If your block is still solid and functional, I'd stick with it. Almost anything else is going to be in some measure incompatible with the electronics. It's not 1960 anymore. The only thing you might do is go from a 2.0 to a 2.4, but I suspect you already have the 2.4. Every year or so someone gets the bright idea of trying to fit a turbo on one of these, but I know of no successful transplants.

Oh gosh, now I've rained on your parade. 😢

 

No biggie! That’s why I wanted it to be an open discussion; I don’t know a whole lot about this kind of technical stuff!
I will say I do have a contact who specializes in engine swaps like this, I’ve been chatting with him about it. I’d definitely have to swap transmission as well as engine to make it all work, but its not impossible. He previously put a pentastar 3.6 v6 in a 2012 patriot

 

Agree with Ignatz.

The stock 2.4L is about as good as it's going to get.

Aside from electronics issues, none of the 4x4 transmissions (including the 5M and 6 speed auto) can handle any significant amount extra power, and there's no simple transmission swaps that will bolt to the stock PTU.

 

That’s what I figured; it would be a complex project, but it is doable

 

Anything is possible given enough time and money to custom transplant something in. The more challenging part these days is getting the electronics to talk. Maybe a BMW x5 diesel 4x4 drive train could be fabbed in, but getting it to talk to your abs and dashboard is a challenge.

 

I think the lowest hanging fruit here would be to find a wrecked dodge journey and swap the whole drivetrain in. They're the same platform so it should all fit, and that way you can be sure the transmission is suited to the engine's power and that the rear drive unit has the same final drive ratio as the transmission

 

What would be nice is if the Aisin B6 used on the Patriot with the Mercedes 2.2 diesel (320 Nm / 236 lb-ft) would bolt up to the 2.4l.

That would give you some room to do some engine mods.