I have a 4.3 sitting in my garage and a 2.5 sitting in my TJ; I wanna change all that. My auto trans just went out and I don't want to spend money on a transmission that is only good for a 4 cylinder.

I didn't see anything that jumped out at me when I searched about the 4.3 swap. Can someone point me in the right direction? I'm not sure which trans to use either. I am leaning towards a 4L80E, but a Turbo 400 might be the simplist and cheapest solution.

Thanks for the help.

Chris

Here is what I have have found. I am doing the same swap here shortly, and I want to do it easy and right.

4.3 with t400 is an easy and stout combo. I am opting for the 4.3/700r4/231c for now.

Check out the toyota section (taboo, right?) there are a ton of good articles there.

TBI or MPI (vortec)? I am using an AFI harness, with most of the crap removed. I talked to them a while back and they can burn a new chip for your computer. Keep the A/C line and hook it up to your winch (it is just searching for 12v signal, the A/C wire) and they can program your computer to run your engine to 1500RPM (or whatever you desire).

Hope this strikes up some good conversation and links.

A great swap, one I did 5 years ago. Go the Novack web site,a lot of good info.

I see you're in Calif so pay attention to smog laws--no exhaust headers, unless they are CARB approved. Insure engine and trans combo you decide upon was available, as a Calif certified package, in a vehicle built in the same year, or newer than your TJ. Insure all SMOG/engine management systems for the 4.3 (or any engine you select) match the combo your installing (year, application, etc.). You will need to have your TJ inspected by a CARB rep before you will be able to re-register it.

i't a very similar swap as the 5.7 so alot of that info will transfer over. for your trans though you don't need the 4l80 and shouldn't want a 400. that motor isn't powerful enough to really need the 80 and a 400 will steal about 30hp right off the top and that 6 can't really handle that kind of loss. i personally would probably run a 700r with a tbi motor or a 4l60 with a vortec since they already have the programing in the computers for those spefic trannys. when you really boil it down a 700 and also 4l60 came behind a 350 in 5-6000# trucks and don't have many problems there, you're gonna have about 3/4 the power and weight so i really doubt you'd have an issue

I did the 4.3l swap in my YJ a few years ago, and I highly recommend it. I had the 2.5l in my 95 and it just didn't have enought HP to turn the bigger tires. I went with a 96 4.3l (for CA smog it be no older than the OEM, and no less smog equipment), and the 4L60E transmission. Since my T/case was also nearing the end of it's life I went ahead and swapped in an Atlas at the same time. One of the benefits of the 4l60 is that it is very short when compared to other ATs. Also, as has been noted, it was OEM with that engine, which makes getting past CA smog all the better. I still have an issue with the evap system that causes my check engine to stay on, but I just clear the codes a day or so before smoging it and everything passes OK.

To get it past the BAR I left as much original equipment on the engine as I could. For example, I used the chevy air intake. After it passed the BAR I switched that out for K&N style filter.

I used solid engine mounts and brought the engine as far forward as I could. This really helped with the rear drive line angle.

There's a lot to it, so plan your project well. Good luck.

Chris, you know mike kern did a 4.3 swap in his yj?

so the 4L60e is good to keep behind the 4.3 vortec?? i figured it would be hard to hook up with the electronics?

the 4l60e came stock with the 4.3.


A friend of mine swapped a Vortec 4.3/4L60e into his YJ. He bought the Howell harness, it was probably the easiest swap I've ever seen. The harness made it all plug & play. I'm sure the other harness makers work as well, there weren't as many to choose from when he did it.

what about cost to rebuild the tranny before i install it? and are they tough enough for offroad?