AMC 304 or 302???

[poppatello]

Thinking of foing a Ford 302 EFI swap. What do u guys think? AMC 304 with an RV cam or 303 EFI??

 

[PaRenegade]

AMC Jeep...... AMC engine.
Call me a purist if you must.

 

[Hedgehog]

There are a lot of good looking jeep like vehicles with ford engines out there on the roads today. Why not go all the way with a ford Transmission , ford axles and big ol' Firestone tires. Sounds like fun, expensive fun, but fun none the less.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

AMC '8' is a bolt in-
LG

 

[IOPort51]

how about an AMC 360, next size up and easier to find. Remember: AMC V8s are balanced as a drive train as do the ford V8s. If you have to find an engine be sure it has the original parts, flywheel, balancer etc or it will need to be balanced.

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

pappatello,
Since you have the 4 in it now, with a light duty Transmission , any V8 will be an improvement, and will need a better Transmission . AMC V8`s were bought lock stock and barrel from Ford and share a lot of parts, how about an EFI on the AMC 304 or a parts breaking AMC 401?
I had a 289 Mustang HP in my `48 CJ2a when I first got it, and it would pull the front end off the ground at half throttle stock. So either V8 is a good choice, was going to put my `80 Wag 360 in my `81 CJ7 , but needed the money, so now going with a Chevy 4.3 V6 TBI from my `89 S-10 Tahoe.
Have fun.

 

[poppatello]

I already have a Ford T-18 . Just need to install a jeep output shaft...

 

[Hedgehog]

Not so sure about the AMC V8 = Ford connection.

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

It is kind of a running joke that AMC bought the V8 when in fact they built it for the Rambler and later upped them to what they are today, just because it has Ford parts all over it.
So Poppatello,
Which ever you choose, you have to weight the pros & cons.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

AMC Jeep...... AMC engine.
Call me a purist if you must.

Boy have we been down this road a few hundred time or so. As most of you know I am a purist when it comes to keeping your Jeep, Jeep. I know that the Transfer Case in my CJ is from a 1980 Scout, I have been called on that before but it bolts on to my 1977 CJ T-18 with NO adaptors; that is what’s key to me, no adaptors.

The bottom line is this, there are so few good CJs left in the world it is a crime to castrate those that are left. If you want to stuff a SBC or Ford into something buy a Wrangler. They are plentiful, cheap, and no one cares if it’s been hacked or whacked on or what’s between the rails.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I had a 289 Mustang HP in my `48 CJ2a when I first got it, and it would pull the front end off the ground at half throttle stock.

Not sure about you but when I’m wheeling I find it advantages to keep the tires on the ground as much as possible. Unless you are sand dragging or running the mud pit at the Tough Truck Challenge it’s all about low end torque to me.

 

[gert]

AMC 360, I fell over a few from Grand Cherokees in each junkyard I visited, I am also going to do the junkyard TBI swap on it, no expensive adapters just bolt it in. (I swapped a 6cly out)

 

[rufus1138]

ill throw in a vote for the amc option, they just have such a cool sound, and they work great, tough motors, good torque. the ford or an old mopar are the only other ways i would go with a v-8 swap, i just have a deep seated aversion to bow ties on jeeps, i dont like gm on a personal level and i think its a hack that cant come up with anything more original when doing a swap than the stock response almost every "what should i swap into my xxxxxxxxx" within 5 posts no matter what you are filling those x's with you will get that guy....."SBC MAAAAANNNN, I MEAN.....DUUUUUDDDDEEE.....THE LSX IS THE BEST MOTOR ON THE PLANET MAAAAAANNNNN, I PUT A LS48 IN MY PONTIAC SUNFIRE AND IT MAKES 70 THOUSAND HORSE TORQUES AND GOES LIKE 3 SECONDS IN THE HALF MILE SUPERDRAG MAAAAANNNNN"

 

[JR74CJ5]

Well you've got the full spectrum of answers OP

Bottom line, your jeep buddy...

You can swap a ford V8 in, and bolt the Ford T-18 to it...

You can bolt in the AMC v8 and swap the Ford T-18 to it...

You can do whatever you want

Novak adapt is a good info for what mates to what and for how many jelly beans

I still have a AMC v8, but I'm not "Pure" - I swapped in a SM420 Transmission because when wheeling I want my 7:1 first gear. It's dramatically improved my experience while wheeling the trails I wheel. So though I may not be "pure" I do get much more enjoyment out of the Jeep I built and love

This is not a stab at anyone, I understand all points. Just my 2c as well...

 

[GARGOYLEJEEPER]

Well I was not wheeling when I pulled the front off the ground, I was in town getting to know my Jeep, and showing off for the woman.
You must remember this vehicle was designed for a slow, low power high torque engine, and that is why I am putting my 2A back to stock, and sold all the go fast parts to young kids.
Most of the parts on a AMC Jeep are not made by AMC, so being pure on a vehicle that sourced out the parts from all over the automotive world is not what he wanted to do, the question was engine. Since he has the four what he wants to put in it is up to him. If not companies like Advanced Adapters and Novaks would not survive, so should he put a I6 in it, we do not know, but he and he alone should and will make that call.
Like I said my first choice was my 360, but that did not happen. And now my choices are my Chevy 4.3 (which is rebuilt and punched 20 over) or try to find the guy I got my 7 from and put the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l back in it. When I really wanted the 401.
Every one has an opinion, and that is what makes this country great. You get more then one or two sides.

 

[Old Dog]

I would think the 302 with EFI would be the better running motor, and easier to get parts for. Just my 2 cents.

 

[CJim7]

Like a lot of people pointed out here, Jeeps are full of parts that aren't AMC.
That being said, I am partial to AMC engines. The AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l is probably the toughest engine out there and torque is over-abundant. The AMC 304 and 360 are great V8's with a lot of room to improve even further. And then, of course, when you want to break stuff there's the 401.

A lot of things were budgeted out when SWB Jeep's were put together.....some of this lead to weaker (than we want) parts: Corp 20s, D30s, Tremec/SR/Peugot (take your pic) trannies, but one thing stayed constant (until DC took over) and that was really good AMC engines. The fuel delivery always seems to need tweaking, and the onset of emmisions turned it into a circus, but the powerplants remained reliable.

That's my shameless plug for AMC engines

 

[rufus1138]

I would think the 302 with EFI would be the better running motor, and easier to get parts for. Just my 2 cents.

The 302 is very well supported in the aftermarket field and can be made very suitable for off-road.

 

[NorthwestCJer]

You have a GM 4 banger. Nothing is "bolt in"!
I have built and modified OVER 13 open tub "jeeps". From 1947 to 2002.
I have owned/swapped in AMC V8's, I6, GM V8's, GM V6's, Buick 198, 225, 231's.
I am going to tell you, do what is best for you. Personally I will not put another Chevy V8 in a normal jeep again. Maybe a buggy or an extreme off road rig. In my opinion the carcass of the Jeep does not fit it right.
I am also not a Fuel injection guy. I like my carb.
I live by the "K.I.S.S." rule, keep it simple stupid and it works for me.
You asked AMC or Ford! Ford and that's coming from a guy pulling out a I6 amc and installing a AMC 360.
To swap your rig to either! will require, motor mounts, exhaust, bell housing, clutch, Transmission , a diff radiator, and all the pieces to connect it up. You will have lots of small walls to climb over like cross members and drive lines that will be costs that are not planned for.
My biggest issue with people modifying Jeeps, isn't the modifications! it's the fact that they start the project with no money to do it right. And they end up with either a huge box of parts that is never finished or a hacked together piece of that isn't worthy of having the Jeep name.

Look around the forums and you will see lots of people asking for help to issues. They are in the middle of some swap/project and ask for advice to fix it, then when good advice is given they say they don't have the money, or knowledge, or tools to do the finishing!

Good luck

 

[poppatello]

Thanks folks. Just to clarify what I currently have in the engine bay. It's an AMC 150 . Not the chevy GM 151 . I also do not want to put a Chevy v8 or v6 motor in my jeep. I would rather drop in a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l instead. Thank you guys for staying on topic. The reason I was thinking 302 EFI is because I have lots of problems with my carb now. Tweaking in each season. Auto choke choking out. Off camber flooding or fuel starvation so I figured an EFI would be the ticket. I already have the AMC 304 but it isn't complete. It has about 15 thousand miles on it. It needs a fly wheel, water pump, oil pump, new intake volley pan, and distributor. The boy I got it from took those parts for a 401. Not sure why he took the fly wheel but thats what he and his pop told me. I got the T-18 because I wanted a good heavy duty tranns and low first gear. Jeep that I know of did not offer one. So my choice was the SM420, SM 435, or the T-18 . I didn't care which one. Just whatever I could find first. So T-18 it was.

So here is my plan. Let me know what your thoughts are. I have the AMC 304 . I plan to have the machine shop install a volley pan, high spark distributor, oil pump, water pump, and mild cam for torque. I plan to keep the stock intake. From what I've read unless using the motor for racing the stock intake is better. I am planning on using the truck avenger carb. I plan to run stock manifolds but true duels. I will have the T-18 rebuilt and new rear output shaft installed. I plan to take my time and do this right. I don't have the know how to do the motor work which is why I am having a shop do it for me.

Any other advice at this point???