Thread: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s

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  1. #1 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Member matts96zj's Avatar
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    I found a decent '98 ZJ I could snag pretty cheap but it needs a motor... I wanna put my low-milage 5.9 in a nice ZJ w/a mild lift to dd, is the 5.9 plug & play in a 5.2 ZJ assuming I swap the ecu, or will there be other gremlins? Obviously I'd swap in the 5.9 tranny too.
    dd - Red '96 5.9 ZJ Limited, 4.5", 33's, hp30/al44, skids, sliders, ARB bumper
    gf's dd - '02 4.7 Ltd. WJ, 2.5" bb, skids n' hooks

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  2. #2 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    the motor mounts are different, if you aren't aware of that.

    also a few differences that come to mind off the top of my head, electric fan and in-line coolant temp sensors...
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  3. #3 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    You'll run into issues swapping the ecu(programmed for the vehicles vin) swap the bcm from the niner as well.
    97 grand cherokee ltd, 5.2, white, many mods of debatable value.
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  4. #4 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Member matts96zj's Avatar
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    so far, so good, I'm currently running a mech fan in my niner cause it came with the front clip I got from the junk-yard in the initial repair. I was wondering about the bcm, they're actually coded to the ecu then? I'm figuring at least all the random connectors should be the same since they're the same year, I know my '96 uses lots of different connectors than the 5.9.
    dd - Red '96 5.9 ZJ Limited, 4.5", 33's, hp30/al44, skids, sliders, ARB bumper
    gf's dd - '02 4.7 Ltd. WJ, 2.5" bb, skids n' hooks

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  5. #5 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Senior Member Jim311's Avatar
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    Yeah there was a change in connectors in 97 or 98. My ZJ is a 96 with a motor from a 98 and I had to use some of the sensors from my motor on the junkyard motor which was a 98 because the sensors didn't match up.
    Quote Originally Posted by ATL ZJ
    it's a hobby that rarely makes good financial sense.
    Quote Originally Posted by Alaska ZJ
    I can proudly say that I am one of the "OG's" of mutilating a perfectly good luxury SUV.
    1996 V8, Claytons, HP30/D44a locked, ARB, winch, WJ brakes and high steer, 33s, some body damage.
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  6. #6 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    I just used my stock accesories and dress, my innovate wideband and a fuel timing piggyback to calibrate it. Stock ECu, stock injectors, stock everything, nothing elaborate.
    1999 Wj Laredo stock as a rock - smashed

    83 F150 SAS- Under construction

    1995 Limited, 223k, The Great Pumpkin
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  7. #7 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    The 5.9 wiring harness offers up a few more accessories, most notably the electric fan and controls. It is plug and play to put in a '97 or '98. The connector/plugs are under the dash at each corner. The 5.9 ECM/TCM will not play nicely with the 44RE transmission. There are program rewrites out there but none that address this 100% and the 5.2 ECM does not play nicely with the 5.9. The solution is to install the 46RE that is mated to the 5.9 and use the 5.9 ECM. The 5.2 BCM will work with the 5.9 ECM, however if you install the 5.9 BCM, it will adjust the odometer to the 5.9 figure. As noted above, the motor mounts are not the same. The good news is that all the 5.9 stuff bolts right in, no drilling etc required.
    I found out all this stuff 4 years ago when I swapped a low KM 5.9 drive train into my '98 Laredo I6. I bought everything out of the wrecked 5.9 Limited from the grill back. Retained the 242 from the I6 drive train and installed an Aussie in the D44a. There were some other tweaks that were done but that is the basics. The swap took 3 weeks of evening work to complete. It was all plug and play.
    Last edited by daverobb@rewedmonton; 02-03-2010 at 12:30 PM.
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  8. #8 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    I like my idea better, way less work, although yours is probably easier to diagnose and fix
    1999 Wj Laredo stock as a rock - smashed

    83 F150 SAS- Under construction

    1995 Limited, 223k, The Great Pumpkin
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  9. #9 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Member matts96zj's Avatar
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    4.0/42re is out, shoved the '96 out & pulled the 5.9 in, started un hooking stuff tonight.
    dd - Red '96 5.9 ZJ Limited, 4.5", 33's, hp30/al44, skids, sliders, ARB bumper
    gf's dd - '02 4.7 Ltd. WJ, 2.5" bb, skids n' hooks

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  10. #10 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Member matts96zj's Avatar
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    5.9/46re is out, push the 5.9 chassis out this week & start taking car of engine stuff. Needs new oil pan/gasket, plenum gasket, coil, plugs, wires, & getting headers before installation
    dd - Red '96 5.9 ZJ Limited, 4.5", 33's, hp30/al44, skids, sliders, ARB bumper
    gf's dd - '02 4.7 Ltd. WJ, 2.5" bb, skids n' hooks

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  11. #11 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    I am having the same problem I put a 360 in to 1996 318 jeep grand cherokee. it is giving me the random misfire code. what would I need to do to the 318 e c m to make it work for the 5.9. I was told to have it reflash but I cannot find anyone that can do it. I have the scan tool but I do not know how to. would it be possible to put the 5.9 ec m into the jeep
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  12. #12 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    Bump
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  13. #13 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Senior Member dp96zj's Avatar
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    Patience, young grasshopper. You don't need to bump the thread 6 hours after posting.

    Quote Originally Posted by Derek33
    Its a jeep, it doesn't have to make sense.
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  14. #14 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    Bump if its appropriate now?
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  15. #15 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    OP's last log on was over 7 months ago... don't hold your breath of a quick response
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  16. #16 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
    Member Israel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mikes88xj View Post
    I am having the same problem I put a 360 in to 1996 318 jeep grand cherokee. it is giving me the random misfire code. what would I need to do to the 318 e c m to make it work for the 5.9. I was told to have it reflash but I cannot find anyone that can do it. I have the scan tool but I do not know how to. would it be possible to put the 5.9 ec m into the jeep
    What did your 5.9 come out of? Also, what sensors did you keep from the 5.9 and what sensors did you move from the 5.2 over to the 5.9?
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  17. #17 Re: 5.2 - 5.9 swap ??'s 
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    What is needed for a 5.2 -> 5.9 swap?

    93-95 ZJ V8
    5.9 flexplate
    5.9 harmonic balancer
    5.9 driver's side motor mount
    torque converter from 96-98 V8

    96-98 ZJ V8
    5.9 flexplate
    5.9 harmonic balancer
    5.9 driver's side motor mount

    Notes
    You can use a spacer or washers and make the 5.2 motor mount work.

    You can oval out one of the holes on the 5.9 flexplate and make a 93-95 torque converter work.

    Late '95 ZJs may not need the torque converter because some of them came with '96 flexplate and torque converter.

    A complete motor from a 98 5.9 ZJ will bolt right into a 96-98 V8 ZJ. Because of OBD1 and EGR, it will not bolt into a 93-95 ZJ. You will need to use the old throttle body and sensors. If you have emissions testing, you will need to use the old intake manifold and the passenger's side exhaust manifold to maintain the EGR system.

    The upside to swapping a 5.9 into a 93-95 V8 ZJ is the 46RH transmission, which is stronger than the 44RE used in the 96-98s.

    I used this write up when doing my motor swap. no issues.

    Hunter
    04 4.7 HO limited
    04 4.7 HO Overland
    00 4.7 with no lift or mods (RIP)
    94 5.9 with lift and mods (sold)
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