Removing or replacing the engine in a vehicle can be a time-consuming and complicated process. It is not uncommon for Jeep owners to swap out the smaller engines in some of the newer-model Jeep wranglers in order to increase power and performance. Removing an engine in your Jeep requires a certain amount of skill and vehicle know-how in order to maintain safety and keep the Jeep and engine free of damage.
Open the Jeep Wrangler's hood and disconnect the battery, removing both the positive and negative battery connectors from the terminals. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes so that any residual electricity can dissipate.
Drain all fluids from the engine, including coolant and engine oil. Engine oil can spill when you remove an engine, and it is hazardous to the environment, so you want to make sure the engine is empty of fluids before you remove it.
Disconnect all electrical wiring going from the vehicle to the engine or vice-versa. Without power it should be safe to manually disconnect all wiring without worrying about being shocked by the vehicle.
Disconnect the transmission from the engine. You will also need to disconnect the starter, alternator, braking and cooling systems. Make sure that any components that are under the hood but are not physically a part of the actual motor are completely disconnected from the engine. Crawl under the Jeep and make sure everything on the bottom side of the engine is also fully disconnected.
Unbolt the engine from the motor mounts. Attach a chain hoist to the engine securely. Make sure you have read all instructions that accompanied the engine hoist and are able to operate it safely and competently. Dropping an engine can be extremely dangerous.
Use the chain engine hoist to lift the engine out of the Jeep Wrangler. Store the engine in a safe location where it will not be able to drop on anyone or anything. Do not leave it attached to chain hoist.
