Pulling engine w/ transmission

[tgotr]

Ok, I am pulling my 258 due to damage in the cylinder (my fault) so I am doing a 4.0L swap as I have access to a 1991 4.0L for DIRT cheap that isn't crunchy but needs a rebuild. Don't have the harness or the ECU (hint hint, it was dirt cheap), so I am carbureting it. I am well aware that running a carburetor restricts the performance of this engine, but that's not the reason for the swap. Later on I may do EFI with the OG throttle body and a megasquirt setup to avoid 90s electronics and the capacitor plague.

I have a few questions. I am keeping the TF998 transmission and the transfer case as they work fine and maybe I'll rebuild them, do I need to get a starter for a 1991 4.0?

Also how hard is it to pull the Engine AND transmission as one unit on an Eagle? I've done it on a Cherokee without a ton of hassle. One of the reasons is I want to assemble the engine entirely on the stand, head manifolds, etc and then drop it in with the transmission attached, as a few of the bolt locations I find difficult to get on with, namely the farthest away manifold bolts, and the valve cover bolt against the firewall. When I replaced the valve cover with a metal one on my 258, I just used a couple Valve cover hold downs. Made taking it back off that much easier.

[MIPS]

I've pulled the head with the engine still in the car, leaving the exhaust manifold in place. I also have a metal aftermarket valve cover but with the extra bolt holes drilled and tapped. The ones at the rear can come out with socket extensions and removing the wiper motor.

To remove the engine, transmission and transfer case as one unit, you need to disconnect the CV's and drop the subframe which means unbolting everything back to the driveshaft and lifting the front of the car.


https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/attachments/sx4-engine-insert-004-jpg.48642/
(that isn't me buthere's a photo for reference)

[mudkicker715]

the valve cover can be removed without pulling the wiper motor. just need extensions and a u-joint in the middle.
I have pulled the motor from the topside leaving the axle in place. it's tight but doable.

[tgotr]

the valve cover can be removed without pulling the wiper motor. just need extensions and a u-joint in the middle.
I have pulled the motor from the topside leaving the axle in place. it's tight but doable.

My plan is to take the transfer case off, and try to pull the engine and transmission as one unit. I need to pull the transmission anyway.