The full XJ to Eagle swap process

[Nightpath]

Since I've completed most of the car I've had to adjust and modify a few things.

IMPORTANT : If you do the swap and use an XJ fuel tank do NOT get the extended range tank. Stay with the stock sized XJ tank, no sender I've used has worked properly and these were ones meant for the extra sized tank.

I have an old YJ rear driveshaft cut to fit the front end. Flawless

I've had to adjust/cut/weld the front hangars for the axle. I suggest NOT cutting them at all, if you add in new springs and they end up ramming the Eagle into the air and the lower control arms hit the frame wait : The springs will relax and sag.

I changed the rear to an 8.25 then to a Dana 35 with TracLock. Miles better feel to the vehicle now, but I need a custom rear driveshaft made. I will be getting one made as soon as I remove some of the old leaves in the rear pack and replace them with much more sturdy leaves.

I have not figured out how to adapt the XJ A/C into the Eagle yet which has been miserable this summer.

There is more that has been done since, but I can't recall right now.

[thammerman]

This is an amazing thread. Much of the info is useful for a 4.0 swap with similar parts. Would an xj exhaust manifold  work with the stock eagle motor and axle mounts or do the mounts need fabbing no matter what? Also could the wiper wiring be used with just a head and efi swap? I’m trying to pimp my eagle with an xj without swapping the 4.2 out.

[Nightpath]

The whole XJ exhaust can be used, but where the mount his onto the engine it may need to be heated and massaged to clear.

[vangremlin]

I had a 4.0 head put onto my stock Eagle engine, and used the Cherokee "header" style exhaust manifold.  They had to heat it up and bang on it with a hammer to make it all fit but it did.