Here in Ivory Coast there are a lot of Toyotas, too. When the VM 2.5 in my 98 XJ died after spending lots of money on two rebuilds, I decided to put in some other engine. I wanted something simple that any mechanic could fix with parts easily available where I live. There are also a lot of mechanics here who'll try anything.
My mechanic wanted to try a Pajero 2.5L TD that he had lying around. It worked for three weeks and while power (about 85hp) was less than the VM, it was quite driveable. However, the adapter plate he made up to match my AX-15 transmission wasn't right and the clutch disintegrated.
It sat for several months and then I discovered on one of these forums that a Toyota pickup engine would bolt right up to the Jeep transmission with an input shaft change. So we went that route. We looked at used Toyota 2LT engines but most smelled burned. So the mechanic got hold of a Toyota "L" block that he built up and put in. He said he couldn't find a Toyota W151 class bellhousing which would bolt up to the AX-15 but he did find a smaller Toy G52/W58 class bellhousing which would bolt up to an AX-5. So we got a used AX-5 and its transfer case and put that in. I think the bigger bellhousing would be out there somewhere if you looked hard enough.
So, the Toy "L" 2.2liter naturally aspirated engine in my XJ has about 10,000km since it got rolling 14 months ago. It is very slow - it tops out at 95kph on the highway. No a/c. There isn't much power for 4wd. I don't use that much, but it works. No problems at all with the engine/transmission marriage. It has a 3.73 rear end. It's OK for going on gravel roads and muddy trails in the forest.
It consumes about 11-12 liters per 100km, the same as what I got from the original engine and I'm happy with that. Starts every day.
The mechanic knows I'd like more power so he wants to put a "2L" 2.4liter engine in it. That engine has a good reputation here - widely used in minivan taxis to transport a lot of people and baggage. So we'll see.
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