Hi All,
I'm the proud owner of a 1995 Wrangler. 2.5L 5spd.
I'm currently deployed in Iraq and my wife is piling up Jeep parts in my garage while i'm gone. This is the plan. I'm adding 33in tires, Mile Marker si9000 winch on a new front bumper. Adding a 4in lift from rough country. rocker sliders and skid plates for engine and tranny. These are the basics. My question is tho...keep the 2.5 or get the 4.0. I love the 4.0 i had in my Cherokee, but the 2.5L may be good for the trails. I don't do too much on rocks, but I like to hit some pretty rough trails and hills. Like Wellsville, OH and some Mud and water In Wisconsin. and can't forget The Hills and terrain around Fort Drum, NY. If I do make the switch, how big is the job. I have changed engines and the like, but some can be a pain in the A%%. How will this be? any good Resources? Well, Thanks..

SPC Hass  

I too have a 2.5 liter jeep wrangler. My is a 97 and before it, like you I owned a cherokee with a 4.0. liter. The idea of putting in a 4.0. has crossed my mind many times. However, I has since concluded that I will drive this engine till it quits. If I had it to do again I might just of sold the 2.5 when it was stock and bought a 4.0. liter wrangler. With that said the 2.5 has been good to me. Since 1998, the only thing that quit on me has been the clutch.Currently I have 4.88 gears, a detroit locker and a dana 44 rear end.  I now run 35's and hills still require 3rd gear, but 5th gear is usable. 95 is a good year for a wrangler, you get the high pinion front end, bigger U joints and good fuel injection and a longer rear drive shaft. So, the 2.5 has a lot going for it. You also get a jeep with heavy duty components, as most parts on your jeep were designed with the 4.0 liter in mind. I often compare the 2.5 jeep with the older toyotas with the 2.2  4 cylinder. Everyone always talks about how tough the older toyotas are, well a large part of this is a smaller motor. I once had a older toyota with a v-8 and I spent more time fixing it than running it. My little 4 cylinder has been a great jeep, and I have pulled out quite a few bigger rigs. My advise is decide on whehter you want the bigger motor. If so sell your 2,5 and buy a 4.0 that the engineers at jeep thought out for you. It will save you lots of time and money. If not than don't worry about it and enjoy your jeep. It is plenty capable, just a little doggy on the hills.  

it is a MAJOR project to swap a 2.5 for the 4.0...don't do it. you will want more power w/ the 33's, but the only way to get it is to regear to 4.88, add a supercharger, or trade/sell/buy one w/a 4.0 already in it. i had a 95 w/ a 2.5 and was going to put 33's with an sm420 to get some low gears, i had a bellhousing from a 2.8L gm and evry thing but had to sell it before completing. that would save from having to regear. just some thoughts.  

yep, what they said. enjoy your jeep, put on your goodies and look to re-gear the pumpkins.  

Well... I don't believe the 4.0 swap is as big of a hassle as these guys make it sound, but I still agree. Build it, gear it, and rock it! When/If you blow the 2.5, then start looking for something bigger.  

if i remember... evrything is different between the two, it would,ve been easier to swap a v-8, transmission/bellhousing, motor mounts, wiring harness...radiator, etc.  

HI,
Thanks all for the input. I was under the impression a 2.5 was basically a shortened 4.0. I am prolly wrong, but who knows. The rear end is something I'll add to my list. Any other things I should add or that I missed??  

the thing to remember when doing a swap like that, is you need the bigger radiator, possibly another tranny to handle the extra torque, you might have to change out the front springs due to the extra weight from the larger engine....all stuff to consider. if you plan to keep this jeep, you could plan all of this for the future.  

I have a 94 yj with a 2.5.  I have always been able to go anywhere i want off road.  I do wish I had a little more HP on the freeway though.  

I forgot to mention I put 4.88's with lockers on it