Quick Question & need some imput

[DankstaVegas]

Question:

Well my 98' TJ 2.5L Engine & Tranny has finaly bit the dust.  I obtained a 97' 2.5L Engine & Tranny from another club member on here a while back (Last summer)..  Now I'm planning on doing the engine/Tranny swap myself, and this is the 1st time I have attemped anything like this, but hey everyone has to start somewhere right?>
 
Now my question is will I run into any wireing nightmarez doing this swap...?
Are all the wire harnesses on the 97' the same as the 98's?

Any info would be awesome, thanks in advance!


Imput:

Well now that my 98' TJ is going under the wrench, and has been retired as my daily driver; I'm looking for another Daily Driver.  I have found two jeeps I'm interested in. Both are bone stock.  The 97' is about $4000 cheaper than the 95', but has 100,000 more Kms than the 95.

I'm having one hell of a time deciding on which one.. I'm kind of leaning towards the 97' Cherokee Sport, since I'll end up saving $4000 and will be able to put it towards my 98'TJ build up..  Just hoping to hear some feed back on what others think. Pros and cons about the two.

1997' Jeep Cherokee Sport
-4.0L 200,000Kms
-Auto
-Transfer Case (part time/ Full time/4low) Not sure what kind
-4dr
-Tinted Windows
-Headder
-K&N airfilter
-Stereo system
-Roof Rack
-Power Mirrors
-Hitch
-Air Conditioning
2 sets or rims and tires (Winter & Summer)
Factory Skids (front (Radiator) & Rear (Gas))
-Mint Shape in and out (No rust, dents etc)


1995' ZJ Grand Cherokee Laredo
-4.0L HO 101,000Kms
-Auto
-Transfer Case (Part time/4 Low) Not sure what kind
-4dr
-Power Everything
- Remote start
- keyless entry
-Security System (w/Security Key/Chip)
- heated mirrors
-Air Conditioning
-Factory Tow Package
- tinted windows
-Mint Shape in and out (No rust, dents etc)

[Dragonmaster]

I'd go with the 97 cherokee sport.  The 4.0 will go for 400,000+ kms.

[Jeepin]

I can vouch for that...I got a 91 Cherokee Sport with the 4.0 and I have over 330,000 kms on it and she runs like a charm...nothing major, just minor wear and tear repairs...and come to think of it most of those were axle stuff and brake stuff anyways....

[Luxton]

I have a 96 4.0 cherokee with almost 270k... runs like a top.

[Bnine]

Both are the same motor. Both will go to 350 plus k if taken care of properly.

The decision is more what you want or like more.

The xj is a bit simpler as it doesnt have so many bells and whistles.

The zj is coiled on 4 corners, may ride better, and should have rear disks.

All in all, up to you.

[Bnine]

Question:

Well my 98' TJ 2.5L Engine & Tranny has finaly bit the dust.  I obtained a 97' 2.5L Engine & Tranny from another club member on here a while back (Last summer)..  Now I'm planning on doing the engine/Tranny swap myself, and this is the 1st time I have attemped anything like this, but hey everyone has to start somewhere right?>
 
Now my question is will I run into any wireing nightmarez doing this swap...?
Are all the wire harnesses on the 97' the same as the 98's?

Any info would be awesome, thanks in advance!

Plug for plug, bolt for bolt, the same thing.

If anything varies in the slightest like, braketry (it shouldnt) just swap you old to the new.

Throttlebody plugs, are exact swap

Injects are exact swap

CPS exact

Manifolds exact


As swaps go it doesnt get much more straight forward.

Good one to start out on.

[DankstaVegas]

Well I bought the 97' Jeep cherokee sport tonight, I'm very pleased with the jeep.  Thanks for all your imput..

Bnine thanks for the info, I was kind of hoping and thinking, this would be a perfect swap for myself to do.. being it my 1st time pulling a engine & tranny it seems like a good way to learn about the jeep.  

Since I have to work sunday, don't think I'll be going anywhere too far so might get started on the engine this weekend.

[Jeepin]

how much did you pay, if you dont mind me asking...also do you have a pic of it?  I was just wondering because I wouldnt mind going to a bit newer Cherokee

[DankstaVegas]

Well with the high KMs on the engine 205,000Kms,  I was able to get the guy to come down some, so I scored the 97' XJ for $6000.00.  The Jeep has been kept in awesome shape in and out no rips, stains, dents never been off roaded or abused, the Jeep was always taken to the dealer to be serviced.  The person I got it from was the 1st owner and most of the KM"s are highway.

The only thing that didn't work was the Air Conditioning, the guy let me know before hand,  but all it cost me to fix was a can of refrigerant, and a few mins of my old mans time    


I'll snap some pics of the XJ this weekend when I'm at my sisters house, and try to figer out how to upload them here Or I could e-mail them to you.

[Jeepin]

Right on...that seems like a pretty good deal...mine has 330k on it and it still runs awsome...just put a new alt and batt in yesterday, and a couple other new things here and there...but nothing that was really hard to do myself or expensive...205k is nothing man...lemme know when you get some pics