The list of which 4.0L Jeep motor will fit your Jeep

Blaze

The Jeeper Reaper
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Location
Wake Forest, NC
Came out of a thread in the general chat. Here's the comprehensive list of what motors will fit which Jeeps.

1987-1990 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0L
Renix motor - you can use 87-90 4.0L
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ You will need to relocate temp sender to thermostat housing from HO motor. Also need to use all your Renix accessories, distributor, flywheel/flexplate, etc. 00-01 is not recommended due to crappy head. Some people say the 0331 isn't as bad as people say. We scrap Jeeps, more than likely if we get a 0331 head Jeep in the head is cracked, well over half the high mileage 00-01 ones we get in have this problem.

1991-1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0L
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

2000-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0L
00-01 XJ
You can also use 91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ engines, but you will need to purchase separate coil pack adapter brackets since the 00-01 is a coil pack motor and earlier engines do not have mounting provisions. It would be cheaper and easier to just find the correct 00-01 motor.

93-98 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 4.0L
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

99-04 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ 4.0L
99-04 WJ, 00-06 TJ - 2002 and up were TUPY heads and did not have the cracking problems that earlier 0331 heads had. 02+ are recommended.

1991-1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

1997-1999 Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

2000-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ
99-04 WJ, 00-06 TJ - 2002 and up were TUPY heads and did not have the cracking problems that earlier 0331 heads had. 02+ are recommended.

There you have it, please let me know if anything is wrong here. This was all gone off of by memory and experience here in the shop. I think I got it all correct but if anyone finds issue let me know and I'll update it. Also, some motors might have slight wiring differences with the temp gauge wiring because after 96 they stopped putting them in the cylinder head. You can either use a 96+ thermostat housing and extend the wire, or you can drill and tap your existing housing and extend the wires. You can also be brave and drill and tap the head. I'd rather do the housing and extend the wire and not risk it.

There are also some other differences with swapping HO motors into Renix Jeeps and the other way around, most of it is gasket related and easily remedied with using the correct gaskets.

Hope this helps some people!

 
Thanks for putting all that together.

So I take it there are no differences in motor mount bosses in the blocks but only difference in mounts?

No, the bosses in the blocks are different in the 99-04 WJ and the 00+ TJs compared to XJ/ZJ/YJ/early TJ, that's why they won't bolt in. Technically, you can make them work with some fab work, but it's not like 4.0s in the correct arrangement are hard to come by.

Can the OPDA TJ's from 05/06 swap into a pre 05? For some reason I thought they can't, or well easily can't.

From what I understand, the longblock is the same, you just need to use the sensors and all off of the year you are doing. You can put a pre 05 into it if you use your 05+ sensors and vise versa.
 
Came out of a thread in the general chat. Here's the comprehensive list of what motors will fit which Jeeps.

1987-1990 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0L
Renix motor - you can use 87-90 4.0L
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ You will need to relocate temp sender to thermostat housing from HO motor. Also need to use all your Renix accessories, distributor, flywheel/flexplate, etc. 00-01 is not recommended due to crappy head. Some people say the 0331 isn't as bad as people say. We scrap Jeeps, more than likely if we get a 0331 head Jeep in the head is cracked, well over half the high mileage 00-01 ones we get in have this problem.

1991-1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0L
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

2000-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0L
00-01 XJ
You can also use 91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ engines, but you will need to purchase separate coil pack adapter brackets since the 00-01 is a coil pack motor and earlier engines do not have mounting provisions. It would be cheaper and easier to just find the correct 00-01 motor.

93-98 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 4.0L
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

99-04 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ 4.0L
99-04 WJ, 00-06 TJ - 2002 and up were TUPY heads and did not have the cracking problems that earlier 0331 heads had. 02+ are recommended.

1991-1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

1997-1999 Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ
87-90 XJ - Renix motor, lower power output, not recommended
91-01 XJ, 93-98 ZJ, 91-95 YJ, 97-99 TJ (read 87-90 XJ section above about 0331 head issues on 00-01 XJ)

2000-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ/LJ
99-04 WJ, 00-06 TJ - 2002 and up were TUPY heads and did not have the cracking problems that earlier 0331 heads had. 02+ are recommended.

There you have it, please let me know if anything is wrong here. This was all gone off of by memory and experience here in the shop. I think I got it all correct but if anyone finds issue let me know and I'll update it. Also, some motors might have slight wiring differences with the temp gauge wiring because after 96 they stopped putting them in the cylinder head. You can either use a 96+ thermostat housing and extend the wire, or you can drill and tap your existing housing and extend the wires. You can also be brave and drill and tap the head. I'd rather do the housing and extend the wire and not risk it.

There are also some other differences with swapping HO motors into Renix Jeeps and the other way around, most of it is gasket related and easily remedied with using the correct gaskets.

Hope this helps some people!


Hey there. I am about replace the motor in my 1998 XJ with the motor from a 98 TJ. According to most things I have discovered, the blocks are the same, and the belt driven accessories should plug and pray, along with wiring. I was a bit hesitant because I can't see the motor in person, although the photos I have seen are mint. What got me questioning the compatibility was the belt driven accessory arrangement, the clutch fan in particular, is a bit different. But it seems like I will be able to install the same AC/Alternator bracket that holds the clutch fan pulley from my XJ right onto the TJ block which will give me the same arrangement as the original set up.

I also noticed that my block number is 53010449AA, the 1999-2001 casting while the 1998 casting number is only 53010449, according to:

Racing Rods - Builders Have Many Options From Which to Choose - Engine Builder Magazine

However, my engine serial number is 806MX09, which should 09/06/1998 build date.

Either way, I just want to make sure the new motor will be a perfect match. I would appreciate any input.

Thank You!
 
Just found out the TJ block casting number is 53020569. Which makes perfect sense since it is a 98 TJ.

How can I find out the differences as far as mounting and bolt on accessories if any with my '99 casting #53010449AA that is in my '98 XJ.
 
98s will both be the same..99-05 4.0s are different so as long as that TJ is for sure 98 manufacturing date, your good.
(Easy way to tell is compressor ...if a/c compressor is mounted bottom right looking at front of motor, you can't use it. If its mounted on left than ur good)
 
98s will both be the same..99-05 4.0s are different so as long as that TJ is for sure 98 manufacturing date, your good.
(Easy way to tell is compressor ...if a/c compressor is mounted bottom right looking at front of motor, you can't use it. If its mounted on left than ur good)

This is incorrect.

Blaze's year breakdowns at the top of the page are correct.
 
No
You're still wrong
Yeah I know WJ & TJ are one year difference of beginning diff blocks (99vs00).
Either way, was trying to help the OP know his TJ motor will work in his XJ! Sorry to make it so complex
 
Just out of curiousity... I see there is no 87-90 YJ listed. Is there a reason for this? I have a 4.2l in my 90 at the moment and have been thinking to put a 4.0l for the fuel injection out of my 94 cherokee if it was possible.
 
Just out of curiousity... I see there is no 87-90 YJ listed. Is there a reason for this? I have a 4.2l in my 90 at the moment and have been thinking to put a 4.0l for the fuel injection out of my 94 cherokee if it was possible.

Bc the 87-90 yj is a 4.2 not the 4.0.

Swap can be done, that’s what my yj is, but it’s not simple or easy. It’s the same as swapping any FI motor into anything else.

Wiring, fuel system etc.

The mounts are the same lol.
 
Bc the 87-90 yj is a 4.2 not the 4.0.

Swap can be done, that’s what my yj is, but it’s not simple or easy. It’s the same as swapping any FI motor into anything else.

Wiring, fuel system etc.

The mounts are the same lol.

Yea I figured that much. My questions were whether or not the wiring harness itself for the fi engine would plug into the firewall as is or if i'd have to fabricate it to work with the jeep itself?

If it gets to be too much work for my ability i'll just go with the carb upgrade and be done lol.
 
It’s not a plug in. I’ve done only one 4.0 into a 4.2. I took all of 4.2 stuff out of the harness and installed the 4.0 stuff. I was told not to connect the check engine light because it would probably stay lit forever. I used gas tank, fuel lines and pump from a donor. Not a terribly hard job. Harness was the hardest. Locked my self in my garage when nobody was home. Cut open both harnesses side by side on a sheet of plywood and grafted them together. I would recommend buying the harness if available. It was probably 14 or 15 years ago and I didn’t know where to even look for a harness that I could afford
 
It’s not a plug in. I’ve done only one 4.0 into a 4.2. I took all of 4.2 stuff out of the harness and installed the 4.0 stuff. I was told not to connect the check engine light because it would probably stay lit forever. I used gas tank, fuel lines and pump from a donor. Not a terribly hard job. Harness was the hardest. Locked my self in my garage when nobody was home. Cut open both harnesses side by side on a sheet of plywood and grafted them together. I would recommend buying the harness if available. It was probably 14 or 15 years ago and I didn’t know where to even look for a harness that I could afford

He did mine
 
I am looking to put a 4.0 L 2002 WJ into my 2000 TJ. The bolt holes look good but the TJ transmission bell has a splined shaft and the WJ bell has what looks like maybe a torque converter. Do I need to purchase the transmission and transfer case from the WJ to put into my TJ? TJ vs WJ photos below
MyNew2000TJ_Xmission.jpg
2002Cheokee_Xmission.JPG
 
Ok so I have a 95 Cherokee with a 4.0 and I’m looking at getting a 4.0 out of a 93 Cherokee sport would everything be plug and play or would I need to switch wire harnesses and other things? New to swapping Jeep motors and would like not to run into any problems and get it done as quick as possible. Thanks in advance!!
 
Ok so I have a 95 Cherokee with a 4.0 and I’m looking at getting a 4.0 out of a 93 Cherokee sport would everything be plug and play or would I need to switch wire harnesses and other things? New to swapping Jeep motors and would like not to run into any problems and get it done as quick as possible. Thanks in advance!!

Yes the ‘93 will swap direct to the ‘95. The easiest way to do this is strip the ‘93 down to a long block. As you pull the ‘95, label EVERYRHING! Strip the ‘95 down to a long block. Bolt everything on to the ‘93 (belt line accessories, intake, exhaust, etc.) set the “new” motor in the hole. Plug everything in. Go.
 
Yes the ‘93 will swap direct to the ‘95. The easiest way to do this is strip the ‘93 down to a long block. As you pull the ‘95, label EVERYRHING! Strip the ‘95 down to a long block. Bolt everything on to the ‘93 (belt line accessories, intake, exhaust, etc.) set the “new” motor in the hole. Plug everything in. Go.
Ok thank you very much that will help me tremendously!! Greatly appreciated!!
 
Okay so I totaled my 1997 Jeep Wrangler 4.0l and just recently bought a 2002 Jeep Wrangler 4.0l, my plan is to stroke out the 97 4.0l and swap it into my 2002. I know that the 02 motor has coil packs vs the 97 having a distributor..
Can I swap them?
 
As I understand it, yes, and there are ways you can build a bracket to hold the coil pack using some simple fabbed brackets off the valve cover
747AA757-B922-40D2-9C13-A7B163634438.jpeg

Or do away with the coil pack all together and do the viper coil pack mod.
 
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