Cherokee engine bay dimensions?

[Brian R]

I'm considering a Mercedes 5 cyl TD for a Cherokee. The Merc engine is pretty long (about 33" from flywheel to fan). I need to use a 1984 or 1985 Cherokee because of the way the smog laws are here in California. The 6 cyl option for the early Cherokees was the 2. 8 V6. Later they came with the 4. 0L inline six which is longer than the Mercedes engine. My question: Did the early Cherokees have the same size engine bay as the later ones? Was Jeep thinking ahead to using the inline six or did they just always make room for it because it was one of their staple powerplants or did they lengthen the engine bay when the 4. 0L was put in?

 

[SS]

Doesn't look good

I don't know what the dimensions are, but I do know that the early XJ's will not fit the 4. 0L - might have to be at least late 86 or 87. The dashpanel (and maybe floorpan) was changed to accomodate the longer engine. Not sure what that means to your 5-cylinder conversion - I measured a 4. 2L Jeep engine in my shop (predecessor to the 4. 0L) and it is somewhere around 33" from rear face of block to fan.

 

[tgbol]

Jeep modified the front clip by moving the radiator forward for the inline 6. I have a 86 Comanche and a 97 Cherokee, also had a 84 Cherokee. I am putting a Chevy 350 in the Comanche. Will need to run an electric fan because of the length of the water pump.

Also you have to be aware of which transmission (5 speed) you have. Jeep was supposed to use an Aisin AX-5 in all of the early Cherokees, but there were a number that had the Borg Warner T-5 (my 84) In 87 they used a Peugot behind the 6 and in 91 started using a Aisin AX-15. THe Peugot is junk and parts are real expensive. Both Aisin use different weird bellhousings and are basicaly the same a Toyota trucks. The T-5 has a seperate bellhousing and there are a couple available. The bellhousing for the Iron Duke engine used in the CJs will fit Chevy V8s, and the AMC bellhousing is different.

 

[Brian R]

It sounds like you are saying that the fire wall is the same for the early Cherokees as it is for the later ones?



If so, it shouldn't be too hard to just move the radiator. I've done that sort of stuff before.



Why no diesel for your Comanche?

 

[SS]

Tgbol is right about the radiator and front end modifications, but the dashpanel is different also. The 4. 0L XJ uses a short, wide radiator with a small mechanical fan offset from the crankshaft and an electric fan next to it. Good luck.



Steve

 

[tgbol]

No diesel for the Comanche? It is a money thing. I have all the parts except a healthy transfer case. The engine is a 91 GMC 350 throttle body slightly bombed, the transmission is a NV3500 and transfercase will be a NV231 (the trans had a NV232 on it but the case is cracked). The rear end is 9" F**D with trac-loc 4. 10s---The truck was a 2. 5 and I had turboed it. It ate a piston so the V8 project began.