Engine New Winter Project. Rebuild or Buy Remanufactured 258 i6?

[Genaz]

This winter's project will be the engine: 258c/6 cylinder. Not sure if I should have this motor rebuilt or buy a re-man. Getting different opinions. Never know what you're getting with a remanufactured engine, but the other side says by the time you do the heads, crank, cam, etc your better off just getting a re-man motor. Will be changing the intake and carb when I do this. Probably M/C 2100. Opinons and recommendations appreciated!

 

[Jeep Soup]

Like I have posted before……
Gotta LOVE AMC back then !!
Sometimes you have to Know Which Day of the Week it was Assembled!!
Line Changes were a regular Start of Shift Crew Meetings….

Good Luck on your Scavenger Hunt for one.

Just another Lead. Take the Measurements to a GOOD Parts House.
Ask for a “Cage Needle Bearing”. You will be surprised at what’s available.
If you find a Needle Bearing, Grease it WELL with High Temperature Grease for a Lifetime trouble free use.
I have done this on Hot Rod/Racing Builds.

 

[Genaz]

Thanks for all the great input, guys. I found a brass pilot bearing on Advance Adaptors, that is 1.050" x .590". I'll be sure to remeasure several times before I get it off the engine stand and install.

 

[Genaz]

Continuing on with the '79 CJ 258ci engine swap. Putting on the oil pan gasket and rear main seal, side rail gaskets all fit fine. But the front oil pan seal by the timing cover has these locaters that don't seem to line up with anything. Anyone ever see this? Don't know if I can just snip them off or if they compress somehow (doubtful)?

 

[CJ]

You can clip them flush. Some pans or blocks used them.

 

[Belizean]

They went into my 85 timing chain cover at the bottom……79 I don’t know.

 

[Genaz]

Hi Everyone. Almost ready to drop the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l back into the 79 CJ. I want to grab a new radiator and would really like an electric, dual fan set up. But I'm not sure of the installation to a fuse box, etc that old. Any counsel? Should I just stay with a good 3 core aluminum radiator?

 

[Manic Mechanic]

I went aluminum with single electric fan. Before switching to EFI with computer control for the fan I ran a simple thermostat switch

I don't have the prob shown. I did add a dead man switch for manual over ride for wheeling and parade duty

 

[Genaz]

I went aluminum with single electric fan. Before switching to EFI with computer control for the fan I ran a simple thermostat switch

I don't have the prob shown. I did add a dead man switch for manual over ride for wheeling and parade duty

View attachment 107194

View attachment 107195

Thank you Brother. Is that 50a relay part of the kit or aftermarket?

 

[Manic Mechanic]

Part of the kit

 

[Genaz]

Hi. Any advice on how to hook up this HIE distributor in my '79 CJ with the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l cylinder? I know its a mess right now. But anyone who's done this and can advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Manic Mechanic]

Set it to TDC (top dead center) drop in the distributor with the rotor pointing to #1. Then run a wire to the distributor that is 12v switched power. After that fire her up. None of those other wires are needed.

 

[grimmjeeper]

Yeah, the ignition controller can go away. The HEI has one built in. That plug for the old distributor can be abandoned. Same with the coil.

If the 79 is the same as my 83, the ignition controller under the coolant overflow can be unplugged. It has 2 plugs similar to the distributor plug.

I usually tap the choke heater wire for an HEI distributor.

 

[kduffy]

If that distributor is the Cheap-O eBay special, get a good quality coil and ignition module. Might as well install them right away, or you can do it on the side of a mountain. The other option is being on the side of a mountain 750 miles from home, unable to find them in the jeep, and then finding them on the shop bench later,where you left them, after intending to install them proactively. Guess which option I went with...

 

[Genaz]

If that distributor is the Cheap-O eBay special, get a good quality coil and ignition module. Might as well install them right away, or you can do it on the side of a mountain. The other option is being on the side of a mountain 750 miles from home, unable to find them in the jeep, and then finding them on the shop bench later,where you left them, after intending to install them proactively. Guess which option I went with...

no cheap Ebay parts on her. Everything is for Summit, Jeggs or Qudratec.

 

[Genaz]

HI Everyone. Got it all together and turned the key yesterday and get one "click" then nothing. Replaced the solenoid and tried jumping it, but no luck. It has a new starter and the new HEI distributor. Any ideas? The starter? A ground I've missed? A real let-down yesterday when she wouldn't even crank.

 

[KenS]

If I were you, I would highly recommend ditching the carb and installing the Holly Sniper EFI. It make such a difference on my CJ7 ! It also has the Sniper EFI ignition now.

 

[Genaz]

If I were you, I would highly recommend ditching the carb and installing the Holly Sniper EFI. It make such a difference on my CJ7! It also has the Sniper EFI ignition now.

View attachment 107854

Would love to do that. But need to figure out why it won't crank first.