Welcome! The v8 swap will great if you have the skill to pull it off!

 

Focus right now is to get it titled in my name.
To do that I have to pass emissions.

I thought about messing around with the knock sensor to see if I could get the code to clear, but after seeing how bad the knocking rod was, I opted to not chance destroying the block.

For the V8 swap, I'm confused about the kits.
Like what is actually required to get it to run, and for it to pass an obd2 check.

those kits seem silly expensive, and it seems like much of it is for a later jeep anyways.

Meh, oh well.
For now, get the v6 going and then I can start planning when I'm ready.

 

The V8 kits are expensive. Region of $9000 now (I paid $6400) for a Motech Chev LT (not LS) do-it-yourself conversion but it all works when done and according to them will pass emissions in 49 state. Not sure about CA. Then you have to buy the engine and tranny. I was lucky when LTs were plenty I got a 16,000 mile unit 2016 5.3/8spd auto from Texas, all accessories, wiring, ECU for $3500USD. Sounds like a lot of money but OMG once you drive you will wonder why the hell Jeep never offered the 5.7 V8 for an option. I cruise into a headwind of 20-25mph at 75mph with about 1/8" throttle and getting about 22MP/USG. Your Jeep I think I saw for sale here with a fried motor and if it was you would not be into a lot of money for a keeper. I got 355HP/386lbs Tq. and it is a dream in serious wheeling offroad and more economical gas wise.

 

Welcome to the forum! That's a sweet project!

 

It should be a fun project, but for now I'm planning to keep it simple.
get it running, driving, lifted, new tires/wheels (in that order).

I already have a new set of wheels ready to go on once I have it running and lifted.

I believe these are from a 2021 gladiator Rubicon
$100 for a set of 4 wheels!
boxes in the corner are from the ones that the PO bought to replace these.

 

Looks like you’re going with wheels first not getting it fixed haha. Knowing myself, I’d be doing the same. Those wheels should look pretty good!

 

And I have a 6.0 with the 6l80 in my Tahoe, it has plenty of power!
I can pretty much idle up steep canyon roads at highway speeds, it gets excellent gas mileage because of that.
it towed that jeep + trailer like it was nothing was there.

I would love to have that combo in the jeep.

And I do know a guy that did a conversion on his 3.8 equipped JKU, he took an aluminum block 6.2 and the 6 speed out of an escalade.
He said it's an amazing difference, especially compared to the old 3.8.

Once this thing is on the road, I'm planning to hire him to take a look over my jeep before I go to lift it.

I also want to talk LS swap details with him.
but It probably won't happen for years, but I am interested.

I also wish it was easier to drop in a dodge ram v8, I'm surprised it isn't more "plug n play".

I noticed I can select the engine in the factory tune, and a V8 is an option....

Lots of research to do over the next few years for sure, but for now I'm going with easy + gutless is good enough for now.

 

Lol yeah, I also got a set of seat covers already...

Price was right, and I liked the look of the wheels, so I jumped on it!
seat covers were "diver down", amazon sale that i happened to stumble upon.

full set @ $120... + the seats look like I'll get an STD if I sit in them with shorts on.

I think this jeep sat with the top off, or windows down for a while.
Someone might have tossed in some bird seed, and the pigeons had an orgy in there.

 

I'm nearly done rebuilding the engine.
the only donors I could find would have required me to pull the engine myself using a minivan as the donor vehicle.

I found metal throughout the entire engine.
I ended up replacing the camshaft, cam bearings, all of the lifters, push rods.
the inside of the lifters was completely seized with bearing material!
The mains were fkd, looks like trash got in there.
The main oil galleys had sludge, lots of sludge!
So, I had to pull the galley plugs and source replacements.

LS would have been much easier/cheaper for the parts.

The block itself looked great, and the bores were still in spec and straight.
so, I had someone hone the bores, and do the cam bearings since those were fkd also.

Donor crankshaft was from a minivan from about the same vintage.
It was identical in every way to the original one.

completely disassembled the rockers to clean and polish them.
Also, I found the oil feed for the top end comes from the block, passes through the cylinder head, and feeds into the trunion/shaft for the rockers.
That somewhat caught me off guard, what a weird configuration!
So, I detail cleaned those shafts since oil flows through them...

the front cover didn't look too bad, that is until I started doing measurements and checking pump clearance with a straight edge.
I ended up doing some redneck work to get it as close to as "in spec" as I could, by lightly sanding the pump cover mounting surface with 1,000 grit sandpaper.
I have an oil pressure gauge that I'll connect and keep a close eye on it during breakin.

I also see a possible pressure loss at the rockers due to grit getting in there, so I might still end up getting a donor set from the junkyard if i have low oil pressure.
And if that doesn't fix it, then it's a new front cover ($$$$).

I'm hoping for the best.

Trying to not go too overboard on this rebuild as it will probably end up with a LS down the road.

 

I also have a full interior at this point.
Carpet was missing, the back looks like trash, but the front was the important part for the wife.
Seat covers to deal with the stains, and a full set of bedrug carpets for the front and back.

Something I ran into as an amazon return.
I paid the most for the front set, but still less than half of the full price.
the rear set I scored for about $79!

if all goes well, I should have the engine dropped back in this weekend.
from there it's going to be the pita of getting everything back as it was, the wiring/plugs I expect to be the biggest pita since I needed to untwist them in order to get zip lock baggy zip tied around the connectors to keep them clean and protected.

Also I'm looking to do gears and lockers once I'm ready to do the tires.
thinking 35in there.
I believe that converts to something like "315/70r17"

I understand I might get away with it w/o a lift.
I'm thinking a 3in lift later down the road.

Before the lift I can have my "mechanic" do the gearing and lockers, he was the one that sold me on the idea of rocking the 35in vs wimping out @ 33in.

I know I should do a build thread or something, but I'm lazy and feeling like sharing today.