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Just need more power...

754 views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Digger84 
#1 ·
The tired little 2.5L in my Jeep is finally starting to wear on me - I'm not even able to take on a highway ramp in 3rd without being run over, and that's pushing it. Forget highway driving in 5th with me, a passenger and a load of camping gear etc. not to mention keeping up with 70mph+ traffic.

I have before me multiple options - swap engine, keep engine w/ power adders, re-gear, and so on.

Obviously the most cost effective would be to keep the engine I have now and just add whatever I can to it in the form of bolt-on power. My mechanical ability is very advanced when it comes to nut and bolt modifications and maintenance - but stuff like fabricating and welding and all the fun stuff I stay away from.

Keeping the above in mind, the next would be to do some type of re-gear. Since I've got the AX5 the one gift I was given is factory 4.10 gears. Bumping up to 4.56 seems to be the next progression, as I currently have 31's. However, if I go larger than that, say to 33 or (gasp) 35, I'm going to need much steeper gears, again. Would it be worth it to over-gear now to something higher than 4.56?

And the 3rd option - the engine swap... I honestly do not understand why Jeep made it so hard to swap in an I6 when it's a factory option??? From everything I've read and heard, you can't just take a wrecked TJ or XJ and pull all the engine and drivetrain parts to make an easy swap out of it - or is it that easy if you have a donor? With my aforementioned failure as a fabricator something like a 5.3 swap might be too much for me to bite off.

Just fishing for some ideas and some counsel here - thanks!
 
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#2 ·
Don't even bother with add ons to your engine, you will simply be wasting your money.

I think your best bet to get what you want is to do an engine swap. That being said, you have several different options to go. Easiest and likely cheapest engine option with the fewest modifications would likely be dropping in a 4.0. Anything more than the 4.0 and you are looking at an exceptional amount of modification, by that I mean a stronger rear axle and possibly chromolly shafts in the front axle. Possibly a transmission upgrade too. If you are more than willing to do axle work and the general beefing up, I would seriously consider a 5.3 swap or keep the little Cummins 2.8 Repower kit in mind ( https://cumminsengines.com/repower )
 
#3 ·
Great - now add a new keyboard to my list of things I have to replace because I DROOLED ALL IN MINE READING ABOUT THE R2.8!!! Now, I wonder what else would be needed to get that thing working...
 
#6 ·
Well, got a lot invested in this Jeep - both time and money (and I love my Jeep!). The body is great and so is the transmission, axles, transfer case, etc. so it would be a shame to loose so much of that and just sell, not to mention the upgrades I have already put into it both interior and exterior. Also I got a heck of a deal on it to begin with, so I'd already be looking at an upward hill battle if I were to sell and look for something else. If I have to keep the squirrels so be it, but I want to give them the most fighting of a chance I can.
 
#7 ·
4.0 swap with donor engine tranny and PCM doable but not just swapping as have to weld on new frame side motor mounts

Also try to stay about same year

97-99 TJ 96-99 XJ and 96-98 ZJ
These are all OBD2 non coil rail CCD bus 4.0

2000 TJ with 2000-2001 XJ
These are all OBD2 coil rail CCD bus

2001-2004 TJ 1999-2004 WJ. These are all OBD2 coil rail PCI bus

And 05-06 TJ this is an abortion of a setup best avoided




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