Maybe so, but there is no argument that the 4.0L is the most iconic JEEP engine out there. And in respect of the Slant 6, was the obvious choice of all in the inline 6's while still remaining a Chrysler power plant.
The pentastar would have been a easy swap due to its size in comparison to the 4.0L. Unlike the other Jeep engines, the YJ 4.0L fuel management is probably the simplest system out there.
I have a shop trying to convince me to consider the TJ ECU which gets me into ODB2. The O2 sensor situation and the fuel return are the 2 issues I am concerned about. With Fuel return, I believe the TJ ECU controls the fuel pump pressure instead of a vacuum operated fuel return system. The modifications to the fuel tank or more like the cost to make the modifications was not something I wanted to deal with at first. The situation with the O2 sensor is that I believe the TJ ECU has a up stream and down stream O2. With me going the TJ dual headers, that means 4 O2's. Where as if I stick with a YJ system, I have 1 X pipe where the O2 sensor is located (at the firewall) and I can run a dual exhaust system.
More to come. As I said, the next picture to be added will be the car on the tow truck.
John