90's Trooper to 85 Cherokee motor swap

[Oddballxj]

My question: Will the engine from the Trooper swap into the Cherokee?

History: 85 Jeep Cherokee- 2.8L (200K), carb, TF904 a/t, 4x4- mainly an off-road veh but is street legal
I was just given a 2.8l block from a 90's Trooper. The Trooper motor was rebuilt and has a 3.1 crankshaft and Edelbrock cam/lifters, stock 2.8 pistons.

I have noted the starter is on the driver side of the block on the Trooper, but the starter is on the pass side of the XJ. Oil filter is situated differently. Trooper has TBI but no computer (comp not avl), but that will be replaced with Edelbrock intake and existing XJ carb. Motor mounts will need to be changed to the XJ mounts.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[WrathOfSocrus]

It looks like it should fit without too much trouble. Both vehicles have the front driveshaft on the passenger side, so moving the starter to the driver's side shouldn't be an issue there. The obvious things like swapping the carb and wiring the starter should be easy. I don't know if the exhaust coming off the manifold will interfere with the starter so that would be the only real obstacle to look for. Nice to see some old iron given new life! Post up some pics when you tear into it!

[Oddballxj]

The XJ (cherokee) has a driver side drop for the front driveshaft. The starter is located on the driver's side on the donor motor. will the driveshaft and bell housing clear the starter on the donor (trooper) motor?

My alternative is to swap the 3.1 crank, camshaft and lifters out of the donor motor and drop them into a jeep 2.8.

[WrathOfSocrus]

That must be a transition year, I see pics of XJ's with both driver and passenger side driveshafts. If the bell housing is removable maybe you can fit up the new bell housing and check for clearance. I would take a look at it with the old setup and see how much room you have in that area. You will have to find a ramp or an appropriate rock to compress the suspension on that side to see how close it gets. If you have a lift kit then it probably has the clearance you need.

I know the people trying to swap to a newer motor (Gen 2 & 3) have drilled the pad on the opposite side to fit the starter but the pad on those is thinner in that area. I'm wondering if the pad is full thickness or perhaps already drilled for the starter on that side of the motor you picked up. Might be easier to do that than swap internals from one motor to the other. I've worked on XJ's but I never messed with a Gen1 motor, maybe someone more knowledgeable can point you in the right direction.

[Oddballxj]

Thanks. I'll have to look at the pad on the pass side as an option.

This is not an urgent swap. The jeep is currently running and I have the 3.1 donor and a 2.8 on stands that I can work on and keep wheeling until ready to do the swap. Swapping the internals will be another adventure for me. I just completed a rebuild of the trans. I only had to R&R the trans 4 times to get it right.