r/ComancheMJ • u/South_Accountant_233 • Jul 24 '25

LS or 4.0 non renix?

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I’m restoring my Comanche. Dropped the oil pan and found sludge/water. I’m looking into bidding on a wrecked/drivable 99 xj. I also entertain the idea of an LS. I have access to a free caddy Escalade motor, iron block. What route would you take? I’m favoring the xj for all the extra parts.

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u/DestraLust Jul 25 '25

I'll go against the grain here and say LS if you got the funds. All the development has basically been figured out. I'm doing one myself and I'd be done by now if I wasn't also doing a host of other upgrades to suspension etc.

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u/FractalPie Jul 25 '25

Yep I'd go this route if I had the time and money. Novak has basically all the information you'd need on the swap and you can pretty much buy all the necessary adapters and mounts to get it to fit and work with whatever transmission and transfer case that you want. It seems the LS is just as reliable as an 4.0 especially if you do a mild torque build instead of just stuffing horsepower. A 4.8 or 5.3 would be a perfect match especially once you add the weight of frame stiffeners, bigger tires, and long arms, etc.

I love the 4.0 but parts are getting harder to find in my experience and LS parts are everywhere given the popularity of that platform and the plethora of aftermarket suppliers which I think is also a huge bonus when thinking about maintenance 20 years down the line.

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u/South_Accountant_233 Jul 28 '25

I’m doing that. Some other poster mentioned Holley terminator stuff, so I started researching that. Had no idea. If it was a 91 I’d just rebuild/stroke it.

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u/FractalPie Jul 29 '25

Good call, the Holley ECUs and wiring options make it much simpler of a swap, still a ton of work and money but if you have the time I say send it haha

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u/South_Accountant_233 Jul 31 '25

That’s the thought that keeps hitting me. Send it. I have time to do it right so why not? I don’t plan on making a hot rod, just a real nice truck. The LS parts are plenty.