Donor Block or Existing Block - What did you do?

[PolloLoco]

I was planning on using a donor block but I think that may change.

Reasons for a donor block:

• Keeps the Jeep driveable
• Don't have a dead vehicle taking up space
• I can start using E85 before I put in the stroker, get the crap out of the fuel system that E85 tends to free up (although I could do this before I pull the engine, drive it for a couple weeks)

Reasons to use the existing block:

• My existing 4.0 sounds like a diesel, I want to find out why, tearing it apart the best way to find out
• It burns a lot of oil, blue clouds, it shouldn't be on the road as it is
• I know that the block will bolt back in with no problem, don't have to search for a 96-98 XJ/TJ block
• Less initial cost
• Gives me a fair amount of time to clean and paint the engine bay (as per the Trucks! Cheep Cherokee)
• The TJ is not my daily driver
• Don't have an unwanted block at the end

I think I've listed too many good reasons to use my existing block. What did you do when you built your stroker?

[RAPTORFAN85]

I bought a $400 beater and drive that while I build my Jeep.

[Plechtan]

I would go with a donor engine, I bought a 2002 WJ engine for $200.00 It was siezed up, nobody ever changed the oil. It did come with an HO head. Be carfull! the later blocks have some differences.

[tomcat]

i was forced to use a donor block 98 TJ -> 99XJ
i had cracked a piston, which cracked the block.

if i were building a motor on my own schedule, it would be with a donor block. as you take everything out of your vehicle for the swap, you can just put everything straight onto the new block without having to worry about losing any bolts or forgetting how to attache certain brackets, and your rig is only down for a weekend.