2.5l ftw! I've always liked mine, I used to drive from upstate to charleston with it a couple times a month and it would be the pace car on 26 a lot of times although rev'd up. These motors like to be rev'd and they'll do fine I think. I tried to be as light as I could weight wise at all times, which you can tell a lot of difference when the back seat was in and was out. Check out 4bangerjp.com those guys love this motor and have all kinds of builds with them.
I say scoop a used 2.5 from a wrecked Tj and spend the money elsewhere now until you can piece a motor swap together and have it waiting to throw in.