Dave and I both searched on sites like Craigslist and eBay in hopes of finding a 4.0 that was reasonably priced and not too far away. Dave lucked out in finding a 4.0 listed in the classified section of the newspaper that was pulled out of a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with only 75,000 miles on it for $250. The engine also came with the wiring harness and the ecm (electronic control module, aka the computer that controls the car) out of the Grand Cherokee, which was a great find.
On Saturday, March 21, Dave and I went to buy the engine. It was in very good condition and the seller gave us some good information about the engine and some advice on putting it in a Wrangler.
The next thing we did was stop at an AutoZone to buy some engine degreaser. We sprayed down the entire engine while it was still on the trailer. Then we took it to a car wash and used a heated power washer to spray down the engine.
This method worked surprisingly well and most of the grease was removed, leaving the engine looking very nice. The only areas that I was unable to clean were on the oil pan, which was obstructed from the path of the water by the spare tire we used to rest the engine on while we transported it.
We hooked the motor up to a motor mount for easy access and transportation. After removing the valve cover to take a look at the push rods and rockers, we noticed that they were extremely clean for an engine with 75,000 miles on it, and we decided that I wouldn't need to do any major rebuilding, which would save a considerable amount of time and money.
All in all, Saturday was a really good day thanks to finally tracking down a replacement engine, getting a great deal on it, and being comfortable that it had been taken good care of by its previous owner(s). I can't wait to get it installed and see how the extra power feels.
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