ok, to start off, just to get you on the right track, I own a 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport. What they call Emerald Green. To me its more like hunter green but whatever. I have owned it ever since I turned 15.(24 now) I have been diehard in jeeps and offroading in general ever since I wheeled my xj with a bunch of built rigs in a local fire access trail. I realized the capability after owning what gave some trucks with 33s trouble. Anyways, after the paragraph there. My main bearings and head are toast along with probably a broken or bent flywheel(havent looked yet). I run a Auto repair shop so I have to means to do this project, but. I have been trying to decide what to put in it for a long time. I am a Chrysler fan so I have thought of every option. Don't get me wrong though, I didn't just say ditch the 4.0 because i love them but i want more hp for the build that i want. Gears can only do so much. My main idea right now is the Mopar Performance Crate Carb Hemi the 5.7. I can buy the crate for $5867. The problem is I know I am looking at a lot of work here. And, with the price of all the other things I need I can't dump to much cash in the engine swap. Opinions are what I'm askin for boys... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


[color:"red"] [/color] [color:"blue"] [/color]

What should I do single choice
	5.7L Mopar Performance Carb Hemi
	Rebuild the 4.0 and gear up
	4.7L V8 out of wrecked WJ
	5.9 Cummins Turbo DSL
	i'm posting my idea
Votes accepted starting: 01/07/09 06:00 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

I love the diesel idea. How cool would that be?

get a 4.2 out of a cj and build a 4.7 stroker

I voted for the diesel...I would not say the 5.9 for sure, but I gotta agree with Fish on this one...it would be awesome! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, I said the diesel too, moreso because I find humor in even thinking about a 5.9 in a unibody pos like a XJ.
I drive a pos xj for my current wheeling rig so I know what a pile the XJ platform is. I wheel it, grocery store it, teach my daughter to drive in it...but V8 or 5.9 it?
I'll save that for the rig that has a frame.

SD

What about a diesel out of a volkswagon...or even a Jeep Liberty (if you can find one that is). I don't think a large diesel would work, but a smaller one would be great. You don't really need more horsepower, just more torque, unless you plan on making it into a mudder, then you need both.

thanks for the replies. There is a guy that I've met that has a MJ Comanche with a 12valve cummins 5.9. It is a monster. Not only is it a cummins but a built one. That's where I got the idea. I rode with him through his field where he has bulldozed himself a nice obstacle course and let me say 500hp and 750 ft lbs feels good in a MJ 5" up with 36" SSRs. So I know it will fit and I know it is possible so this is still a possibility. A local kid here has a 89 cherokee with a 400 sb chevy with about 425hp and all he did was weld in some frame strengtheners, and has had that set up for a couple years. I have to disagree on the XJ platform. Sure the unibody isn't ready for a hardcore comp rig but, my family likes to go wheelin too and you can't beat an xj for good comfortable wheelin down a skinny quad trail with the wife and kids. If I was gonna build somethin to ride on 54" michelins, I would worry about a frame but the old XJs haven't let me down yet. I might be tradin for a 77 K5 blazer with 39.5 boggers though, thats gonna be a fun project, because I don't mind cuttin and weldin on a junkster. I have been wanting to put these rockwells and some commercial michelins on something since i bought em.

back to the XJ.... that cummins idea is sounding better and better now that I think about it.

I have learned in the field that I work in, VWs are complicated. I had that same idea a long time ago, but i would hate to work on one in the middle of the woods. haha

The cummings will twist the XJ like there is no tomorrow.You have to remember they twisted the dodge truck frames that they where in,until the beefed up the frame.The xj unibody is even weaker.then once you start fabbingup stuff to strengthen it it will be more of a headache than what it is worth, let alone the trans,transfer case,and rears that you will need to buy and fab mounts to get them in. Once you start in modding rears to fit the xj the price will rocket up quick.the other options will also be a bit tough,except the 4.0 rebuild. You need to get all the facts together before such a change.What are the emission laws,how much money will it cost ,how much am I willing to spend and so on.
Simular to Playinmud's idea buy the 4.2,rebuild it, then slap a 97-mid 98 4.0 head on it,if in fact your head can't be rebuilt. that way you will have more power, will be able to still run fuel injection,MAY still pass emissions,and finally no adapters to buy,fabricating to do and so on to get it in.

Another Idea I had was a small cat diesel from a forklift,but how to hook it to the trans is the problem. I am not sure if advance adaptors or anyone has such an adapter.

No way on a 5.9 I6 diesel in XJ, gotta see pix to believe that one. I've personally seen a 454 in a xj. When I talked with the owner, he said in order to get a huge radiator in, he had to move the firewall 9" back. The bay got widened 6"
it has coil overs.
Now a 4BT 4cyl cummins in a xj is possible, 5.9 no way.

The XJ is a pile when it comes to strength, there is nothing strong about them. Until I beefed my with frame stiffeners and intigrated sliders, if you twisted it up the door would not open.
Please don't compare a rig with a frame (even an old CJ) to a unibody. That is a joke.

SD