ok i've got a lady here who wants to install a small block in her 97 wrangler right now it has a 5spd with 4cly 4wd she says it has no power so we were talking about it and i was thinking maybe a 4.8l or a 5.3 how hard would it be i know they have all the kits to install the small bock like just an old 350 but she would like it to be a little more up to date like no carb so this is whay i said lsx eng any body done this or know how hard it would be. if i could find a 4.8 or 5.3 with a 2000 ecu i could tune it with hpt and turn of like secondary o2's and stuff like that.

 

I think a wrangler with a would be sweet. I would think a kit for the sb would work, but you may need to fab some stuff too. Keep us informed with pics and stuff. I was thinking about getting a CJ and swapping in a 4.8.

 

well advanced adapters has the motor mounts and other stuff there site gets kinda hard to under stand so i e-mail them for more info so now i just need to find a 4.8 or 5.3 with harness and ecu perferably a 00' ecu i'll get all the pics i can on this one.

 

Speartech can hook you up with the harness. Check out the swap section on LS1 Tech. I believe they are a sponser that frequents that forum.

That would be a blast, and I've contemplated the same thing. It's just a lot of coin to drop on an old jeep!

 

Go for 5.7 LS1 for the lighter weight. The Wrangler will love it.

The AX5 transmission that comes in the 4 banger will not handle the power of a V8. It often breaks down under the 4 cylinder engine. Swap a 5 speed AX15 or NV3550 transmission from a 6 cylinder wrangler or a 5 speed from a GM truck for better. Adapters are available for mating Jeep transmission to Chevy V8 engines or to mate GM transmissions to Jeep NP231 transfer case.

On the 4 banger, the transfer case has 21 splines input shaft while the AX15 has 23 splins output shaft. So, you may as well need a transfer case along with a transmission from a 6cylinder Jeep where both have 23 splines input/output shafts.