3.8L ENGINE SWAP for TJ

I have a buddie that just put a Hemi in his 2011 four door jeep. He has the complete original 3.8L engine and automatic transmission, that he has sitting in his garage. I have a 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ with a 2.5L engine and manual trans. I want to put this new 2011 3.8L engine in my older jeep. Does anyone know if this has been done or if there is a kit for this? Will it mount up to my existing transfer case? Any company out there that might have information on how to do this? or if it can be done?

thank you Don  

Contact Hotwire Auto (www.hotwireauto.com). They're working on a kit (wiring harness) to run the 3.8L engine and four-speed auto in a non-JK application. You'll need the 3.8L ECU and a minivan intake and throttle body (minivan are drive-by-cable, JK is drive-by-wire). There are some other caveats as well, but they can fill you in on them.

The company had a 3.8L/auto JK drivetrain converted into a 2.5L TJ at Moab Easter Jeep Safari this year and let me jump behind the wheel. It had smallish tires (probably 30s) and the 4.10 gears that come stock in the 2.5L TJ axles. The 3.8L is pretty sprightly even with the auto transmission. Acceleration and pick-up felt about on-par with a 4.0L/AW4/3.55-geared Cherokee on 30-inch tires.

Sure, it's no V-8 swap, but if you have cheap and easy access to a take-out 3.8L engine and transmission it's a lot more livable than the 2.5L/AX5 or auto combo.  
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Editor
Jp Magazine
www.jpmagazine.com

I've done a modern engine swap. Even with a free engine, it's going to cost a lot of coin to deal with the details.  I'm not talking a few hundred dollars, more like a few thousand.  Your better off to sale your Jeep and get one with a 4.0L engine and accessories you want.