2000 Jeep TJ with a 4.0L

[IgniteTJ]

I'd prefer to stay the stock 4.0L if possible lol, trying to find a good running used one for now to at least get my jeep on the road and maybe rebuild the 4.0L I'm pulling from it

So if anyone has a 4.0L for sale (preferably around TJ age..) I'm interested

[vantagetes]

I'd do that. I bought a whole 4.0 TJ with 120,000km for $1800. It was a rollover but I was really only after the engine and tranny, I'll sell the bits I don't use to bring my swap cost down after.

[4Banger_madness]

i still do have that one at work

[The Machinist]

I'm getting firebolt to do the machining and assembly.  In the end I expect it to be in the $3000 range.

You do realize that firebolt engines are built by cetus right?  These guys make their money by hosing old ladies that don't know any better, your bill will probably be twice what they quote.  Hell, they even hosed their parts suppliers rep on an engine build after telling him they would give him a discount.

option 1: Precise engine rebuilders in Calgary have a 4.6L shortblock for sale for $2000, but I think they'd take less.  Apparently, a customer ordered it and couldn't pay for it.  In the end, it wasn't exactly what I wanted so decided not to.  Also, their customer service is questionable.

This is funny, Chris is actually a nice guy.  That stroker has been sitting for a year now and I know they would love to see it gone.  These guys do top notch engine machining and assembly, I would not recommend using anyone but them. 

[Possum]

I may have to re-think who I get to do the machining work then.  Decided against Precise's short block because after all is said and done it would be around the same price as building my own.  I've already ordered all the parts so my bed is made anyway.

Heard a bad review about Precise from a previous customer.  That was where I based my comment.  Interesting how you can hear opposite things from different people.

Precise
Firebolt

any other comments / recommendations on engine rebuilders?  Looking for someone who can deck the block, valve job, engine assembly.

[esi]

+1 on precise doing good work

[parabs]

If it was up to me, I would look into a chev 5.3l engine, and transplant that into you jeep.  I am not big on chevy's but their lsx engines made decent power and tq, and are built pretty well.  There are quite a few old 5.3l engines in trucks with 300k on the odo..

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/tj_swap.htm

If you bought a jeep with the d44, you will have 3:73 gears (i think), otherwise you will have 3:07 gears.  That gear isnt enough with a stock 4.0l to run anything larger than a 33" tire, and even a 33 is pushing it...and a 33" tire is pretty small in the jeep world.  If you plan to build this jeep of yours into a monster, you will be re-gearing shortly which isnt cheap if you dont do it yourself..

Running an engine like the chev 5.3 will help mitigate a gear swap, however your axles will need work sooner than later the larger you go with tires.  In calgary, you can get a 5.3 from a wrecker for 1k pretty easily...(and the other dirty little secret is you will improve your fuel economy quite significantly as well).

[bobtheknob]

hey i just threw in a 350 was a bit pricey but i didnt do the work with lack of time took it down to national transmission on 14th and he gave me a great deal only negatives that i have now is brutal fuel milage (need to re-gear) but it drives great.

[Possum]

Decided against a v8 swap because of the work and potential gotchas to work through.  Also didn't want to deal with a wiring mess.  A stroked 4.0 puts out about the same HP and torque as a 5.3L (290HP, 325ft-lbs).  I've also always wanted to do a 4.6L stroker for some reason.

I'm covered for gearing.  Just had my front regeared to 4.56 and I'm in the process of swaping in a D44 from an XJ with 4.56 and an auburn posi.
I'm running 265-75-17 tires (roughly 33").

Got all of my parts except for pistons.  I'll have to talk to Precise.  Hopefully, they won't be too choked that I didn't buy their engine.