Jeep KJ (Grand Cherokee) V8 into an XJ Cherokee?

Jeep KJ (Grand Cherokee) V8 into an XJ Cherokee?

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Discussion

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,166 posts

203 months

Friday 18th July 2008
quotequote all
I ran a 4.0 XJ as a field/tip/dogs-to-the-beach/pay'n'play site/general-workhorse-bh for a while a few years ago and loved it. Had a 3" lift, MT's etc on it and it was a great car.

I keep seeing these 5.2 and 5.9l V8 Grand Cherokees for sale at very lowprices adn wonder if anyone's ever attempted a V8 conversion for an XJ? I assume the transmissions are the same. I've tried googling but not found much info, anyone got an idea?

Or failing the KJ engine option, anyone heard of any XJ v8 conversions?

The PM

20 posts

196 months

Friday 18th July 2008
quotequote all
Gearbox's will be different the XJ has an Aisin Warner box the V8 will have a Chrysler 40RE series, also the transfer case's are different.
Your also have a problem getting the gearbox ECU taking to the engine ECU.
The KJ is Cherokee 2002-2007 the Grandcherokee is ZG 1996-1998 & WG 1999-2004

Viper

10,005 posts

274 months

Sunday 20th July 2008
quotequote all
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com

these boys will know

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,166 posts

203 months

Sunday 20th July 2008
quotequote all
Thanks.

Looks like advanced adaptors sell everything to put a chevy v8 in an xj so that might be an easier route...

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,166 posts

203 months

Monday 21st July 2008
quotequote all
The PM said:
Gearbox's will be different the XJ has an Aisin Warner box the V8 will have a Chrysler 40RE series, also the transfer case's are different.
Your also have a problem getting the gearbox ECU taking to the engine ECU.
The KJ is Cherokee 2002-2007 the Grandcherokee is ZG 1996-1998 & WG 1999-2004
OK, I meant ZG, not KJ!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

191 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
quotequote all
Not sure on these specifically, but most guys who run YJ and TJ Wranglers usually opt for Chevy SBC swaps.

There's always the supercharger route too.

www.kennebell.net

They do a blower kit for thr 4.0 Wrangler, sure it could be adapted to fit a Cherokee.

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,166 posts

203 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2008
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Not sure on these specifically, but most guys who run YJ and TJ Wranglers usually opt for Chevy SBC swaps.

There's always the supercharger route too.

www.kennebell.net

They do a blower kit for thr 4.0 Wrangler, sure it could be adapted to fit a Cherokee.
Thanks for that. I've heard some bad stories about the s/c route - a guy i vaguely know on the IoM did it to his Wrangler and wished (with hindsight) he'd just swapped the engine for a v8.