V8 Wiring and computer Swap for a 4.7L?

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:52 pm

OK guys...

I'm gonna do it if I can make it work. There is a brand new 4.7L V8 that a buddy of mine from DC just so happened to "Lose" the other day and it ended up in my brother's garage. It's now waiting to go in the KJ if we can figure out not only how to get it in there (that's the easy part) but how to wire it, get it into the existing computer or have a new one made and make all the peripherals fit once the 8 Cyl block is in the truck.

Any of you guys have ideas on the computer? That's gonna be the tough one. The guys at Burnsville are going to look into it for me, but they think I'm going to have one made, and that's going to get ugly financially pretty damned fast. Any and all ideas would be appreciated.

Keep in mind, I know suspension and differentials with Body work on top of that.. my brother is the ASE guy and will do the motor work, so try to keep it fairly low tech for ideasif you can. Anyone have any thoughts?

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:57 pm

Why wouldn't the computer from a 2002 4.7L equiped Dodge work?
Take the computer and engine harness along with the other system computers (BCM, ECM, ETC...) and then plug it into the rest of the jeep harness, either with a custom plug, or if you are lucky (I doubt it would be this easy) it may have the same plugs for the different systems (AC, interrior/exterior lighting, Airbags, etc...)

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:01 pm

That's what my brother wants to try... I don't know if it will run all the essential systems, though.
A lot of the parts are interchangeable.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:05 pm

From what I take get the PCM from a '99-'03 Grand with the 4.7 and similar options,you'll also need the one engine wiring harness that has the injector and spark plug wiring.Just defeating the OEM security features is going to be fun though,making the rest of the computers to vibe with the Grand VIN will be fun to.

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:26 pm

And stealing one out of a Grand was my idea. Problem is, we have a brand new bigger 4.7 ready to go...

Well, I'm meeting with Dan in Vegas. His motor swap Kung Fu is STRONG. I'll let you guys know when I get back what the plan is...

I'm betting we make a computer for it. I don't even wanna know what it's going to cost.

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:26 pm

got any left over SEMA show tickets :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:30 pm

ARBSeth wrote:

And stealing one out of a Grand was my idea. Problem is, we have a brand new bigger 4.7 ready to go...

Well, I'm meeting with Dan in Vegas. His motor swap Kung Fu is STRONG. I'll let you guys know when I get back what the plan is...

I'm betting we make a computer for it. I don't even wanna know what it's going to cost.

Keep us informed what Dan has to say and what is done,looking to do this swap myself in '09,gotta get the SFA done first.Dan is awsome at motor swaps,if he can put a Viper V-10 in a LJ then it should be no sweat putting a 4.7 V-8 in a KJ.

ed. · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:00 pm

ARBSeth wrote:

And stealing one out of a Grand was my idea. Problem is, we have a brand new bigger 4.7 ready to go...

Well, I'm meeting with Dan in Vegas. His motor swap Kung Fu is STRONG. I'll let you guys know when I get back what the plan is...

I'm betting we make a computer for it. I don't even wanna know what it's going to cost.

Going to be interesting if you run an aftermarket ECU such as haltech, motec, autronics, AEM etc...
I think it wouldn't be a problem but just needs a bigger budget and more experimenting.

Fingers crossed you can just plug'n'play with the 4.7 ECU :lol:

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:06 pm

Cant you just get a engine wiring harness and computer from a 4.7? I think that would be the easiest way but it'll still be a pita putting it in the kj. What kind of hp does the 4.7 put out?

nix · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:15 pm

ed. wrote:

Going to be interesting if you run an aftermarket ECU such as haltech, motec, autronics, AEM etc...

Yep- I agree. I have seen engine swaps in japanese performance cars running on a Haltech, Autronics and Motec. Haltec and Autronics seem to be more affordable though. Motec is big bucks. AEM is still relatively new compared to the others.

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:26 pm

300+ HP depending on how built it is. That's over 80 extra HP and loads more torque. I'd like to try a 5.7 HEMI with MDS, but I don't think it has a chance in hell of fitting and even if it did, the MDS probably wouldn't be able to be hooked up...

I'll drop back in after SEMA and let you guys know what we come up with.

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

Looks like you need to talk real nice to some people while you're at SEMA. One of the new 4.7's will be great in that monster. We almost swapped in a 4.7 HO in mine back in '04, but I just couldn't justify spending that much money on it. Can't wait to see it actually done.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:23 pm

darn!

Gonna be good!

Terry

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:20 pm

Quote:

300+ HP depending on how built it is

sweet!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:33 pm

ARBSeth wrote:

300+ HP depending on how built it is. That's over 80 extra HP and loads more torque. I'd like to try a 5.7 HEMI with MDS, but I don't think it has a chance in hell of fitting and even if it did, the MDS probably wouldn't be able to be hooked up...

I'll drop back in after SEMA and let you guys know what we come up with.

The '08 Grand 4.7's have 291HP and 322lbs-ft of torque.The '09's are reported to get a increase to like 320+HP and 50+lbs-ft of torque.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:38 pm

ARBSeth wrote:

And stealing one out of a Grand was my idea. Problem is, we have a brand new bigger 4.7 ready to go...

Well, I'm meeting with Dan in Vegas. His motor swap Kung Fu is STRONG. I'll let you guys know when I get back what the plan is...

I'm betting we make a computer for it. I don't even wanna know what it's going to cost.

Well, good news for you is there are a lot of crazy people on this board. You get the hard work done, then get several of us interested (some of us already are). Make & sell these computers & distribute the cost of R&D along with the cost of production of the units... then hey, cost won't be so bad!

chefdab · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:33 pm

I thought you were selling the KJ to start on a new project vehicle?

ed. · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:24 pm

chefdab wrote:

I thought you were selling the KJ to start on a new project vehicle?

I think the engine swap has now become his new project

If you get the pin outs from the 4.7 engine harness and the KJ's dash and other harness maybe you can make up "adaptor" plugs.

C co Crusader 2/127 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:46 am

try talking to b&g maby they can figure out the whole programming deal for you. Im new in the truck relm of tuning but ive worked on more than my fair share of difficult honda's and toyota's. most of the time the harness and associated computers from the donor motor work just fine. i dont know what the cross compatibility of DC is though.

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:40 am

Hopefully you can get a PCM from another application (Dakota or Grand Cherokee) to work. Otherwise you'll be looking at a stand-alone unit like the motec.

I used to have a WRX and used a piggyback computer called a UTEC with a wideband O2. Personally I loved working on the fueling maps, ignition timing maps, boost maps, etc. But if that's not your thing it will drive you nuts. It can be pretty complex. The STi/WRX and Evo guys who run stand-alone units like the Hydra or AEM can spend considerable time and effort to get their calibrations to the point that the car can be used as a daily driver. Even then they'll run into conditions they haven't accounted for (high/low barometric pressure, hot/cold temps, high/low humidity, etc) that will cause them problems (starting, idle, lean/rich spots, etc).

All my experience with computers has been on manual transmission vehicles. I suspect that an automatic will be even more complex as there will be more maps and conditions to deal with.

V8 Wiring and computer Swap for a 4.7L?

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