Swapping a Dodge Ram 3.7l 2002 into my 2002 liberty

[Green Machine]

Folks this is my first post on this site and my first kj. Need a little help. When I bought the jeep the engine was dead so I ordered a used low mile engine from eBay. It was supposedly a 47k engine and the pictures were exactly matching. The engine that arrived was not the one in the picture but it appears to be a 2002 Dodge Ram 3.7l. The differences that I have found is that it has a different intake and an egr. My existing liberty has no egr. I am wondering can I block the egr and use this engine in my liberty.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Folks this is my first post on this site and my first kj. Need a little help. When I bought the jeep the engine was dead so I ordered a used low mile engine from eBay. It was supposedly a 47k engine and the pictures were exactly matching. The engine that arrived was not the one in the picture but it appears to be a 2002 Dodge Ram 3.7l. The differences that I have found is that it has a different intake and an egr. My existing liberty has no egr. I am wondering can I block the egr and use this engine in my liberty.

The short answer is Yes. For more info go here: Engine Swap Overview

Oh yea.... (welcome)

Bob

 

[Conundrum2006]

You don't even have to worry about the egr if you use your exhaust manifolds.
In my 2006 non egr the path for the egr was in the head already only needed to be drilled and tapped. You can block it if you feel like it or just use your exhaust because the port for the exhaust to the egr valve does not exist .

I'm a little worried since the new engine has egr it's off a much newer ram. 2002 Liberty and ram should be identical. But I'm no expert so I can easily be wrong. I'm using car-parts.com to look up interchanges they don't show a egr 3.7 in a ram that year (or 2002-4), I know for sure the commander I swapped out it was 2007 the egr valves started.

I'm probably wrong but you might want to double check the year it came out of for sure.


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[Green Machine]

That was my concern also. I pulled some images of a 2002 Dodge Ram and it showed the egr. If the engine is newer then you have the whole reluctor issue.

 

[Conundrum2006]

Ok good to know. Some sellers on eBay even if they are professional JY use stock photos that can make it confusing.
In my searches they didn't show a part number for egr until 2007, but if I looked for gasket it shows 2003-2007. As I said the non egr the port existed and only need to be tapped where the egr mounts to be set up, easy to think they were using erg for some time before it becomes standard on all vehicles.

Impressive finding a low milage 3.7, none to be had in my area. Best way to go imho.


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[rjkj2005]

If it's newer than an 03 you will have to change out the relucto rings from your old motor to the new one. This requires disassemble of both motors.

2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Engine work in a 2002 or 2003 Jeep Liberty" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/UljDiisBbVo

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[Green Machine]

I called the seller today and he said it was an engine from a Dodge Ram 1500 produced in 2002 in Mexico. Supposedly they incorporated the egr early in Mexico. He also said the exhaust header from the 2002 would cover the hole in the head. I asked about the reluctor and he said it was a 16. I haven't checked it yet If this true I really want the egr gone and a plate over the hole.

 

[Conundrum2006]

If it's 2002 you should be fine. Probably pop open the valve covers to see the condition of the motor and what the top reluctor or whatever it is call looks like, that might confirm the year and compatibility.

Far as the EGR goes as long as you use the original none egr manifolds you're good to go. If you look at my thread about oil crud near the end (about the time of the engine swap) there are pictures of the two manifolds egr and none. The egr manfold has a port to get the exhaust gas to the egr valve. As the cylinder head sits ported or not only the manifold connects the system to exhaust gas. You can leave the egr vale in place, remove it or put a plate in place, as long as you use the none egr manifold you should be ok.

 

[Green Machine]

That's a great idea with the valve covers. I was planning on doing the gaskets anyway. That will confirm it

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Read thru the link I have in my earlier post in answer to your question. I swapped in a 2007 from a Dodge Dakota and used a blocking plate on the EGR. Because I have an '03, the computers are different - that's why you have to swap in a reluctor ring and cam timing gear that will fit your '02 if you use a 3.7 from a Chrysler (or Mitsubishi) vehicle that is '05 or later. You can use an engine as-is from a Chrysler product up through the '04 model year.

The EGR issue is an easy fix - swapping in a reluctor ring and cam sprocket is a lot more involved. If you grab a block later than '04 don't bother taking the timing ring/sprocket out of your engine - just buy new ones from the guy I linked to in my post. That way you don't have to tear down two engines - you only need to do the new one.

Bob

 

[Conundrum2006]

That's a great idea with the valve covers. I was planning on doing the gaskets anyway. That will confirm it

It will show how clean it is for sure. I'd be more worried about that than the year, any one who deals in these motors has to know the interchange is slim for the early years.
Do you have to change the oil pan to fit the liberty?
If you can find some numbers on the block I can try to run them online or you can google it.


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[TwoBobsKJ]

If it's newer than an 03 you will have to change out the relucto rings from your old motor to the new one. This requires disassemble of both motors.

2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Engine work in a 2002 or 2003 Jeep Liberty" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/UljDiisBbVo

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NOT TRUE!

Careful what you're posting - in another thread you said an '04 or newer while here you're saying an '03 or newer. Neither is correct.

The '02 thru '04 engines use a JTEC computer, while the the '05 and newer engines use the NGC computer. And that's the case with all Chrysler engines - as a company Chrysler made the computer change for the 2005 model year so this isn't a Jeep-specific issue. An engine from the same model year as the Liberty will not require a swap of the reluctor ring and camshaft sprocket - but if the replacement engine is from a year outside of the model year range that is compatible then the timing rings will be off and the engine won't run.

The crankshaft reluctor ring and camshaft timing sprocket need to be swapped out of the old engine or purchased from engine-guru.com and installed on the new engine. Not necessary to break down both the old and new engine if you buy the kit from engine-guru.

Bob

 

[rjkj2005]

NOT TRUE!

Careful what you're posting - in another thread you said an '04 or new while here you're saying an '03 or newer. Neither is correct.

The '02 thru '04 engines use a JTEC computer, while the the '05 and newer engines use the NGC computer.

The crankshaft reluctor ring and camshaft timing sprocket need to be swapped out of the old engine or purchased from engine-guru.com and installed on the new engine. Not necessary to break down both the old and new engine.

Bob

That's right. It say newer than an 03. Which means 04 and up. Then I said 04 and newer. That statement neans 04 and up. There is no contradiction. In those posts

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[TwoBobsKJ]

That's right. It say newer than an 03. Which means 04 and up. Then I said 04 and newer. That statement neans 04 and up. There is no contradiction. In those posts

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In either case the info is incorrect. The computer was changed for the 2005 and later engines.

 

[rjkj2005]

NOT TRUE!

Careful what you're posting - in another thread you said an '04 or newer while here you're saying an '03 or newer. Neither is correct.

The '02 thru '04 engines use a JTEC computer, while the the '05 and newer engines use the NGC computer. And that's the case with all Chrysler engines - as a company Chrysler made the computer change for the 2005 model year so this isn't a Jeep-specific issue. An engine from the same model year as the Liberty will not require a swap of the reluctor ring and camshaft sprocket - but if the replacement engine is from a year outside of the model year range that is compatible then the timing rings will be off and the engine won't run.

The crankshaft reluctor ring and camshaft timing sprocket need to be swapped out of the old engine or purchased from engine-guru.com and installed on the new engine. Not necessary to break down both the old and new engine if you buy the kit from engine-guru.

Bob

If the video is wrong than you are right. If the video is correct. Then you are wrong. I'd go with the video being correct.

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[rjkj2005]

In either case the info is incorrect. The computer was changed for the 2005 and later engines.

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[JasonJ]

Why dont we just ask someone with a late 03 or an 04 model year Jeep to just go out and look at their PCM and count the plugs... that'll say for sure with it is up to mid-03, or through 04 before the NGC computer switch.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

I have a late 2003 and it is a JTEC computer!!!

Don't know how many different ways I can say this - the Jeep Liberty 3.7 used the JTEC through 2004. The 2005 and later engines used the NGC computer.

Chrysler began rolling out the NGC in some of their products in 2002 but the Liberty's used the JTEC through '04.

Bob

 

[JasonJ]

I have a late 2003 and it is a JTEC computer!!!

Don't know how many different ways I can say this - the Jeep Liberty 3.7 used the JTEC through 2004. The 2005 and later engines used the NGC computer.

Chrysler began rolling out the NGC in some of their products in 2002 but the Liberty's used the JTEC through '04.

Bob

Good enough for me.

 

[Green Machine]

I really hope that I don't need to do reluctors, etc. I test fitted the 02 Exhaust headers on the new heads and the the egr port is blocked but not by a gasket, there is an 1/8" offset. Conundrum2006 mentioned that the port goes from the exhaust port into the header and then back up to the EGR. If this passage through the head is walled off and the exhaust has to first go into the header before it goes back up to the EGR, I may be ok.