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V6 Engine Swap Kit?

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22K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  brrang  
#1 ·
Where can I find a complete engine swap kit?
 
#4 ·
I have a inline stock 4 but I want a V6 in it. The four cylinder is just not enough. A V8 would be to much. I only use it to drive around in the woods and taking the kids for a ride down back roads to get out of the house. A six would be perfect to run 35" tires for in the woods (not mud riding) and looking good down the road.
 
#5 ·
Well...not to burst your bubble but....its a little more difficult than just buying a complete "kit" to swap in a V6. Takes a lot of time and money to make that swap happen even if you are using used parts.

You can buy the adapters needed to put in a 4.3L V6 they are the same as doing a chevy 350 V8. Even with the proper adapters you still have to cut the old frame towers off and weld in new ones for the motor mounts. Nothing is made for a "bolt-on kit" If you are looking at an older motor like the 225 Buick V6 like in the older jeeps, then you are outta luck for any kind of "kit".

The 2.5L 4cyl, has an AX5 5spd behind it, and it will not handle any other motor's torque output. Same thing for the Dana 35 rear that's in it will not handle the torque needed to turn 35" tires. It's not an "IF" they will break, but more like a when they will break. Cause they are going to break.

You can get different gearing in your rears that you have now, to compensate for bigger tires, up to 33" and that will make the 4cyl have a little more pep. (with 33" tires you need 4.88 gears) and the rear and trans will be safe, because the 4 popper doesn't create enough torque to hurt the drivetrain.
 
#10 · (Edited)
IF you're going to swap out the 2.5 for a 6, go for the GM 4.3. It's as bulletproof as the 4.0 & has better aftermarket support.

I don't know about you, but if I'm going to the trouble of doing a swap, it won't be for a 4.0.
 
#12 ·
I actually went to a 4.0 from my 2.5 and love it. It has all the power I need. With 4.10s and 35s, it'll do anything I've tried.

As to the 4.3, I've talked to guys that have swapped the 4.0 to the 4.3, and some were not happy with it. They say the 4.3 torque curve just sucks, and they have to keep it high revved to get enough power. But with the 4.0, they could just crawl around in low RPMs with no problems.
 
#15 ·
It's all in what your doing with it, if you want a low RPM Jeep pull, then an I6, i think is best, if you want High rev. high wheel spin then a V6 or V8. and I know you can Cam the Vs to have a good low end, the old I6s just pull down low. That's why one day I hope to finish my 4.6 Stroker
 
#22 ·
If you are going through the trouble and want a kit why not get a 4.8L V8 or a 5.3L V8? Gonna be the best kits on the market and you can find them by the hundreds in any junkyard on the planet. Only gonna have like ~280HP and little under ~300 lb*ft of torque. Wiring harness would be the easiest on the market because of the after market support. Would take a $6,000 stroker to make the torque curve a 5.3L has. If you decide you want more power or a better torque curve in the future you could swap the cam or drop in a 6.0/6.2/7.0 and everything would bolt right in. Resale value would be higher too. Just cause you have power doesn't mean you have to use it. Brother put a 4.8L in his jeep when he had it, if I remember right the engine had 80k miles and was $300 at a junkyard. I see no reason why you couldn't complete a swap for $1500 assuming you have a good transmission.
 
#20 ·
The Cherokees came with a 2.8 V6, GM sells a 3.2 stroker version of the motor that uses the same bell pattern as the 2.5. There are a couple kits to join either engine to an AX15 tranny, I'd measure one up,, I would not be surprised if it uses the ame motor mount as the 2.5 (Novak/Advanced/JB conversions) You an get all but the special bell housing from wrecking yards.

Or buy the whole 4.3 setup out of a 2014+ worktruck. 4.3L all aluminum, direct injection, still matches all the chevy mounts and bells etc. There is a kit to put it in front of a AX15 as well, which will handle the motor well. Google the 2014+ engine,, its 300 ish HP and LIGHT, I think it may be lighter all in than the original 4 cylinder.. YOu might even be able to find the whole engine/trans and put a NP241 from a S10 on and your a long ways there..

NO swap is easy.. But planning and looking help.
 
#21 ·
The Cherokees came with a 2.8 V6, GM sells a 3.2 stroker version of the motor that uses the same bell pattern as the 2.5. There are a couple kits to join either engine to an AX15 tranny, I'd measure one up,, I would not be surprised if it uses the ame motor mount as the 2.5 (Novak/Advanced/JB conversions) You an get all but the special bell housing from wrecking yards.

Or buy the whole 4.3 setup out of a 2014+ worktruck. 4.3L all aluminum, direct injection, still matches all the chevy mounts and bells etc. There is a kit to put it in front of a AX15 as well, which will handle the motor well. Google the 2014+ engine,, its 300 ish HP and LIGHT, I think it may be lighter all in than the original 4 cylinder.. YOu might even be able to find the whole engine/trans and put a NP241 from a S10 on and your a long ways there..

NO swap is easy.. But planning and looking help.
I agree the LS based 4300 LV3 is a fantastic engine. Such a shame it gets work truck status. It has a near flat torque curve right off idle to 5500 rpm that is so typical of the LS engines.

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