Stroker Installation Tips?

[Bodo]

Howdy gang

The motor is finally done! I will be installing it next week over a 3 day period.

I've never attempted an engine swap before. Any hints or tricks for a newbie?

[amcinstaller]

get a digital camera, and a HUGE card. then label EVERYTHING. lastly, take your time and enjoy it, youre not a flat rate worker

[92tank]

when i did my engine swap i pulled the grill and rad. so i had a nice straight shot. and so i didnt have to crawl over it all. the only electical plugs that are the same are the injectors and as long as you dont mix them up you will be fine . one more thing is make sure you put a jack under the trans other than that have fun and think of how much fun it will be driving it with the stroker


good luck

[Bodo]

I think the plan is to pull the tranny/xfer case along with the engine. I've heard horror stories about getting the top transmission bolts off on the XJ. Every plan is soft till the decision is made though

Got the camera ready and I'll have the laptop with my FSM loaded along with the fabulous inter-webs.

[4.whoa]

I did it all connected like that.If you have it lifted, raise the rear of the truck and/or put smaller front tires on it to help lift the t-case over the bumper. My hoist was maxed out.

[92tank]

I WAS GONNA PULL IT ALL OUT AT ONCE TO, BUT AFTER GETTING STARTED IT TURNED OUT TO BE EASYER NOT TO. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE FRONT END OFF THE TOP BOLTS ARENT THAT HARD, JUST USE A WRENCH AND NOT A RACHET. OH YEAH I ALSO TOOK THE MANIFOLDS OFF BEFORE I PULLED THE MOTOR.

[SilverXJ]

I've never pulled the engine with the transmission connected. Just the engine itself. The top bolts on the transmission are a bitch. After I get the accessories out of the way (fan, power steering pump, AC compressor radiator, etc), I connect the hoist. Pretty much everything that needs do be removed aside from the top transmission bolts, side transmission bolts, and engine cushion bolts have been removed at that point. I then unbolt the engine cushion to body side bracket. Then I lift the engine just enough to take the weight off the cushions. Then the through bolts can be removed and the cushions can be pulled. Then I let the engine side brackets rest on the frame side brackets. That gives me enough room to get to the top transmission bolts. I then lift up the engine as far as it will go, place a jack stand under it withe a piece of wood under the transmission pan, then lower the engine until the transmission is resting on the piece of wood. At that point I remove the two side transmission bolts and the engine is free. Watch out for the transmission dipstick, flex plate to bellhousing and wiring as you lift the engine out. I use a few different extensions and a ball style swivel joint to get to the top transmission bolts. You will need the correct size e-torx socket for the stock bolts though. I want to say its a 12, but not sure.

Using that method I haven't removed any of the front of the Jeep. The AC system has never been opened( compressor rests where the battery use to sit) nor the power steering (pump sits where the air box was. The only fluid lines that have been disconnected are the transmission to radiator and the engine cooling hoses.

When the engine is removed the exhaust and intake manifold is still attached, as is the harmonic balancer.

Take those top two transmission bolts (they are e-torx) and get some grade 8 replacement hex bolts to replace them.

Using this method I can have an engine out in about 4 hours from start to finish.

[yuppiexj]

Disconnect the ground strap.
That frigging thing is strong enough to lift the entire jeep off the jackstands and have it swing around under the engine hoist.

[amcinstaller]

Disconnect the ground strap.
That frigging thing is strong enough to lift the entire jeep off the jackstands and have it swing around under the engine hoist.

thats awesome

[lafrad]

Lol, sounds like there was some "experiance" to be had... HEHE.

[Bodo]

Does the inspection plate need to come off to separate the motor from the AW4?

I got the top torx bolts off this afternoon. Using SilverXJ's technique it wasn't as bad as I thought.

[4.whoa]

Yes that's how you get to the converter bolts. You do that to keep the converter in the belhousing - and the fluid off the floor

[Bodo]

Thanks for the reply.

Well crap. More wrenching from under the Jeep today then.

[SilverXJ]

Its only 4 bolts.