I got a 97 TJ Sport, 4.0L, 5 speed...  I blew the engine today...  Most likely a rod into the antifreeze channel...  A new longblock from AutoZone was about $1600...  Another option that I have is a Chevy 305 V8 / automatic trans (w/ overdrive) from a '94 Chevy van...  The van is complete and running, so we can get anything we need from it...  The parts from the van are free.

In a perfect world, I'd like to keep my Jeep a 5 speed / 4 wheel drive, but money is definately an option...  Perfect world, we put the V8 in and mate it to the 5 speed...  One possibility we discussed was putting the engine / trans from the van into the Jeep, and making it 2WD if the transfer case won't bolt up.  Get a new drive shaft, and we're good to go...

Any input????

Good luck shoe horning that set-up in your Jeep.

BTW, no offence to you though, 2wd sucks.

A Jeep is meant to have 4wd!!!

You will end up spending more money trying to get that set-up in your Jeep.

If you have to, work a full time job and get a part time job to save the money for another engine and have your friends drive you around to get to the places that you need to be.

If the head is in good shape, why don't you just buy a remanufactured block instead of the long block.

I would call some other places to see if you can get a better price, $1600 seems to be a bit on the steep side. I'd stay away from Auto Zone, they don't sell the best parts.

This is just my $0.02 on this topic.

I found a junkyard 4.0, so it looks like we will be doing a direct swap...  The motor is from a '96, and it has 90K miles.  Anything I need to watch out for?

The V8 swap was not something I wanted to do, but we were quoted a new longblock for $1600 (only one place we looked, so we could have gotten a better price, but how much?).  The V8 was just an option.  I didn't want to lose 4WD, but if it's $2100 all told for the new 4.0L, and $600 for the V8 install w/o the transfer case, and maybe $1200 for adaptors to put my TCase back in, I might have had to run 2WD for a while...  =o(

Luckily, I don't have to worry about it any more...

Also, I'm considering putting in an electric fan, as long as the engine is out.  Any input on that? Is it worth it?  What kind and where would you get it from?  Would another single upgrade be better, like maybe headers?

I found these, haven't looked too much... 

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/jeep-wrangler.html

I'd be a little wary about buying a junkyard motor. Were you able too hear it run? If not it may not run at all or have some other problems with it. Most people junk there vehicles because of an accident, engine problems, and trans. problems.

I don't know how much of a better price that you could get for a remanufactered block, you would just have to call around.

An electric fan is a good option to help free up some HP. Visit you local auto parts store and ask them if they have any electric fans in stock. I'm not too sure on what brand that you should buy. Go to (Summit Racing's) website and get yourself a free catalog. They offer alot of goodies for just about any vehicle.

Headers are a good idea on the 4.0 because the original exhaust manifold likes to crack.

Good luck with your engine swap.

I'd think twice before buying one of those 'mexican blocks' from your local auto parts store, unless you like to have headaches, of couse - just my opinion. Find you a reputable shop to buy the long block, or crate engine from, or have it shipped to your local shop from a reputable source. Most shops don't pay shipping from regular suppliers they purchase from. Take a look at Jegs or Summit Racing as sources too.

Just some ideas for you.