TJ V8 swap - best combo

[Bart]

I'm going to drop a V8 into my 97 TJ in the next little while. I've been tossing around a bunch of different combos and have yet to land on a best combo solution.

I need to be able to get it emissioned, so the motor has to be 97 or newer.
I'd like a 4 speed auto behind it.
It's going to mate to an Atlas so the tcase is not a problem.
I don't really want to pop for a Hemi or an LS1, any V8 in a TJ will work great.
Ease of wiring and compatibility with current wiring is a factor.

I've heard motors from the same company are easier to get passed, which would lean towards a 5.2 or 5.9. The problem here is tranny behind them. I've heard of a lot of problems with the 4 speed autos in the Grands.

Small block chevys are great and easy to get parts for and a built 700r4 would be great. I don't like the dist in the back of the motor.

I love my 5.0 in my buggy, but it was a pain to wire and tracking down problems has been terrible. Don't know much about the Ford autos.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

 

[ROCKRUNNER]

I like going with the chevy drivetrains they are also usually more abundunt in finding parts. You could run a vortec 350 to a 4L60E or even find a 4L80E Tranny. You could also run a newer Gen 3 4.8 or 5.3 and run the same Tranny combo. There are (2) 5.3's that I know of in the local junkyards They average is $1100-1300 plus you could buy the whole package. The wiring can be sent off so it becomes a 5 wire hookup for around $400.

 

[Milner]

SBC and 700r4 or 4Lxxx, cheapest/simple/easy.
There are ways around the dist. and MORE has pre-made motor mnts. Add a Howell harnes ang it is basically plug and play!!

 

[Bart]

Thanks guys. I figured Chev would be the easiest swap. What are the ways around the distributor? Also wondering how much tougher the Chev will be to get passed on emissions?

 

[I Lean]

Thanks guys. I figured Chev would be the easiest swap. What are the ways around the distributor? Also wondering how much tougher the Chev will be to get passed on emissions?

Not sure what Marc had in mind, but the LT1 has the distributor in the front under the water pump. Newer motors have distributorless (coil-on-plug) ignition. Those are the easiest ways I can think of around a rear-mounted distributor....

 

[driller]

i really like the 4.7 in the grand cherokees. Plus you can keep it same manufacturer. Have never had problems with the tranny in my grand.

 

[BCGPER]

I'd agree late model Chebby, but any V8 is going to cause you headaches come emission time. Ever considered blowing the 4.0?

Yeah, yeah.... Get your mind outta the gutter!

 

[Milner]

Not sure what Marc had in mind, but the LT1 has the distributor in the front under the water pump. Newer motors have distributorless (coil-on-plug) ignition. Those are the easiest ways I can think of around a rear-mounted distributor....

Basically what I was thinking....
There are some after market dist-less ignitions....but $$$$

 

[Bart]

I'd agree late model Chebby, but any V8 is going to cause you headaches come emission time. Ever considered blowing the 4.0?

Yeah, yeah.... Get your mind outta the gutter!

Thought about it, but in the end, you still have a 6 cyl motor. I love the rumble of a V8 and since I plan on keeping this one for a loooooong time, I want to finish it a certain way.

 

[BioNuke1]

It's hard to beat LS1 4L60E NP231

 

[TooeleBronco]

I need to be able to get it emissioned, so the motor has to be 97 or newer.


I'm not sure since we don't have emission tests out here , but back when I lived in Utah county I was told that you couldn't change the motor in anything 86 and newer unless it was an engine that came in that vehicle. I don't know if thats true but I'd make sure before you do the swap.

 

[notajeep]

I like 5.3 or 6.0 swap idea. Should be plentiful, plenty of power, reliable, easy to find parts for, all LS1 performance parts fit, all 5.3's and 6.0 have the coil on plug, so that shouldn't be a problem. Can you bolt an Allison to a small block? That would be cool. Just some of my thoughts.
Or.... an all aluminiumlinum quad cam 4.7 from a tundra........ :greg:

 

[78mitsu]

Can you bolt an Allison to a small block? That would be cool. Just some of my thoughts:greg:

yes, but you have to use a special flywheel. gen 3 chevy's are great engines 6 bolt main roller valve train, reliable and redline about 7k

 

[XJEEPER]

Bart, there's a lot of engine/tranny combo's that will work to meet your needs but passing the IM is going to be the biggest issue on a swap like this.

I ran into this a few years back.......swapped a 4.3/TH350/(Howells harness) into a rig and it looked factory when you popped the hood. Had no problems for 3-4 years getting it inspected, even smogged out cleaner than the stock motor. Then came one year that they gave me grief about mis-matched engine/vehicle and wanted me to have a referee verify the swap as legal. I had it inspected that year in a county where my mom lives that doesn't require IM, sold the streettruck later that year and bought my first XJ.

Have you talked to folks that haver perfomed these swaps? Shops like Tera had a 4.7 in a TJ a few years ago, Currie's have done similar swaps with GM V8s, I'd pick thier brains a little to narrow the ??? down on emissions/inspection issues that may show up post swap. Since the regs vary from state and even county, need to find local folks that have successfully swapped and passed IM checks.

Gluck and keep us updated on the project.

 

[Bart]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll pass on a little more information I've found out.

I talked with a guy that did a 5.9 swap into his TJ and used to do Chev and Hemi swaps for Mepco. He mentioned that the 5.9 swap was disapointing for low end torque, and not a great gain. He like the LS1 swap best.

He also mentioned that in Utah County (I think we are the toughest in the state on emmissions) the motor has to be the same year or newer, the computer has to ID that year, it must have at least the same smog equipment as the stock motor, and must pass the same emmissions.

I think for now, I'll keep my 4.0 and put a 700r4 behind it when I do my stretch and add the Atlas. That way, if I decide to do a V8 swap down the road, it'll be set up for a Chev motor.

Thanks for all the input.