V8 Swaps
CustomCJ7
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V8 Swaps
- Thread starter CustomCJ7
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Old Dog
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- 83 CJ7 350 tbi, TH350, D300 twin sticked & clocked, narrowed Chief D44 Eaton Elocker & Moser shafts, Explorer 8.8 Detroit locker, 410's, RE 4.5" spring lift 1" body lift, 35" Claws, cage tied to frame, Corbeau baja seats, HD tie rod and draglink, u-bolts flipped, custom skid plate and sliders, Warn 9.5ti winch with Amsteel synthetic line
Good info here.Chevrolet & GM Engine Conversions into the 1976-1979 Jeep CJ
Just to let you know, it won't be cheap.
Just to let you know, it won't be cheap.
CustomCJ7
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1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2L
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I figured. I got lucky because the motor, tranny, and Transfer Case I got out of a truck I was restoring. I traded it for my jeep.
CJ
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'82 CJ8, 258, D300, AMC20, D30
It would still be cheaper and much easier to drop a 360 in that CJ...
Good luck!
Good luck!
Old Dog
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- 83 CJ7 350 tbi, TH350, D300 twin sticked & clocked, narrowed Chief D44 Eaton Elocker & Moser shafts, Explorer 8.8 Detroit locker, 410's, RE 4.5" spring lift 1" body lift, 35" Claws, cage tied to frame, Corbeau baja seats, HD tie rod and draglink, u-bolts flipped, custom skid plate and sliders, Warn 9.5ti winch with Amsteel synthetic line
Heres some things you will need, I'm sure you already know some of them.
motor mounts, Transmission mount, radiator, new wireing, probablly new driveshafts, I doubt if the Transfer Case you have will work, exaust.
I'm sure theres things I'm forgetting like little nickel and dime things.
But it's a fun project and IMO worth it in the end, good luck.
motor mounts, Transmission mount, radiator, new wireing, probablly new driveshafts, I doubt if the Transfer Case you have will work, exaust.
I'm sure theres things I'm forgetting like little nickel and dime things.
But it's a fun project and IMO worth it in the end, good luck.
BusaDave9
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- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
I agree with CJ.
Actually I would pick any AMC engine such as the AMC 304 , 360, 390 or even the 401.
They would be easier. The 390 and 401 could have heating problems with such a big engine under the hood. You must get a bigger radiator to help keep them cool.
What tranny do you have? Most transmissions from the '80s have a hard enough time handling a 6 cylinder. You may have to upgrade the tranny too if you want a bigger engine.
jeepboy45
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- 1979 CJ-7, Newly rebuilt AMC 360!, fully rebuilt GM TH400, Quadra-trac TC w/Milemarker 2x4 conversion, AMC mod 20 rear w/1 piece Moser axleshafts, mod 30 front w/tie rod flip and castor correction shims, 4 in lift, Centech complete wiring harness, dual electric fans on 3 core aluminum radiator, tilt steering wheel, 20 gal poly gas tank, new J20 steering box, MSD 6A ignition combined with TeamRush distributor mods
BusaDave9
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- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
You won't get no beatings from me.
The AMC V8 is meant to go in a Jeep. It's an easy swap.
some people feel the answer to more power is to throw a SBC into anything you want to go fast. I think an AMC V8 would be easier, cheaper and there are no surprises.
It really is a great engine.
jeepboy45
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DARN RIGHT!!
The only drawback is building up an AMC engine IS a bit more expensive.
But the costs to convert to SBC (IMHO) outweigh the extra cost to keep it AMC...
(Uh-oh...This has the potential of becoming a SBC vs. AMC thread... Hope it doesnt go that way)
You picked a great place for valuable information about your project Jeep. I wish you luck..
brian
jeepboy45
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I bet I'm not the only one who thinks your signature is way cool and copied and saved it!!
Razorfish
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I've always fought with myself over this. Ran my 65 Cutlass with an Olds 455 for a long time and finally swapped in a Chevy 396. Soul of the vehicle is important but the availability of Chevy parts is just crazy. Plus you could buy part X for the Olds and the same exact part for the Chevy would be 25-35% less. Lucky for me the Olds Chevy swap was just drop-in with no mods. Much different for a Jeep.
Just my opinion but: Short term it's expensive but long term a SB Chevy would cost less.
.. but yeah, you have to sacrifice part of your soul for it.
CustomCJ7
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Ha, Thanks Jeep
_______
/l ,[____],
l---L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)--o-)_)
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." -Enzo Ferrari
_______
/l ,[____],
l---L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)--o-)_)
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." -Enzo Ferrari
rockkrawlr76
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chevy 327, turbo 400, twin stick 300, superior 1piece axle shafts in a trussed model 20 with 4:88 gears and spool. Up front chromoly axle shafts, 4:88 gears, with detroit locker, spring over, high steer over leaf
1 -1/4 diam heavy duty tie rods and drag link.both axles are wide trac, 37x13.50x17 tires
swapping is not that hard, I think I spent about $1000.00 for the parts to swap mine over.
motor mounts
advance adapters conversion for GM Turbo 400 to Dana 300
shorten rear drive shaft
lengthen front drive shaft
factory harness can still be used, just reroute ignition wire, alt wire, starter wire
as far as the alt. goes a one wire alt is easiest.
motor mounts
advance adapters conversion for GM Turbo 400 to Dana 300
shorten rear drive shaft
lengthen front drive shaft
factory harness can still be used, just reroute ignition wire, alt wire, starter wire
as far as the alt. goes a one wire alt is easiest.
CustomCJ7
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Really, all I need to buy would be the motor mounts and get different drive shafts.
_______
/l ,[____],
l---L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)--o-)_)
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." -Enzo Ferrari
_______
/l ,[____],
l---L -OlllllllO-
()_) ()_)--o-)_)
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." -Enzo Ferrari
3QuarterTon CJ
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I say go for it man, I loooove my SBC swap. The parts availability was the sole reason for my swap. I'm a die-hard Mopar fan, however, the cost of Dodge parts compared to Chevy parts is retarded, so I bit the bullet and put a Chevy drivetrain in my CJ.
rockkrawlr76
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chevy 327, turbo 400, twin stick 300, superior 1piece axle shafts in a trussed model 20 with 4:88 gears and spool. Up front chromoly axle shafts, 4:88 gears, with detroit locker, spring over, high steer over leaf
1 -1/4 diam heavy duty tie rods and drag link.both axles are wide trac, 37x13.50x17 tires
depending on what tranny and t-fer case you use an adapter will also need to be purchased. If you run all chevy, (motor, Transmission and t-fer case) no adapter is needed but if you want to run part of the jeep hardware an adapter would be needed. Here is how I did mine and has been bulletproof so far for 13 years.
1)bomb proof motor mounts from M.O.R.E.
2)t-fer case adapter for GM Turbo 400 Transmission to Dana 300 t-fer case from Advance Adapters
3)lengthen front drive shaft
4)shorten rear drive shaft
5)140 amp 1 wire alt
6)used factory harness, just find main ign. dist. wire, and starter wires and re route them to fit.
7)drilled out t-fer case and third members and now use u-bolts on the u-joints. That will save a ton of agony on tossing drive shafts because of stressed straps and weenie strap bolts. Ford u-bolts are the same width, but measure.
Hope this helps, good luck
1)bomb proof motor mounts from M.O.R.E.
2)t-fer case adapter for GM Turbo 400 Transmission to Dana 300 t-fer case from Advance Adapters
3)lengthen front drive shaft
4)shorten rear drive shaft
5)140 amp 1 wire alt
6)used factory harness, just find main ign. dist. wire, and starter wires and re route them to fit.
7)drilled out t-fer case and third members and now use u-bolts on the u-joints. That will save a ton of agony on tossing drive shafts because of stressed straps and weenie strap bolts. Ford u-bolts are the same width, but measure.
Hope this helps, good luck
CustomCJ7
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Got a TH350k with a NP205
rockkrawlr76
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chevy 327, turbo 400, twin stick 300, superior 1piece axle shafts in a trussed model 20 with 4:88 gears and spool. Up front chromoly axle shafts, 4:88 gears, with detroit locker, spring over, high steer over leaf
1 -1/4 diam heavy duty tie rods and drag link.both axles are wide trac, 37x13.50x17 tires
should be able to use those without adapter, just change the motor and tranny mounts, and the other obvious things.
Saddle Tramp
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I’ve tried to stay out of this one to not sound like an old nag but I think there are a couple of points to be made. First off, only an idiot or someone who has lived under a rock for the last 50 years or so would have anything negative to say about the effectiveness and value of a SBC, particularly in terms of support; IT IS A GIVEN. However let’s talk about the true price of the SBC swap. I don’t agree with Rrazorfish that in the long term to run the SBC will be less than an AMV V8. First add the cost of the swap its self, say $1,000 as Rockkrawlr76 spent; you could easily spend more. At this point the AMC swap over the SBC has saved a few bucks however the better question is what is being done to the value of the Jeep by doing the SBC swap? In my area the CJs with a SBC are the ones that stay on Craig’s List week after week without selling while the others do. Being in the sales business I know when you can’t sell something for your asking price if you really want to sell it only one thing happens, the price goes down. So, if you add the upfront cost and then the devaluation to the jeep it’s self from the transplant of the SBC the AMC engine swap wins the dollar contest.
Jeep begged, borrowed, and stole parts from anyone who would sell to them and GM products were heavily part of the mix over the years but to me transplanting a GM (Ford & Chrysler too for that matter) engine for an AMC/Jeep product is nothing short of castration of the rig; hence cutting the sole out of the Jeep. The AMC blocks are a good, high nickel content product and very receptive to being rebuilt; not so much with the SBC. (Obviously this doesn’t mean people don’t or can’t rebuild them)
Don’t miss understand me a little mix and match is not a bad thing. I have been flamed on various occasions on the boards for my jeep “purist” attitude of trying to put the pieces together using parts that jeep once offered without the need for adaptors because I use a 1980 Scout Dana 300 Transfer Case in my CJ5 as it is a Scout product and not jeep. I make no apology as a Dana 300 was used by Jeep and the Scout version is a direct bolt in product to my CJ T-18 , not something that required an adaptor to make it work.
Keep your Jeep, Jeep!
Jeep begged, borrowed, and stole parts from anyone who would sell to them and GM products were heavily part of the mix over the years but to me transplanting a GM (Ford & Chrysler too for that matter) engine for an AMC/Jeep product is nothing short of castration of the rig; hence cutting the sole out of the Jeep. The AMC blocks are a good, high nickel content product and very receptive to being rebuilt; not so much with the SBC. (Obviously this doesn’t mean people don’t or can’t rebuild them)
Don’t miss understand me a little mix and match is not a bad thing. I have been flamed on various occasions on the boards for my jeep “purist” attitude of trying to put the pieces together using parts that jeep once offered without the need for adaptors because I use a 1980 Scout Dana 300 Transfer Case in my CJ5 as it is a Scout product and not jeep. I make no apology as a Dana 300 was used by Jeep and the Scout version is a direct bolt in product to my CJ T-18 , not something that required an adaptor to make it work.
Keep your Jeep, Jeep!
toyman2
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I am not as pure as most on here.
If you want a sbc then put one in if you dont then dont. All listed motors are great, the sbc, you can get parts anywhere anytime.
I have a 350 in my 86 CJ7 , it came to me that way, that is part of the reason I bought it. Power wise, stock there all pretty close if you compair apples to apples.
If you want a sbc then put one in if you dont then dont. All listed motors are great, the sbc, you can get parts anywhere anytime.
I have a 350 in my 86 CJ7 , it came to me that way, that is part of the reason I bought it. Power wise, stock there all pretty close if you compair apples to apples.