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V8 options


Oizarod115
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which engine?  

20 members have voted

  1. 1. which engine?

    • 302 ford
      4
    • 350 chevy
      10
    • 360 AMC
      6


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another idea ive been kicking around... moved it from the tech to here cause i realized i had more thinking to do.

 

so should i go..

 

carbuerated SBC 350

ford 302 5.0L

OOORRR

 

AMC 360

 

http://www.golenengineservice.com has the AMC360 and the SBC350 for the same price and the AMC only makes 30 less lb/ft of torque.

 

plus the AMC engine would match an AX15 bellhousing...

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I would go with the SBC for the simple fact that you can find remaned t350 for as low as 400, and adapters are real easy to come by. If you want a bullet proof setup... do a 302, np435w np205 case... nearly indestructible. Also fuel injection on either the sbc or the ford might be a lil easier (cheaper) then fuel injecting a AMC motor even though I know of several ppl running the Holley Projection on them.

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Chevy 350 parts are a dime a dozen also. Don't put a Ford motor in there it would be like giving a transplant patient a cancerous organ. Anyhow if you decide to run chevy you might want to pull one out of a late 70's to early 80's full size van. You get a little lumpier camshaft and cool stuff like the unique thermostat housing that will make life easier for you and a remote reservoir power steering pump.

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my main reason for them were as follows...

 

AMC 360 i figured in as best choice because of its direct swap in-ness.

but i do need a new tranny so i have to find an AX15 before i worry about any of the engine stuff. so i guess i could start out with a tranny that would work.

 

302- small, pretty much just badass. love ford over chevy (sorry yall)

 

350- good aftermarket jeep support and knowledge base.

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I'm a 350 guy. Just because they fit, have a huge aftermarket, are a dime a dozen, and bolt up to such wonders as the SM420/SM465.

 

 

But, a Ford motor works to (I'd not go 302 personally...) as it still fits, and could be run with a NP435.

 

 

In case you didn't guess, I'm not really into autos.

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I'm a 350 guy. Just because they fit, have a huge aftermarket, are a dime a dozen, and bolt up to such wonders as the SM420/SM465.

 

 

But, a Ford motor works to (I'd not go 302 personally...) as it still fits, and could be run with a NP435.

 

 

In case you didn't guess, I'm not really into autos.

 

I agree completely with dirty!!

 

87 mentioned size considerations. The 350 is a LITTLE motor compaired to any other V8. Its smaller than the 302 and you get 50 more cubes!!! The parts avalible and overall low cost in my opinion FAR OUTWEIGH any other consideration.

 

I have been a FORD guy for a long time. But IMHO, the 350 cheby is your best bet.

 

CW

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I am going with a 4.3 for weight and size considerations... The only reason why I even suggested the Ford was I have ran across a lot of deals as of late for ford drivetrains... I mean ridiculously cheap at that.. Running FI 302 with harness for 100.... then a f100 with drum brake hp Drum d44, 9", with a np205 and np435, that too is also 100. So for 200 hundred I could swap in a complete ford drivetrain, and have some axles. Granted I would have to swap over to disc front... but anyt dodge or chevy outers would work.. or ford for that matter

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[

 

I agree completely with dirty!!

 

87 mentioned size considerations. The 350 is a LITTLE motor compaired to any other V8. Its smaller than the 302 and you get 50 more cubes!!! The parts avalible and overall low cost in my opinion FAR OUTWEIGH any other consideration.

 

I have been a FORD guy for a long time. But IMHO, the 350 cheby is your best bet.

 

CW

 

The 350 is physically largely (although, only slightly) in all dimensions compared to the 302. The 302 is also quite a bit lighter than the 350 (450 vs. 550lbs) with nearly the same aftermarket following. Another upside is that the outlets on the radiator line up with those on the engine.

 

Given the options you presented, I'd go with the 302 as I'm very concerned about lightening my MJ as much as possible. Not on your list (but on mine jamminz.gif ) is an LS1. More horsepower and lighter weight than the 302.

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Actually a 350 and 302 are the exact same size dimentionally on the outside. The extra displacement comes from bore size and stroke length. The 302 weighs less, but they also have a well known weak point straight up the center of the block. And the distributor being in the front makes it much easier to soak it with water and leave you stranded in a hole.

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If not set on the v8 I would seriously consider a 4.3. Same bellhousing pattern as a 350, and it's quite a bit shorter. Still has a decent aftermarket. If you want the uber horsepower then you could find a factory supercharged 4.3 and stuff it in there.

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yeah, i was checkin out novaks transmissions and adapters for pongs 435 i was thinkin bout that.

 

so a 435 bolts up to a 350 and a 302?

the shop up the street has a cheap 435 IIRC he either told me alot of $$ for the actual tranny or for the adapters to run the tranny... probly the adapters.

 

lightness is always nice... the weight ratios are already WAYY off in an MJ as it is.. but 4.0s weigh a TON.

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alright so engine choice aside... what did yall with v8s do about fuel delivery? FI? carbuerated? how bad was the wiring?

 

does the i6 radiator hook up with any of these V8s? cause i have a 3-core right now and a v8 actually has shorter cooling ducts making it probably just as easy if not easier to cool down?

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HD 4 spds differ between manufacturesr so do your homework before buying anything. NP435's are found behind Fords and Dodges......Chevs are SM420's or SM465's. There were apparently a few NP435's found in chevy's as well but are not common. The bellhouseings are different for chev/dodge/ford/amc so you will need the right bell for the engine you use.....be aware that Ford and Dodge use different bellhouseings between thier BIG and Small blocks too.

If you want an AMC V8 and an NP435 combo , you can adapt a T176 4 spd AMC bellhouseing to accept the NP435......do lots of research on this , cuz the input shaft lengths are differnt between Fords/Dodges and can also differ in length due to engine/clutch combos.

I would recomend finding a donor vehicle that has the engine/trans/t-case setup that you desire........takes all the guess work out of the equation.

If it was me.....I wouldnt bother with any of the old 4 spds. I would find an NV4500 already bolted up to a chevy small block and run it......Carbed is easy , anything EFI will take some wireing harnness modifications as well as computer etc......Its alot of work.

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Have you considered a Dodge small block ???? Thats what is going into mine.....360 Magnum with the A518 O/D and an NP231. After looking at the schematics for the harnness/computer it doesnt seem to bad to swap.....and 245HP and 330 lbs/ft should be sufficient.

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Mine's carbed I just cut the stock fuel line at the fire wall and formed a line to run from the stock location up and along the fire wall and to the pump. Not the best setup but it works. My truck had the 2.8 so the radiator works but is too small. A larger one is in the works right now.

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The xj I just bought has a 4.3 with a painless wiring harness. By the looks of how the PO installed it.. it wasnt that hard. Matter of fact the hardest thing I have had to do to get it close to operational again was to install the t-case and rerun the tranny lines.. for some reason the PO decided to use a mix of AN fittings along with steel fittings.... BTW this is a bad idea

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