engine and transmission pairing???

[reptile610]

So my 82 CJ7 has the iron duke and SR4 Transmission currently (I know this shouldn't be but it is) I want to swap to a v8, no real justification for it just want a v8 . I'm told the AMC 304 has no real power and the 401 is very expensive so that leaves me with the 360. I have a Dana 300 Transfer Case and as silly as it sounds I'm doing my drivetrain completely around it considering its supposed to be amazing. my question is what would be a good standard Transmission to pair these together with? Should I just go with a AMC 304 ? And I'm very open to people talking me into the I6 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l if they have justifications. I don't really want to do a non amc engine because of my lack of mechanical and welding experience. This jeep will be driven everywhere.Sreet, trail, and then back home.Will probably end up with Dana 44 axles and 35" tires. Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[BusaDave9]

I agree to stick with AMC engines. Staying OEM means you can avoid adapters. Usually. But there were no V8s paired up with the Dana 300 so you might need an adapter anyway.
You can find a CJ from the '70s that came with AMC 304 and a T-18 . Great combination. The T-18 is the best tranny to go into a factory CJ. I have a AMC 304 and love it. Your right the AMC 304 isn't very powerful as far as V8s go but a CJ is small and light. If you want a 360 they have the same engine block and bolt up same.
These Jeep T-18 's were always mated up to a Dana 20 TCase so you would have to get an adapter. Novak can help you there. Check out this link: Adapting the T18 & T19 Transmissions to the Jeep Dana 300 Transfer Case
Another option is to use the whole drivetrain from an older jeep with the Dana 20 . Yes the Dana 300 is a great TCase but the Dana 20 is almost as good. The Dana 20 is every bit as strong. The big difference is the gearing. The low range on the Dana 20 is 2.03 to 1 and the Dana 300 is 2.62 to 1. I installed TerraLow gears in my Dana 20 to get 3:1 gearing.
Since you are looking to get a 360 look for a full sized jeep. You can find a 360, T-18 , Dana 20 combo. The issue there is the FSJ T-18 may have a factory adapter that would have to be removed. Plus the T-18 has a long input shaft that would need to get replaced.

 

[reptile610]

Yeah I heard the T-18 was good. As for a AMC 304 or a 360 I'm sure both are powerful enough to get me by, especially with a bigger Carb and free flow exhaust just want best bang for my buck. But we'll have to see what I find. I
Just looking for ideas from people who are more familiar with these and for my different options

 

[derf]

A AMC 304 has plenty of power for a CJ, especially if you do a few minor upgrades to it. A 360 may be easier to find and would work just as well.

Grabbing a manual Transmission from a later 4.0 equipped Jeep would be a good choice. The AX15 from behind a 4.0 can hold up to a AMC 304 or 360 just fine, even under healthy rock crawling, as long as you don't beat the snot out of it.

The 4.0 has the same Transmission bolt pattern so you can grab the Transmission and bellhousing and it will bolt right up. You'll want to use a AMC 304 or 360 specific flywheel with a clutch and pressure plate that would have gone in the vehicle you grabbed the Transmission out of. The Transmission uses an internal slave cylinder so you may need to customize the hydraulic lines but that's about all the customization you need. Well, except for maybe getting the Transmission mount to line up.

The Dana 300 will bolt right up to the AX15 with no adapters.


Even though you're swapping in Overdrive , you probably won't need to swap gears in your axle (or change tire size). The 4 cyl came from the factory with shorter gears (higher numerically) than the V8. The Overdrive will make up the difference. Or at least get it close. You'll run lower RPMs on the freeway which is what you want when you run the V8. But you'll also have the benefit of a deeper first gear to give you better crawling at the same time.

Oh, and everything above applies when you run an NV3550 that would come out of the last couple of years of the TJ. It all bolts up (almost) the same and has similar gear ratios.

 

[reptile610]

A AMC 304 has plenty of power for a CJ, especially if you do a few minor upgrades to it. A 360 may be easier to find and would work just as well.

Grabbing a manual Transmission from a later 4.0 equipped Jeep would be a good choice. The AX15 from behind a 4.0 can hold up to a AMC 304 or 360 just fine, even under healthy rock crawling, as long as you don't beat the snot out of it.

The 4.0 has the same Transmission bolt pattern so you can grab the Transmission and bellhousing and it will bolt right up. You'll want to use a AMC 304 or 360 specific flywheel with a clutch and pressure plate that would have gone in the vehicle you grabbed the Transmission out of. The Transmission uses an internal slave cylinder so you may need to customize the hydraulic lines but that's about all the customization you need. Well, except for maybe getting the Transmission mount to line up.

The Dana 300 will bolt right up to the AX15 with no adapters.


Even though you're swapping in Overdrive , you probably won't need to swap gears in your axle (or change tire size). The 4 cyl came from the factory with shorter gears (higher numerically) than the V8. The Overdrive will make up the difference. Or at least get it close. You'll run lower RPMs on the freeway which is what you want when you run the V8. But you'll also have the benefit of a deeper first gear to give you better crawling at the same time.

Oh, and everything above applies when you run an NV3550 that would come out of the last couple of years of the TJ. It all bolts up (almost) the same and has similar gear ratios.

Hmmmm never thought of that. Also a good idea. Thanks guys n keepem coming

 

[derf]

Oh, and I should say that be careful which Transmission you get if it's from a YJ Wrangler. The early years used a Pugeot BA10 which is by far the worst Transmission ever used in a Jeep. Avoid it like the plague.

 

[rigrunner567]

imo the AMC 304 and T-18 is a great combo. i have it in my 78 CJ7 and with an edelbrock carb and intake and headers it has plenty of power for me. i am also running 31 10.50 tires. and the fuel economy is hi teens to near 20 for me.

 

[reptile610]

imo the AMC 304 and T-18 is a great combo. i have it in my 78 CJ7 and with an edelbrock carb and intake and headers it has plenty of power for me. i am also running 31 10.50 tires. and the fuel economy is hi teens to near 20 for me.

Wow! Now that's a plus thanks

 

[Petescj]

I'll have to vote for a 360 with a T-18 . I had the AMC 304 in my CJ5 when I first got it. It was on its way out a year after I got it but always seemed to lack the "zip" I thought Id get with a V-8.

I replaced it with a 360 and loved it. Plenty of power for a Cj thats for sure. With a T-18 backing it Im sure you would be happy.

If you would like to use the Ax-15 I do believe you need this adapter to mount your Dana 300 though:

Dana 300 Adaptation and Clocking Ring

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I'll have to vote for a 360 with a T-18 . I had the AMC 304 in my CJ5 when I first got it. It was on its way out a year after I got it but always seemed to lack the "zip" I thought Id get with a V-8.

I replaced it with a 360 and loved it. Plenty of power for a Cj thats for sure. With a T-18 backing it Im sure you would be happy.

If you would like to use the Ax-15 I do believe you need this adapter to mount your Dana 300 though:

Dana 300 Adaptation and Clocking Ring

If your Transmission came with a NP Transfer Case and a 23 spline output shaft then a Dana 300 should bolt right to it. The "clocking" ring is needed for those guy that have drivers side drops and need to flip the 300 to the othe side. If your running a stock CJ front pass side axle then you can just boot it in.

I have never hung a 300 on the back of an AX15 but here's how I'm pretty sure they fit. Some folks like to swap 208's from FSJ's for 231's since they are heavier duty and have fixed yokes. I have bolted a 300 to a 727 that came with a np208 so in theory they should swap.