92muddycherokee

I have a 92 Cherokee Limited that has a tired 4.0 in it. It still runs ok and gets me where I need to go. I don't have to do a rebuild but I want to, for the fun of it and for the learning experience. I have rebuilt an engine before from the ground up so I can do the labor and kind of know what I am doing.
I have had some offers of engines to buy, I found a guy with a 91 4.0 that came out of a Cherokee Limited that has all the parts and is not a blown motor the jeep was just wrecked.
I also have an offer for a 2000 4.0 out of a wrangler that has low miles but was abused a lot off road, it had a blown head gasket and it broke a piston in side before the engine was pulled.
While I would like the newness of a 2000, I am afraid of what I could find inside the block and if everything would line up or if the electronics would work with my 92.
I can get the 92 engine for $75 and the 2000 for $100
I am actually leaning toward the 92 just because it is going to be a complete tear down, the block will be milled and the head worked on, new bearings, rings, etc... so it will basically be a new engine when all is said and done.
I guess what I am asking is, would it be worth it to go with the newer engine just because it is newer? Or am I better off with an engine that pretty much came out of exactly what I want to put it into?
Thanks.

Jamie57

I'd get them both. from everything I've been reading about putting a stroker motor together, the 2000 is a better block and the 91 has the better head. the intake is better on the 2000 Don't know (yet) if the 2000 block has a provision for a distruibuter as they went with a single fire ignition. I'd put the single fire on myself!

Abovetimberline

I would stick with what you have already,the 92 is going to be the same it sounds like the 2000 has some real issues,and once you look at it closer it may have issues like a crankshaft with serious damage,cylinder walls,etc.

huntingman2706217

stick the 2000 motor and your motor together and make one... the 2000 motor is gonna be your high output... so mix and match parts while rebuilding... if the 2000 block is trashed once you get in there... then use your 92 block... if your doing a full rebuild then all the little stuff doesnt matter cause there getting replaced... bu ti would also try and find a wire harness for the 2000 motor so you can make everything work right... i got a 96 HO in my 89... and i love it... with all the stuff cut off mine... right now i dont need anything bigger.... i can burn 3rd...

92muddycherokee

I really don't want to combine my motor and the others because the one in my jeep runs ok now and I want to still be able to use it. I am somewhat financially limited so the build will be slow. It is likely it will go on through the fall maybe the winter too.
How can I know if the 91 engine is a HO engine or not?

Abovetimberline

All 4.0 motors starting with 91 are h.o weather they say it on the back of the jeep or not,when chrysler took over in 91 they changed the operating system,cam,head where it would flow better,intake and exhaust to compliment the head,removed the egr and knock sensor,which they say gained them 13hp. the injectors are bigger also.

Abovetimberline

You can also look at the head and it will have 7120 cast in the head,this is the upgraded head,I think it is located just past the 4th head bolt on the drivers side.

2.5TURBO

I think you got an option you've overlooked. If you do enough research to find out what works best with what (i.e. 2000 block, 92 internals, 2000 intake) and make your own creature.

OR

If you don't want to get all frankenJEEP on people then just play it safe and get a 92. Once you've got that 00 engine in your going to have to remember what goes with what for parts and the store. It can become a real PITA.

In summary of what I babbled about 1) RESEARCH and CREATE or 2)play it SAFE!

huntingman2706217

ive read several times that the HO motor didnt start till 94... but i havent ever looked myself so only going off what everyone else had said... thats a first for me..

Abovetimberline

The other items changed in 91 were the throttle body was made bigger,not sure how much,met to improve flow,and the adittion of the chrysler multi point fuel injection system and away from the old renix fuel system.

Jamie57

Hey Where are you? If your not gonna take my advice, then sell me the 2000. I don't need the crank,rods and pistons anyway but I can sure use the block and the intake!
Man you got the makings of a killer stroker there. all you need is the 4.2l crank and rods!!
Why do all the guys who don't know what they got always get the best deals?

huntingman2706217

lol... i know it... i was like that once... in fact i once scrapped a running 360/727 dana 60 front and back axled frame down 79 power wagon... got a whole $350... what an idiot i was... i did need the money but dang... should have figured something else out... would have been awesome for the XJ now.... dang im stupid!

92muddycherokee

Well I was just about to go get the 92 engine and I decided to take one last look on Craigslist.
I am glad I did! I found a 1994 Cherokee Sport with SelecTrac 4.0 HO that ran but has loud knocking from the engine for only $300.00!!!!
I bought it on the spot. Most everything seems to work. I am going to take the valve cover off and see what is knocking and try to fix it then take some of your advice and start to do the rebuild on my 92 that I have now.
I will post pics tomorrow....a $300 Cherokee, I could not pass that up.
Thanks for the advice though I will be doing a rebuild soon, just don't know for sure if it will be on my 92 or 94 first.
Thanks again.