..I assume you mean as in "hard",as in dollars and cents?- The choice of a small block Chevy 350 V-8 will start somewhere at $2,000.00-up depending on what your additional preferences are.-In my own personal choice of a engine for the Jeep Cherokee XJ 1985-86 I have elected to go with a 1995 Chevrolet LT1 350 V-8 5.7 liter carbureted engine
and a Chevy 700R-4 transmission .For additional details,see the information available at Advanced Adapters and in the archives at
. The subject and choice of an suitable engine swap/replacement seems to come up here at the
Modification forum about every other month,so you should be able to comb the archives for more information. There is a aluminum Be Cool manufactored radiator that you will in all probablility need and use for the additional cooling with a larger V-8 engine and here is some of the specifications. to be about 1.5 gal for the rad. The cooling surface is 30.75 x <11.25
Thickness is 3" Tanks are 2.75 wide
Passenger outlet just short of 4 from bottom, 7.5 from top Drivers side outlet 3.875 from top, 7.5 from bottom.
( cost $600.00 ) dollars !!
Griffin radiator or Superior Radiator,Be Cool Radiator can also supply this for you at different costs from $500.00- $700.00 dollars .
There is an optional intake setup that I chose rather than the more powerful stock fuel-injected system .This carbureted intake manifold can
be purchased from either your local Chevy dealer or though PaceParts online if you so chose. I am at the present time installing/refineing a 1997-Ford Explorer 8.8 rear-axle with disc brakes ($500.00-$600.00) All in all,..Not too much of a problem.
Also since many of the American made components( Chevrolet+Ford,etc.) are so widely abundant(..and CHEAP..) and Jeep Cherokee XJ parts are so interchangeable and abundant with other vehicle components ,both foriegn and domestic ,that..in this particular
engine swap that this is really a very good cost efficient project. In this instance and with many others at the Modification forum I did/do most of the mechanical work on my ole 1986 XJ 2.5-2.8 liter to go to about triple the horsepower with the small block Chevy 5.7 liter.The value of this engine swap rises in some inverse econonmic proportion to what you personally do.
any case with your choice,
Good Luck
-BILLXJ