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2.5 to 4.0 Swap

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  #11  
Old 10-30-2020, 07:50 PM
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The NV3500/3550 did come as a 2WD variant for ZJ and XJ's. That won't be a problem. Worse case, get a 4WD trans and order a 2WD tailshaft for it. Don't bother with the AX15 or NV1500.
 
  #12  
Old 10-30-2020, 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by magnethead
The NV3500/3550 did come as a 2WD variant for ZJ and XJ's. That won't be a problem. Worse case, get a 4WD trans and order a 2WD tailshaft for it. Don't bother with the AX15 or NV1500.
Is the output shaft the same between 2 and 4 wheel drive?
 
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Old 10-31-2020, 02:32 AM
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on the radiator move from inside to outside it took time but not too hard only thing was were the rad sits you need to enlarge the holes and move the holes out about 1/4" on both sides and get the fill spout with the top rad hose.

Sounds like a fun project you can always install a stroker engine later for more power.

http://jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/stroker.html
 
  #14  
Old 10-31-2020, 01:43 PM
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Seeing as you're doing a one-off project here that apparently nobody else has ever done, I'll throw this out for consideration.

On the K-member/oil pan issue, an option would be to cut the K-member out altogether and replace it with a tubular K-member. BMR makes kits for different makes, which proves that it will work, but you'd need to do a custom job for yours. A tubular K-member of sufficient size, even if you had to use two tubes welded in side by side, would be both smaller and stronger than the factory stamping, and it would make the oil pan/engine placement easier since you'd be able to put the K-member where it needed to be. You can go to the BMR site to see how they are designed, and see if making something similar would work for you.

So far as telling you to do a more common swap, I've always found "this is what I want to do" to be a sufficient reason to do something. On another board I frequent a fellow is stretching the front of a Datsun 240Z almost a foot, including the wheelbase, in order to fit the engine he wants into the car. His rendering makes it look more like a C3 Corvette than a 240z. Hope it works out for you.
 

Last edited by Vimes; 10-31-2020 at 01:47 PM.
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  #15  
Old 10-31-2020, 03:15 PM
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What year is your truck the 2.5 was in use from 1998 to 2002 in 2000 they moved the rad outside the engine bay and many other changes that were improvements.

I will say this will not be an easy swap but a challenge for sure if your Dakota is a 98 beware that year had very poor brakes.
 
  #16  
Old 10-31-2020, 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 98DAKAZ
What year is your truck the 2.5 was in use from 1998 to 2002 in 2000 they moved the rad outside the engine bay and many other changes that were improvements.

I will say this will not be an easy swap but a challenge for sure if your Dakota is a 98 beware that year had very poor brakes.
I thought the 2.5 was cut out when the 4.7 became an option in MY2000? Wasn't aware they offered it that far along.
 



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