Replace engine or Rebuild old one

[armymedic1996]

I am sorry if this has been asked and answered before.

I have a 84 CJ7 with the l4 and a T-4 . I will be using it as a daily driver once it get it to be reliable.

I can bore out the 4 and rebuild it or I can drop a 350 that is bored 40 over. I have also considered one of the l6's. I want to keep the cost low, but want it to have decent power as well.

I am not sure if the T-4 will bolt to any of the 6's directly without adapters. If it will I might go that way, but if I need an adapter or new tranny I will probably go with the 350.

Any thoughts, advice and shared experience with this is appreciated.

 

[Torxhead]

The T-4 has a history as a weak Transmission for anything larger than the four banger. You might have the 4.10 gear ratio already and installing a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l /T-5 combo would be a good way to go. The 350 is a pretty serious engine and should have a complete upgraded driveline as well, along with a larger gas tank. It pretty much depends on just what you want to do with it.

 

[Shifter]

A small block chevy will bolt to the 4 cylinder bell housing and the T-4 Transmission ... Transmission not very strong, may not last long.
T-4 was also standard behind the i6.. So bell housings are readily available. Still not a strong Transmission , and may not last long.
4 cylinder rebuild will be the cheapest in the end, although, not vey powerful, and the fun may not last very long.
My vote is always going to be a v8 swap and a good Transmission to make a reliable and fun vehicle.

 

[armymedic1996]

A small block chevy will bolt to the 4 cylinder bell housing and the T-4 Transmission ... Transmission not very strong, may not last long.
T-4 was also standard behind the i6.. So bell housings are readily available. Still not a strong Transmission , and may not last long.
4 cylinder rebuild will be the cheapest in the end, although, not vey powerful, and the fun may not last very long.
My vote is always going to be a v8 swap and a good Transmission to make a reliable and fun vehicle.

Are you saying that a SBC will bolt directly to the l4 bell-housing without an adapter?

Also is there a GM tranny that will bolt directly to the Dana 300 without an adapter?

 

[Shifter]

The 4 cylinder is a gm iron duke engine. Same bell housing bolt pattern as the small block chevy and 4.3 engines.

No chevy transmissions bolt directly to the Dana 300 that I know of.. Although some adapt in well.

I used the sm465 in my build due to the fact that it probably will never break..and when adapted the Transfer Case remained in the same location, allowing the use of stock length driveshafts. A lot of information is available on Novak conversions website.

I absolutely love my 310" small block. Built strictly for torque, it made the CJ7 a totally different toy.

 

[armymedic]

The 4 cylinder is a gm iron duke engine. Same bell housing bolt pattern as the small block chevy and 4.3 engines.

No chevy transmissions bolt directly to the Dana 300 that I know of.. Although some adapt in well.

I used the sm465 in my build due to the fact that it probably will never break..and when adapted the Transfer Case remained in the same location, allowing the use of stock length driveshafts. A lot of information is available on Novak conversions website.

I absolutely love my 310" small block. Built strictly for torque, it made the CJ7 a totally different toy.

Ok, so for some reason I could not log into my account and could not get my password sent to me so I registered again.

My 4 cyl. is not the GM "Iron Duke". I have the AMC 150 2.5L.

I have decided to just build the 4 Cyl. A friend pulled one out of his 91 to put a 4.3L in and I am just going to build that engine. I will bore it 30 over and deck the block to get the compression up some. I am also going to change the carter 1 barrel to a weber 2 barrel. I am hoping to get 140 hp out of it.

Any ideas to help get the power up would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

All said and done-It's still a 4 'popper'.
FWIW: I would at least look for a 6cyl to install.
LG

 

[diddy2003]

I personally wouldn't waste any effort on a 4 cylinder. 258s are pretty available. My AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l needs a rebuild soon. AMC was actually nice enough to make it so that other motors easily install in my CJ7 , so my GF bought an AMC 360 for me. I found it on CL. Complete motor, with clutch, flywheel, HEI, carb, exhaust manifolds, rebuilt 10,000 miles ago, motor mounts, for 270 bucks. So, you might luck out and find a simple replacement. I am bolting the V8 to a T-176 Transmission .