MiNi Beast Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Well got my advance adapters cataolog today and was looking in it and found that they got the motor mounts and brackets for the MJ/XJ, which I knew they did why I got the mag, but saw as well they have an adapter belhousing for the Ax-15, sweet right? Maybe slow to catching on about this but trying to catch up. So my question is if I did the small block conversion could I keep the rest of the drivetran stock? I whold love to put a 350 in but don't want to mess with the hassle of the rest of drivetran. So any help much appreciated, planning on pulling my motor for rebuild, stoker, but if I could do the 350 I want to do that. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 You don't need to get a new bellhousing for a small block Mopar, they use the same bolt pattern as an Ax-15. Throw a 318 in, your tranny could probably handle it, but I'm sure you'll blow up a 35 pretty quick. Anything bigger than a 4.0, and you will need something stronger in the rear end. wait...nvm. You have an 8.8 don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted January 18, 2008 Author Share Posted January 18, 2008 ...........yea........ :brows: what about the input shaft to the 318? then whould I need to change out the steering setup or could I just run lines to the pump and keep stock also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 That I do not know...but I'd imagine that you can run lines from the 318's pump to your current steering box. I can check my mom's bf's dakota to see if the box is the same. Or even if the pump is the same. I'm not really the one to talk to about a V8 swap...I just know the 4.0 and small block Mopars use the same bolt pattern. I was going to be putting an Ax-15 behind a 360 in a J10...but.. Stupid running out of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 The beauty of the 350 swap is that all the stuff is already out there, tried and true. Cooling is always an issue though, so be prepared. Also, the AX-15 is adequate for the new power, but it won't be indestructible. Your 8.8 should be fine, but you might want to upgrade the shafts/joints in the Dana 30 at the very least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted January 18, 2008 Author Share Posted January 18, 2008 The beauty of the 350 swap is that all the stuff is already out there, tried and true. Cooling is always an issue though, so be prepared. Also, the AX-15 is adequate for the new power, but it won't be indestructible. Your 8.8 should be fine, but you might want to upgrade the shafts/joints in the Dana 30 at the very least. 30 is getting a major overhaul when swap out the 4.10 gears. :D I would love to do this swapp then, only reasoned I turned away was didn't want to change everything out. So if everything is availabe maybe you can point me in the right direction then to collect what I need. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 advance adapters is all you need. But be prepared for cost overruns and unseen issues. It's not a swap for the feint of heart. But we've got a couple guys here that have done v8 swaps. Hopefully they'll chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I haven't done a v8 swap but my 96 camaro 3.8 swap, the power steering works just fine with new lines and the camaro power steering pump. it actually works better than stock. heats better than stock too...and I don't have any overheating problems with a 4.0 full core radiator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I haven't done a v8 swap but my 96 camaro 3.8 swap, the power steering works just fine with new lines and the camaro power steering pump. it actually works better than stock. heats better than stock too...and I don't have any overheating problems with a 4.0 full core radiator. You couldn't pay me to pull the 4.0L and replace it with the 3.8. Now if we're talking the 4banger in place of the 3.8 than we have another story. However since the OP has a 4.0L I'll stand by my above comment. ;) I really thought about doing a V8 in my XJ, however the cost involved in doing it was just not realistic at the time. I built a very strong high HP stroker for less than I would of had in the V8 swap. It's been discussed a lot among other forums and it keeps coming down to $ vs. HP. The stroker just is more bang for your buck in the long run... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 The stroker just is more bang for your buck in the long run... :agree: You'll still want to upgrade the front u-joints. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 You couldn't pay me to pull the 4.0L and replace it with the 3.8. you do know that my 3.8 outperforms your 4.0 in every way shape and form right? hp, torque, gas mileage, you name it. not to mention that for about $450 I can supercharge it with 14 pounds of boost. try and get that kind of performance and bang for buck out of your 4.0. come on, I dare you. I replaced a 2.8 with it btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 You couldn't pay me to pull the 4.0L and replace it with the 3.8. you do know that my 3.8 outperforms your 4.0 in every way shape and form right? hp, torque, gas mileage, you name it. not to mention that for about $450 I can supercharge it with 14 pounds of boost. try and get that kind of performance and bang for buck out of your 4.0. come on, I dare you. I replaced a 2.8 with it btw Stock 3.8L = 200 HP @ 5,200 rpm, 225 ft lb , @ 4,000 rpm: Stock 4.0L HO = 190 hp @ 4750 rpm, 220 ft lb @ 4,000 rpm (updated in 96-01 to 225 ft lb torque @ 3000 rpm) Man that sure is BLOWING it away... The 4.0L makes more torque in a lower powerband than the 3.8L does (ie. better for offroad/wheeling applications). The money involved in swapping the 3.8L into your XJ/MJ I can put into doing simple upgrades (header, exhaust, bored TB, intake manifold off a '00-'01) and have more HP than the 3.8L... And YES I have swapped the 3.8L into an MJ; as replacing the 2.8 as you did... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Stock 3.8L = 200 HP @ 5,200 rpm, 225 ft lb , @ 4,000 rpm: Stock 4.0L HO = 190 hp @ 4750 rpm, 220 ft lb @ 4,000 rpm Man that sure is BLOWING it away... The money involved in swapping the 3.8L into your XJ/MJ I can put into doing simple upgrades (header, exhaust, bored TB, intake manifold off a '00-'01) and have more HP than the 3.8L... And YES I have swapped the 3.8L into an MJ; as replacing the 2.8 as you did... total cost was $800 MAX to do the swap. don't you mean 3.4? if you'd done a 3.8 swap you'd have had to build motor mounts, exhaust, down-pipe, swap to a different header panel, custom intake, wiring. the works. the 3.4 is the same block as a 2.8. the 3800 is a 90 degree block with a 60 degree bellhousing pattern. my cost to build more hp than your 4.0 would reach would still be much less than yours, and with a higher net gain than yours. ...I get 19mpg in 4wd btw. 25mpg interstate, and a normal mpg of 22 or 23 mpg. anyways, that's off-topic, but every bit of it is true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 total cost was $800 MAX to do the swap. don't you mean 3.4? if you'd done a 3.8 swap you'd have had to build motor mounts, exhaust, down-pipe, swap to a different header panel, custom intake, wiring. the works. the 3.4 is the same block as a 2.8. the 3800 is a 90 degree block with a 60 degree bellhousing pattern. my cost to build more hp than your 4.0 would reach would still be much less than yours, and with a higher net gain than yours. ...I get 19mpg in 4wd btw. 25mpg interstate, and a normal mpg of 22 or 23 mpg. anyways, that's off-topic, but every bit of it is true. For $800 you've almost paid to do a budget 4.6L stroker that would net in the 260HP plus range. I'm just getting back to the fact of bang for your buck. You can disagree (and thats fine); however I see for the money keeping the 4.0L and putting money into it (stroker) is a better option than swapping in a 3.8L. As I've stated prior, for the money you'd have in the 3.8L swap you can build up your 4.0L and it will have more HP than the 3.8L does and you don't have to worry about doing a motor swap and everything associated with it. I am just trying to point out that the 3.8L is not any better than a 4.0L in the respect of HP and TQ; not to mention you just spent $800 to get the same numbers. ;) Now I understand why you did the 3.8L swap, as the 4.0 won't fit in the engine bay (at least I couldn't get one in my '86 when I tried) due to the firewall. I opted for the same thing you did and was happy with the results. I used a 3.8L out of a '99 Lingenfelter Camero. It was the 1st (and last) 3.8L swap into a Jeep Lingenfelter's ever did (I worked there at the time). Ok maybe the company wanted nothing to do with it, but myself and another guy in the shop did it on company time in the shop. :D Yes I know the 3.8L is a good base, I worked at Lingenfelter's for 3 years and know what they are capable of. However we're talking more $$$ again... I'm not going to argue about it any further. Just calling it the way I see it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 back on the original topic. i would probably stroke the 4.0. you can keep some sort of gas mileage compared to a V-8, but maybe you won't care about that. it all comes down to money/time/skill level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share Posted January 19, 2008 yeah just do stoker, i'm big on the 4.0 but got kinda excited to hear of the v8 swap, seems to be a little easier then I use to think being that I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO SWAP THE WHOLE DRIVETRAIN. BUt yeah I think I may go with the stoker. But may just wait now though to finish the RK 3 link long arm set up and then pull the engine to do everything up nice. I'm getting a 93 two wheel drive xj next week that already has the front 4x4 axle in it and comes with the ax-15 and t case, but thats going in the MJ. So was going to stroke the 4.0 i have sitting to put in it with the ax-15, but was pondering the idea of swapping the H.O. over and all the wiring and what not to clean up my MJ wiring wise as well as the inside. I'm buying the XJ to be reliable DD for school and work. Engine in XJ has 170,000 miles with the head and top end rebuilt last year for prventive maintence as well as the rear main seal. So not deal, but what if I just throw the tranny and t-case in there and make it 4x4? Taking some opinions anyone? :dunno: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duner Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 From the horses mouth: we talked directly with the Advance adapters tech at the offroad show. A mildly built 350 will eventually destroy the ax-15 and other drivetrain parts, a performance built engine would kill it in a short time. The only way to truly enjoy the engine swap was by including the tranny and axle swap. At this point I would have a chevrolet instead of the jeep so my DAD has finally convinced me that to keep all of parts as a jeep is a far better choice. Stroker motors are the answer - its simple, the renix injection is flexible enough to handle he changes and everything under the hood remains the same. So stroke it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenosha Warrior Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 So stroke it. and when you're finished, start stroking that motor : :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenH Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 How can a stroked 4.0 be any easier on the ax15 than a 350? Think about that just a little bit more... a stock V8 doesn't make a lot more peak horsepower than that. But a chevy engine would still be better :D Which AA book do you have? I have the Jeep engine and conversion manual and it says "This transmission seems to be one of the better transmissions Jeep used and is very capable of handling the horsepower and torque of a V8 engine" and also "The AX15 is a good and reliable transmission. It has an excellent gear ratio and it ideal for V6 & V8 conversions. This transmission is one of the only newer Jeep manual transmissions capable of handling the engine torque of a V8." Get a price from AA and then call Scott at Rock Buggy Supply. I bet he will save you a good bit on whatever you want from Advance Adapters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now