-3,000 and a month i wouldn't attempt a motor swap that you wanted to do right the first time. I've tried to 1/2 ass and do things quick and cheap the 1s time and it never works out right and bite me in the ass later down the road.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

If you swap in anything other than another 2.5, then you are looking much the same work...a 4.0 will be quicker than a V6 or V8.

It took me almost 2 years to complete my SBC swap...but then again, I got a little carried away and ended up doing a frame up restore...plus I was out of town a lot...RatherBeJeepin did a 4.3L v6 swap in one weekend using everything out of a S10.

I love my 5.7L TBI....but it's not a task for the sqimish......but it your looking to run 33's or 35's, then you may want to the power.....

BTW...I would 'highly' recommend against the body lift...if you want that much clearance, consider SOA.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

Yeah I currently have 4.11 gears.
What I've been thinking is that I want to go with a 4.0 AMC 360 or a SBC.
From what I've Researched so far all 3 will require motor,trans, and mounts. And the 4.0 will require harness,PCM, and maybe a t-case? What am I missing?
If anyone that has done any of these swaps could give me an idea on cost and time to do them I would appreciate it.
Time really isn't an issue, because I can move the CJ out of the garage and have at it. I have another vehical to drive daily if needed. But with the 2.5 I can't really see doing anything other than a body lift and some 32's for a street jeep.

Thanks Kyle

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

And then there's the local smog laws to contend with.

Sometimes that means it's cheaper and easier to just buy another one already the way you want it.

He He - In some states you can be jailed for even "thinking" about an engine change.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

Ok....you want to do an engine swap....considering that you have some welding experience....

Find a donor engine first....you want the engine and tranny (if it's an auto) along with the engine harness and computer.

Once you know what engine your doing, then you can plan on xfer case adapter, motor mounts, etc.

Check out www.novak.com ...lots of good info....

For reference, it took me almost 2 years to do my sbc swap....but then again, I ended up doing a frame up restore....between out of country trips....and I have about $2500 in the swap......and the engine and tranny cost me $500....

It is not a task for the average bolt on type of guy...you need good fab and electrical skills......

Smog laws are not an issue as long as you use a newer engine and hook it up as it was installed in the original veh.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

I am in the finishing stage of a SBC swap. I started about a little over 2 years ago with a YJ that had a 2.5L and AX-5. The only things left from that YJ that I did not heavly modify are
Break booster and MC
Left rear tail light
Rear licence plate holder
Seats

Everything else is ether new, or rebuilt. When I started I had no idea I was going to get so deep into a rebuild. I figured I would throw in a new engine, trans, adapt my xfer case....
When you get into a project like that, one thing leads to another, and then another, and soon, all you have is a frame sitting in your shop, and you think to yourself... Where did my jeep go?

I could not be happier with how my Jeep has turned out. It has a very healthy GM 4 bolt main that is packed with performance, a SM465 D-300. ARB's at both ends in brand new axles, 37" Super Swampers.
I love it.

You need to ask yourself where do I want this Jeep to go. If you want to use it to get to and from work, and just for running around... Put a 2.5L in it, and run it. If you want a project Jeep... Make up a budget and start doing homework.
The first thing you need is a plan... Don't jump into anything even a small project without a plan.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

Well I guess I should ask how far can I go with the 2.5 and 4.11's? Whats my reasonable limit on tire size?
I don't want to get to carried away since I do have the CJ for a real project vehical.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

I would stay with 30's with the 2.5 if it's a high way crusier. Slap some 4.56's in and with 32's it will be geared just about perfect.

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

if you are wanting to play a 401 amc are a lot of fun
duke

 

Re: YJ Needs New Motor. Whats Cheap,Fast,Easy And

Quick & Easy?
Buy a YJ w/ the 4.0. Take all the good stuff off your 2.5 and sell it.

What does a decent YJ with the 6 go for? $3500? You could sell your 2.5 for about $2000+.

IMO the $1500 diff. is worth it for the engine, AX-15 already installed.