What would you all do in this situation?

[bammerman]

I found 2 deals.  1 is a full straight 6 with ecu and harness for about 300.00 at my pick-n-pull with about 145k on it.  another a guy is parting out and will give me everything for 100.00 with 225k on it. 

would you buy the first one and rebuild kit
or buy the second one and do a full overhaul?

[dwtaylorpdx]

I'd buy a straight 6 jeep and transfer the goodies on my current one to it.
I've helped on a couple 6 cyl swaps was very painful.... For the gain.

If I was going to do the work I'd take the one I could remove the wiring
from myself so I could document the connections.

At 145 or 225 both could use a rebuild. 145 could go a while but I hate doing the R&R twice.

Cost me about 2K for a full end to end performance rebuild on my 4 cylinder....
Hesco and others will build a stroker for you... 

Good Luck.
Dave

[sharpxmen]

i think you will need both harnesses, the one in the engine bay and the one under the dash with everything that comes on it as well as the gauge cluster and the instrument panel (tacho/speedo).

like he ^ said, most likely you'll need to rebuild either one.

[bammerman]

My mechanic guy (he is building my crawler) said the engine swap is really easy.  Motor mounts need to be changed, but I have the AX5 which he said the 6 will bolt up to or I might (worse case sec.) need a adapter.

I was thinking of getting this for either one of the engines.  Not sure what the difference is between overhaul, rebuild, and master rebuild kits.  The master is the most expensive so I figure it is the more in depth one.
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-JEEP-4-0L-242-CID-Master-Rebuild-Kit-87-95_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4833080ec4QQitemZ310093811396QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[sharpxmen]

My mechanic guy (he is building my crawler) said the engine swap is really easy.  Motor mounts need to be changed, but I have the AX5 which he said the 6 will bolt up to or I might (worse case sec.) need a adapter.

I was thinking of getting this for either one of the engines.  Not sure what the difference is between overhaul, rebuild, and master rebuild kits.  The master is the most expensive so I figure it is the more in depth one.
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-JEEP-4-0L-242-CID-Master-Rebuild-Kit-87-95_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4833080ec4QQitemZ310093811396QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

there is no way to mate the AX5 to the 6cyl (any reasonable way i mean). bellhousing is different, so is the flywheel/pressure plate/clutch and the dimensions of the input shaft and splines that go into the clutch disk. You will need the transmission as well as the transfer case or to replace the input shaft in your NP231 t-case.

[bammerman]

How easy is it to convert manual to automatic?  This donor vehicle I can get everything T-case, tranny, engine, wire harness and ecu for less than $300.00.  Mine is an manual though

[95yjman]

why would you want to bolt a 6cyl to an ax-5? I would just keep the 4cyl... or mod the 4cyl out some.  That or find a 6cyl YJ (I think thats what you have) and swap your mods over to that one   All in all its a lot of work...

[bammerman]

The good thing is I don't have to do the work :) I set this guys show up with a camera system and auto lights, etc... for free which is about 2k labor.  So he going to do my swap for free.  Just have to find the right parts.  Might trade my motorcycle for a donor jeep I found today.

[sharpxmen]

How easy is it to convert manual to automatic?  This donor vehicle I can get everything T-case, tranny, engine, wire harness and ecu for less than $300.00.  Mine is an manual though

what year?
i think you also need the steering column in that case in addition to complete wiring harness (in-cab and engine bay) and the instruments (in case the donor is the newer 91-95).

[bammerman]

what year?
i think you also need the steering column in that case in addition to complete wiring harness (in-cab and engine bay) and the instruments (in case the donor is the newer 91-95).

It is an 87-88 (the guy isn't sure on the year). And it is a XJ jeep cherokee.

[sharpxmen]

It is an 87-88 (the guy isn't sure on the year). And it is a XJ jeep cherokee.

i dunno how that would work so i take back the things i said about the harness(es)

and since it's an XJ the steering column is different, not sure what's involved there (i don't even know if the shifter is there or on the floor in the XJ, if i remember correctly it is at the steering column in a YJ auto).

I would look for a newer donor if i were you, and probably better if it's a YJ.

[chardrc]

97-88 cj would have the renix injected 4.0l... id hold out for a "ho" (91+) 4.0l if i was to consider a 4.0l swap...

[TrailsLessTaken]

The shifter on my buddys XJ was on the console

[95yjman]

I believe police XJ's where the column shifters....

[dwtaylorpdx]

My mechanic guy (he is building my crawler) said the engine swap is really easy.  Motor mounts need to be changed, but I have the AX5 which he said the 6 will bolt up to or I might (worse case sec.) need a adapter.

I was thinking of getting this for either one of the engines.  Not sure what the difference is between overhaul, rebuild, and master rebuild kits.  The master is the most expensive so I figure it is the more in depth one.
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-JEEP-4-0L-242-CID-Master-Rebuild-Kit-87-95_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4833080ec4QQitemZ310093811396QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

No polite way to say it  , if your mechanic thinks a 6 will go in front of a AX5  hes an idiot. Run away. 
The AX5 is barely adequate behind the 4 cyl stock, even if you could adapt it.

Sometimes free is NOT a very good price. And I've seen lots of shops that produce cool stuff that is junk.

As far as rebuild kits, the cost between right and half done is too small to dink with,
go to a reputable supplier and buy a full kit. You want a solid kit with good head gaskets.
I know how to build engines, I pay a guy who knows how to do it really really well to do mine.
There is way more to it than you see in the service manual if you want it tough and smooth.
Of course I don't know what your goals are, but you need a target if you want to plan something.

Good Luck...

Dave