Engine Swap

[Txquailhunter]

Planning on putting a big block chevy in a 1985 CJ7 . Plan is to take out everything on the CJ... Radiator, Engine, Transmission , Transfer Case and Exhaust System and replace with a New Radiator, Chevy BB, Transmission and Transfer Case as a matched system. Does anyone have experience on this conversion?

 

[mtnwhlr]

I will never understand why some of you guys think you need big block power in a short wheel base Jeep. They are not a hotrod but a 4x4. You take it 4wheeling with all that weight in the front and horsepower all you are going to do is break things our worse roll it. IMO

 

[Txquailhunter]

Actually I am not doing it for the HP. I have a wrecked C3500 that has a new GM crate motor in it, new 6 speed Transmission and a brand new Transfer Case that has less than 200 miles on it. I planned on putting a small block in it but then one of my guys wrecked my other truck.... so now I am putting in a BB. The difference in weight is about 200 pounds... it is an aluminum block with aluminum heads. Look at the jeep in the picture (Avatar) does that Jeep look like it is a hotrod? It has been in my family since it was new.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I was not trying to be mean but I have some friends that put big blocks in there Jeeps and they have all regreted it. But they 4wheel theirs I don't know how you use yours but even on the street it's going to be hard on your axels.

 

[csuengr]

Actually I am not doing it for the HP. I have a wrecked C3500 that has a new GM crate motor in it, new 6 speed Transmission and a brand new Transfer Case that has less than 200 miles on it. I planned on putting a small block in it but then one of my guys wrecked my other truck.... so now I am putting in a BB. The difference in weight is about 200 pounds... it is an aluminum block with aluminum heads. Look at the jeep in the picture (Avatar) does that Jeep look like it is a hotrod? It has been in my family since it was new.

Sounds like some driving lessons would be a better investment.

 

[Txquailhunter]

I think the weight on a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l I6 is 525 pounds. The weight on the BB I will install is 517 pounds. So I lose a bit of the weight. I'm not planning on hot rodding. Just driving it off road and on the highway.

 

[Txquailhunter]

Sounds like some driving lessons would be a better investment.

I agree!!! And if the lady that ran the redlight and broadsided my truck would have had insurance and not been drunk I would be a lot happier. Only good thing was that no one was injured.

 

[Old Dog]

I know nothing about the new chevy motors and Transmission . But if I were you the frist thing I would do is see if the como is going to be to long or not.
If it's short enough go for it, but be easy on the gas with that Dana 30 and AMC20 .

 

[Txquailhunter]

I know nothing about the new chevy motors and Transmission . But if I were you the frist thing I would do is see if the como is going to be to long or not.
If it's short enough go for it, but be easy on the gas with that Dana 30 and AMC20 .

Thanks. Will do. Going to pull all of the chevy parts, put them together again and measure them from end to end. Then measure where everything will layout in the Jeep.

 

[Sasquach]

What about T case off set? My 03 2500hd has driver side offset for the front. Probably will want to change the axles out on both ends anyway.

 

[BrockGrimes]

One thing I'd look at is keeping your Dana 300 .
I've seen a 502 with a 700r4 and a Dana 300 in a CJ7 , it fit.

The motor you have is free and it's yours, do it.
Measure, look for adapters and look for control options.
Check with advanced adapters.
Check with Howell and affordable fuel injection at control, wiring, options.
Throttle Body (TBI): Affordable Fuel Injection

 

[Txquailhunter]

One thing I'd look at is keeping your Dana 300 .
I've seen a 502 with a 700r4 and a Dana 300 in a CJ7 , it fit.

The motor you have is free and it's yours, do it.
Measure, look for adapters and look for control options.
Check with advanced adapters.
Check with Howell and affordable fuel injection at control, wiring, options.
Throttle Body (TBI): Affordable Fuel Injection

Thanks for the input.

 

[Niedhogg]

Holy , if i had an option to install a big block drivetrain, I'd stretch the wheelbase and 4-link the 1 ton rears from the truck as well, and then crawl over everthing!