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360 engine swap

360 engine swap
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Dadof3futurejeepers

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Location
roanoke, Virginia
Vehicle(s)
1979 cj7 258 with a t-150 3 speed, 31x 10.50's but soon to be 33's . Stock all the way around for the most part. UPDATE : Now have my Goodyear 33's on it and it looks great !
I am thinking over swapping out my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l for a 360 and would like to hear from the masses about the pros and cons that you all have. I also would like to know what would have to be changed to be functional. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
a 360 into a '79 CJ7 . That will be fairly strait forward. The 360 was never offered in a CJ but it's the same block as a AMC 304 . What rear axle do you have? AMC20 ? If so you must have one piece axles in the rear. Otherwise sounds good. Go for it.
You have a 3 speed. I usually don't like 3 speeds. It's hard to keep it in the power band. But if you have a 360 in a CJ there's power every where. No problem.
The T-150 usually handles a V8 ok but the 360 is quite a V8. Becarefull with the skiny pedal. Your Dana 20 will handle it fine.
 
My stock drivetrain has held up surprisingly well under the power of a mild built 360 used in mudding, mostly. I have broken 1 rear driveshaft and 1 front axle U-joint in 5 years, both during a race.
I do have a welded Dana 44 , so I'd go with Busa's advice and get 1 piece axles if you have a AMC20 rear.

As for the install itself. you'd need the basics.
Motor mount perches (stock AMC 304 ones work) and mounts (go Poly here)
Larger radiator (even if a stock V-8 unit)
decide on headers (in-frame or fenderwell exit) or manifolds
New exhaust to match
Clutch unit
a little bit of wiring (I'd recommend a Teamrush mod while your in there)
I'm forgetting a few things, but its pretty simple and can be done with all stock CJ parts.
Good Luck!

OH: fuel mileage will suck! But the sound of that V-8 purring and growling under your seat makes it all worth while!
 
It is a very easy swap get a new 360 flywheel bolt your clutch to it get some motor mounts (I do not reccomend advanced adapters) the biggest radiator you can. Run your wiring to the alt and disto. Get or use all the brackets and front accersories from a waggy and your done. I grabbed everything from a 79 waggy and bolted it in and it had gobbs of power 2 barrel and exhaust manifolds and all :chug: :chug:
 
mylittlecj5 said:
OH: fuel mileage will suck! But the sound of that V-8 purring and growling under your seat makes it all worth while!
Click to expand...

Nah throw an NV3550 or ax15 5 speed behind that puppy and I'd bet you could get close to 15 with that light *** cj.
 
Dadof3futurejeepers said:
I am thinking over swapping out my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l for a 360 and would like to hear from the masses about the pros and cons that you all have. I also would like to know what would have to be changed to be functional. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Pros: Direct swamp with factory Jeep Parts, Power, power, power, powerful sound with headers, dual exhaust & flowmasters, put a :) in your face went you push the pedal to the floor.

Cons: MPG, my Jeep with the 360 AMC, I got 8 MPG, Sometimes break parts, (driveshafts, Transmission , axles) to much torque, so you can learn to hard drive it. Caution: With a couple of beers, you maybe think that you Jeep it's a most fast Jeep of the Word, so take easy. :chug:
 
Bulto said:
Pros: Direct swamp with factory Jeep Parts, Power, power, power, powerful sound with headers, dual exhaust & flowmasters, put a :) in your face went you push the pedal to the floor.

Cons: MPG, my Jeep with the 360 AMC, I got 8 MPG, Sometimes break parts, (driveshafts, Transmission , axles) to much torque, so you can learn to hard drive it. Caution: With a couple of beers, you maybe think that you Jeep it's a most fast Jeep of the Word, so take easy. :chug:
Click to expand...
:D :D:beer::booze:maybe thats why I broke my motor mount off and flipped the battery upside down on top of the motor :rolleyes:
 
Doing the 360 swap I think the driverside motor mount or the bracket that bolts to the frame is slightly smaller/shorter than the I-6 mount. I can't remember as it's been a while. :confused:
The 360 is a nice upgrade in HP and Torque when compared to the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . You can use the existing harness with only a few mods. The issues with dropping in a 360 is cooling as you might need a better/bigger radiator and even with that your under the hood temps will be much hotter which could create a vapor lock situation from time to time. If you're easy on the skinny and you don't do much off-roading (crawling etc) your drivetrain should hold up. I like things to be stronger than needed so If I were to do this... I would gather a complete drivetrain and then spend a weekend playing pull, plug and play. T-176 /Dana 300 can be had for cheap almost anywhere and that will hold up to a mildly built 360 nicely. If you can find a nice set of Dana 44 's on the cheap you'll have a solid set-up for daily use with the weekend wheeling urges or when you get the power bug and stomp the skinny. What size tires do you plan on running? Gears?
 
I'm not a fan of the CJ 20 axle... The One piece kit is good But that still doesn't correct the issue of the small diameter and thin walled tubes that could bend and/or twist behind a V8... especially if one were to run low gears and decent sized shoes.
You should be able to use your current Driveshafts... there should be a few extra bolt holes in the frame to allow the placement of different motor mounts... (the I-6 and V-8)... the same goes for the cross-member/bottom frame rail...
 
As was already mentioned, you can use pretty much everything that's there already with the exception of the passengerside frame mount and the radiator.

You will need to extend your fuel line to cross over to the driverside or re-route it from the tank.

Use the stock V8 exhaust manifolds. The design offers more flow then you will ever need from a stock to mild-build AMC V8.
Im running them on my built up 401 and it breathes great.
I was able to re-use the driverside exhaust line from my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l /4.0 hybrid with minor tweaking.

Clutch components will swap over and bolt up to the flywheel.

With a V8 radiator, I was still running into heat issues but that's typical with a 401. A 360 "can" do the same. I louvered the hood and the heat dissipated well.
 
CJim7 said:
Use the stock V8 exhaust manifolds. The design offers more flow then you will ever need from a stock to mild-build AMC V8.
Click to expand...
I'll agree to a point with this... If you're running around and under 5000 rpms the stock manifolds are good. They also help to reduce the heat under the hood as well the noise.

CJim7 said:
Im running them on my built up 401 and it breathes great.
Click to expand...
What all have you done with this motor? I built up a Nasty little 360 that'll lite up the 35 swampers in a Waggy. :chug:
CJim7 said:
Clutch components will swap over and bolt up to the flywheel.
Click to expand...
Hopefully he can get a decent flywheel that's remotely close to the dampner. The market is flooded with a lot of china stuff... a lot of which can be "iffy" at best.

CJim7 said:
With a V8 radiator, I was still running into heat issues but that's typical with a 401. A 360 "can" do the same. I louvered the hood and the heat dissipated well.
Click to expand...
Yup, not all were created equal... I've seen a handful of 360's run hot due to thin walls, flashing or partially blocked water passages from the casting process.
On my Waggy I cut and welded in "wedges" to make a Hood scoop... I never realized how much heat was under the hood until then.
 
Fifesjeep said:
I'll agree to a point with this... If you're running around and under 5000 rpms the stock manifolds are good. They also help to reduce the heat under the hood as well the noise.
I cant really think of any reason to go over 5000RPMs in mine :wtf: Mud is evil


What all have you done with this motor? I built up a Nasty little 360 that'll lite up the 35 swampers in a Waggy. :chug:
I went with forged high compression pistons and a Comp cam that brought my compression up to 10:1, .030 over, some light P&P on the heads, stock manifolds, Edelbrock intake, TFI ignition, no smog, and a Quadrajet. We dynoed it at the shop and got 430hp at the flywheel and the torque curve was flat out scary. This thing will stand the CJ up on its toes turning 36" TSL's

Hopefully he can get a decent flywheel that's remotely close to the dampner. The market is flooded with a lot of china stuff... a lot of which can be "iffy" at best.
Bulltear is probably the best option. I got my 401 flywheel there at a good deal.


Yup, not all were created equal... I've seen a handful of 360's run hot due to thin walls, flashing or partially blocked water passages from the casting process.
On my Waggy I cut and welded in "wedges" to make a Hood scoop... I never realized how much heat was under the hood until then.
Click to expand...
Myself, Im at my limits of cooling. I think Im going to look for an aftermarket 3 or 4 row aluminum and see If I can get it down just a bit more. For kicks. :D

Some eye candy:
Hugger orange was out, as was Ford blue for the obvious reasons. I've never been fond of the factory AMC blue/gray/green whatever color it is. Grabber green just looked nice plus I like Mtn Dew. :D

DSCF3455.webp
DSCF3457.webp
DSCF3461.webp
 
CJim7 said:
lol...Nice! :D I love that rig
I bet the the car behind was going "wtf?!?" :eek:
Click to expand...

It's funny because I didn't even see that car due to the "S" curve on the street and when I looked at the rear-view mirror I seen the car come through the smoke... I had that :eek: Uh-ohh feeling for a split second as I thought it was the Police :o.
Do you have any vids of your rig with the 401?
 
Fifesjeep said:
It's funny because I didn't even see that car due to the "S" curve on the street and when I looked at the rear-view mirror I seen the car come through the smoke... I had that :eek: Uh-ohh feeling for a split second as I thought it was the Police :o.
Do you have any vids of your rig with the 401?
Click to expand...
You know, the only vid I have seen are a few short promotional clips my club took of some various runs and a couple of rock crawling competitions at our offroad expo. I'll have to see if I can find any of them :wtf:
 
im debating myself on swapping a AMC360 in my 5' since throwing a rod though the oil pan of my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l yesterday...short/long story hahaha anywho. wiring to me seems like the biggest issue along with cooling from what i read, if i do go this route what other factors need to be considered if any? i do have the stock Dana 20 and im thinking of upgrading it while im doing the swap, plus i dont plan to do any hardcore wheeling as of yet either so it should hold up fine for light daily and minor/mild offroading correct?
 
90lsturbo said:
im debating myself on swapping a AMC360 in my 5' since throwing a rod though the oil pan of my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l yesterday...short/long story hahaha anywho. wiring to me seems like the biggest issue along with cooling from what i read, if i do go this route what other factors need to be considered if any? i do have the stock Dana 20 and im thinking of upgrading it while im doing the swap, plus i dont plan to do any hardcore wheeling as of yet either so it should hold up fine for light daily and minor/mild offroading correct?
Click to expand...

The Dana 20 is a transfers case used prior to 1980. Your 81 should have a Dana 300 . If you are talking about your rear axle it should be an AMC corporate model 20 but it has nothing to do with Dana. When new this axle would hold up to a 360 for easy street duty and very mild off-roading. However your axle is now over 30 years old so its actual condition is a crapshot. Many don't realize that their axle has issues untitil something catastrophic happens
 
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