Hey there! I'm a new guy and haven't seen any posts on this yet so I hope I'm not asking things that have been posted already. Here goes...
I want to convert my CJ into an XJ. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> Please, please...stop cursing at me! I used to own a 98 Cherokee and loved having leather and all that. I've always wanted a CJ7 and now I have one but really miss the luxuries. Not to mention I hate having to mess with those vacum tubes, that ridiculous factory carb and let's not forget the heater that only blows lukewarm air (which must be directed outside the vehicle!).
So I've decided to buy a rolled or otherwise salvaged XJ with a 4.0, rebuild the motor and start swappin. Here's what I'm planning and could use some input on.
I've read the 258 to 4.0 conversion. Sounds like something I can handle (either me or my three buddies that are mechanics!). After that I want the seats, console, dash (oh yes, the whole thing!), heater, ac, and everything else that constitutes the interior that I don't destroy as I'm removing it!

Other than just buying a TJ, does anyone have any experience swapping some of these things? Especially the dash!

Thanks a ton!

The dash and heater and AC will be 100% pure fab work. It will be VERY difficult. You will have to learn exactly what everypart in each system is used for and how it works. I sugegst you swap the motor/tranny/T-case from the cherokee and maybe the seats. An old CJ will never be as nice as a 98 XJ.

Yeah, I understand that they'll never be the same. It just seemed that if all of the wiring from the motor and ECU on the XJ is used on the CJ, it would just be a matter of bolting it in correctly.
Imagine this...
Remove all of the drivetrain and electrical parts (including the dash) from an XJ and put them on a frame (any frame that they'll fit on). The guages and other instruments will still work the same since they are all connected to the same wires only now they're in a different spot.

I find that I have a knack for oversimplification. This is perhaps just another case of that!

I think mabye your getting a little carried away...but I admire your determination. If you want to fix the heater just install a k5 heater motor and replace your heater core...it will pretty much keep you warm even with the top off. A CJ dash has ample room to put just about any guage you want on it. If you want to know how cramped your interior will be with all the XJ stuff in it step into a TJ and if your over 6 foot tall like me...you will be cramped...its pretty much the same. Swaping the Engine and tranny is a good idea but if your 258 is a good runner or even if its not have the shortblock rebuilt and do a 4.0 head conversion with fuel injection. You can pretty much put any seat in there with a little modification to the stock CJ seat brackets. Just be carefull on the width if you want a center console. Just some advice. good luck with the prodject.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for that. Sounds like I'm going to need all of the luck I can get! That's another question...

What's with all of this head swappin' stuff? Can I just take the head (carb and all) and replace with the head from a 4.0 with the fuel injection? Of course I'll need the ECU and other stuff but is this easier? What all is involved?

ditto on the k5 fan and new heater core. also make sure you replace the t-stat with the right one(195). the beauty of the cj dash is that it is just a flat piece of steel..get an uncut one and you can put whatever gauges you want in it, i don't know anything about xj's but i'd imagine switching heating components would be a nightmare.
the head swap isnt a bad idea if your 258 is healthy, plus you wont even have to take the engine and tranny apart. what tranny does the cj have now? if you have a t176 you're all set. t5 or t4 ..maybe. you cant just swap in the xfer case unless you want to flip it and make shifter mods, plus the dana300 is better anyways. if you want the whole 4.0 liter then keep whatever tranny is attached to it and get a clocking ring for $160 to hook up to the dana300. leather seats in a cj is a good idea (think heated), i just dont know how they hold up to rain.
good luck, take alot of pics and do a write-up on it
Brian <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have never done the head swap, but I do know it is not as simple as bolting them together. You will have to weld up some passages on the 4.0 head and add some extra aftermarket electronics to the whole motor.

The head swap is realitively easy. There are many write ups on it...do a search in google. You have to plug one row of water jackets with epoxy and you need your head bolts drilled out to Half inch...or you can buy new stock ones and get some connicle washers I've seen a write up on this as well.Transfer the head Intake and exhaust from your cherokee and give a call to HESCO for the wiring harness for the MPI Conversion they make...unless you like splicing. Hesco also has the external fuel pump for fuel inejection and the piece you need to hook up your speedo to the ECU.

I have the Hesco MPI conversion on a 95 head and I think that their wiring harness only splices into the original wiring harness by 2 or 3 wires.

There is a ton of info on the net about the head conversion and a 4.0 swap either is a pretty slick deal.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Whoa, not so fast there. Some 258's (most actually) are already 1/2". Only the early-to-mid '80s were 7/16".

The webpage that set the standard for the 4.0 head swap:
www.monsterslayer.com/jeep

The Jeep forum with the most 4.0 swap info (dedicated 4.0 forum there); www.cjoffroad.com

Sorry, I forgot about that. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />