Ok here is the story, I got a 97 TJ for 500.00  with a 183,000+ miles on it  2.5 with a 3 speed auto. About 2 mounths in to it  the tanny was slipping going into 3rd, then about 1mounth after that i pull a pisten rod. Well now its sitting, and slowly dieing. Finding a good 2.5 is not easy and i heard a 6 is just to hard to put in. I have a chevy 305 with a 3 spped tranny sitting in my basment. I am not sure what i should doo. SOMEONE HELP PLEASE!!!!  ps. anyone no what other year i can get a 2.5 out of with out changing to much !!??

I say slap that 305 in to your TJ. Though that might require a axle upgrade also to handle the power as you probably have Dana 30/35's in your TJ. Or ya can always check out a junk yard and look around for a 2.5 or one with a 4.0. I think you should just be able to plug in the new computer for the 4.0 and use most of the wires for the 2.5 on the 4.0 but im not sure. Or if ya can, find another wrangler thats been wrecked and buy it off that person and swap stuff around to make one good jeep outta 2...Just do some lookin around, check out "Craigs list" and see what you can find on there. JP just found a Wrangler for cheap on that site in the JUne issue...so its possible to find another cheap one.  Good luck  

As to the Chevy motor, if a 6 is to hard to install, dont try the V8.  You should be able to use a 2.5 from '93 on.  '93 was the redesign year.  Personally I would find a wrecked jeep (cherokee or wrangler) and swap both the motor and transmission from the donor vehicle.  Thats what I did!  I used a cherokee to gain the 4.0 and AX-15 in my wrangler. 

4.0 inline jeep engine is a easy swap, get the wireing harness and computer chip as well. as for the 305 why bother? and by the time you pay for a fuel injection kit? not worth it. and a carb will suck offroad.  

I have a friend who swaped his 2.5 for a 4.0 he did it in a couple of weekends, it was very straight forward.You have to remove the old motor mounts and change there position while making sure the motor is at the same angle.He also had to use the 4.0 ltr wiring harness as the 2.5 ltr would not work.Try to find the 4.0 H.O. keep away from a 305 as you are gaining more weight w/o a lot of horse power.

good luck!