4 cyl to 6 cyl

[STEELFISH]

hey guys I am sure there is some information out there but I haven't found any yet....
My brother has a 86 4door XJ, 4 cyl 5spd stick, w/231 t-case, We have recently purchased a 96 4door XJ, 6cyl auto, w/231 t-case, but the unibody is wrecked so we are going to swap the whole drive train including the rear axle....one thing i have noticed is the front core support is different between the two, what do we need to do to make a 3 core radiator work in this? what other things am I going to have trouble with? we are in the process of debating whether or not to keep the AX-5 behind the 6 or to put the auto in it? will the AX-5 bolt up?hold up?w/33's +? any help would be great, also we will have the left over trans and t-case available after we are done w/the swap, so if anyone is interested PM w/offers...............thanksguys

 

[Yucca-Man]

Talk to old_man, he did this on his 84ish XJ when dropping a stroker and AW-4 in. I believe it took rework of the firewall as well as the front core support and hood latches as well, but then again Tom has a knack for making things difficult work. Errr...making difficult things work.

 

[STEELFISH]

thanks, his screen name is old man? I guess I will search for his name...thanks keep it coming

 

[STEELFISH]

bump

 

[Eagle]

Bumping, or posting useless comments to accomplish the same thing, is not allowed. Next time one of the moderators may just delete your thread with no warning.

The 4.0L swap into an 86 or older XJ is not easy. I know a guy who did it, or rather had it done. He knew he wanted to do it, he has a good friend who runs a shop, and they sat down and discussed it. The shop owner and his lead tech decided that the easiest way to do it was to slice both vehicles in half through the front door opening, and weld the '88 nose complete with engine and wiring harness onto the 86 aft section. And that's what they did.

It can be done the other way, too, replacing just the forward end of the front clip and massaging the firewall. Either way, it is NOT a bolt-in conversion the way it would be in an 87 or newer XJ.

 

[XJ_ranger]

thanks, his screen name is old man? I guess I will search for his name...thanks keep it coming

old_man is his name

i would keep the old axles in the rig and get adaptors (if they're needed - im not sure), because with the 4 cyl, 5 spd - you have a possibility of 4.11/4.10 gears which would be perfect with the 6cyl 5 spd and 33" tires that i saw that you wanted to run.


Eagle - that seems pretty intense cutting and welding...

i think that there is little that can not be acomlpished with a decent welder, intelegent - and motivated people and enough metal stock.

go for it and post pics!

XJ_Ranger - with almost useless reply other than varifying that the name is Old_Man

 

[STEELFISH]

thanks guys, cutting the heep in 2 seems a bit extreme....but none the less thanks.....The firewall has already got the indention....what modifying is to be done....and thanks xjranger....for the user name......

 

[STEELFISH]

bmp......