Whats the easiest engine swap to replace a 2.5?

SiahBaby said:

@Wildman I've been on this website for awhile researching and I keep running into your name on the comments. I think I have a very good idea based off what you gave me for info. But I am hoping to maybe talk to you over the phone to ask a few questions on swapping my Jeep 2.5 l engine to a 5.2 l engine as you mentioned before. If you see this comment please, please, please, reach out to me at (620)290-4070, texting and calling both work, thank you!!!

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This is one of the best threads on how to swap the Magnum V-8 into your TJ out there.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/wrangler-magnum-v8-discussion.1365878/

There are other build threads out there with info but this one is a lot of different swaps being done.

I attached some of the cheat sheets I gathered from swaps.

Some KEY things to mention here about doing the Magnum swap.

If you are wanting to run a manual transmission your options are the AX15 or NV3550 or the NV3500 that was used in the Dakota or Ram 1500. The starter will be on the drivers side with a manual transmission.

If using an automatic transmission there are two that were used, 44RE which is the light duty used in the Durango & Dakota or 46RE which was used in the Ram pickups. All these will have the starter on the drivers side.

Now comes the FUN/Confusing part: Jeep Grand Cherokee used the 44RE behind the Magnum V-8 from 1993-1998 if it was a 5.2 but the starter is on the passenger side with these transmissions. In 1998 they made a special edition Grand Cherokee which had a 5.9 V-8 in it & it used the 46RE transmission.

So the better option for doing the swap if using an automatic transmission is the Grand Cherokee since it puts the starter on the passenger side. You can do the swap with either versions but with some suspension setups the upper control arm will be VERY close to the starter when it's on the drivers side.

The next thing is the wiring....
If you're doing a manual transmission swap you're better off to unpin all the injector wiring from the V-8 harness and unpin your Jeep harness then put the Ram injector wires into the Jeep harness.
If you're doing an automatic transmission then it's better to use the V-8 harness and blend in the TJ harness to the Ram harness.

Advance Adapters sells Magnum V-8 motor mounts and IMO are the better option out there.

Exhaust you can either use the stock exhaust manifolds but if you are then use 92-93 Dakota manifolds as they have a larger opening than the other manifolds.

If you're using block hugger headers then you'll want to look at the Patriot headers from Summit Racing. They are made for LA V-8's but will work on the Magnum. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pte-h8205/make/dodge Then get them ceramic coated or https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pte-h8205-1/make/dodge

People have used the Summit version but have had to replace them every few years due to cracking. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g9064/make/dodge