I am planning on doing a motor swap soon. i have found two plausable motors. one of them is a 400 SBC, the other is a 302 HO. i dont know if i would rather have the 400 cause it is a big V8 and it will be next to free or if i want the 302 HO cause it is fuel injected. i found the HO at a junkyard. it has already been pulled and is complete from intake to oilpan and includes accessories. they want 250-350(cant remember which). however, it does not have a computer or wiring harness and i would have to buy the adapter from the TH400 to my dana300 transfer case. how much am i looking at to buy the harness and the computer? Is it worth the headache when i can put the carbed 400 in? also the 400 is accompanied by a TH400. if i use the 302 i would prolly use my current TF999(which i think is not in the best shape even though it was rebuilt about a year and half ago).

another thing i will have to look at is axles. i already have a springover on stock springs and run 35's....however i am going to be trading a friend of mine my stock springs for his 2.5" springs. i am also thinking of puting on a 3" body lift that i was given(depends on if the springs give me enough lift, i might try to cut the pucks if 3" will be too much). I want to eventually run 38.5" SX's or 39" boggers. i doubt that the stock dana30 and amc20 will hold up....what would yall suggest besides 60's...would 44's be a good choice??

thanks

i'd go efi but i'd find a motor that had everything with it. just my op.:D

Ramjet 350 from chevy :D. The more I think about it the better it sounds. You just need one positive to hook everything up. The computer is attached and fits in the plam of your hand.

do the 302 and send me the 400! seriously though i would say the 400 or like Eddie said the Ramjet 350 would be awesome.:D

lemme see....
ramjet 350 - ~$5000.00
amount allowed under college student budget - ~-$$$$

it will be a strech to get the motor swapped in but i think i can do it over a lil bit of time. if i had $5000 to spend i would spend it on a better tow vehicle. i have a 86 f150 with a 302(read small v8) and 35's. it can pull but it is a far cry from what i need.

anyway....thanks for the suggestions though

i think i will put the 400 in and then put a trailer hitch on the jeep and pull my f150 around with it....more powerfull trail vehicle then a tow rig.....oh well....

i guess my parents were right about one thing....i waste my money on all the wrong things

Yeah its $4500, you also dont have to mess with wireing at much. I would and plan on paying the $$$$ to save the time. I was wondering, would the ramjet manafold bolt up to a normal sbc350? It only costs $380. The only thing I dont like about the RJ350 (aside from the price) is that says on the webpage (http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/performance_parts/) that you need to run 92 octaine gas. I assume this is because of the compression ratio. Is there a way to lower the ratio. I guess you would have to change out the pistons, right? BTW, I am on a collage student budget. I am just going to wait longer to get the engine for my next jeep.

i hear SB400s overheat like a toaster oven in arizona.

i'd go for the 302, it sounds like a good deal. normally i'd say try and find a 350/700r combo, but at ~$300, the 302 is a steal. you can always bolt up a c6 to the 302, BTW. nearly same ratios as a th400 (2.46, 1.46, 1.00).

Yes, 400sbc are tough to keep cool, especially in a small jeep engine compartment. They have great abouts of torque, but would probably require an aluminum radiator with several cores and a very good fan/shroud setup. If your gonna go SBC go with a 350 or better yet stroke it out to a 383. Much more reliable and fairly easy to cool. Chevys are the cheapest motors to build and respond well to all types of modifications. Sounds like a good deal for the 302, but I can't run a ford motor, not even in my jeep! (which is a little of everything):D
If you want anything bigger than 35's with a V8, dont even think about a D44, they just wont last.
Just my measly 2cents.
-Jeremy

the 302. Mine went in without any problems. just used 2 passenger side mounts, drilled a couple holes and manged to use a couple stock ones! The 302 is cheaper, runs cool, hs plenty of power. how can you go wrong! The 350 is probably a good motor but don't waste the $$$ on something that would be too much. I have been there! I'm only 18. just a thought. the wiring is also really easy to hook up;)

Well, i'm swapping in a 400sbc that dyno'ed at 450hp....not to worried about cooling it....just set up your cooling system right and your good, I'm using a 160 deg. thermo thinking of running a Victor Series water pump, then i've been told be others on here to run a Griffeth rad. and a black magic fan with a shourd....and it keeps it cool. I'd say go with the 400 parts are cheaper and more avaiable.....no replacement for displacement!!!!!:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

The 5.0 has plenty of HP and torque, and is easily wired up. It basicly comes down to, 1 dedicated hot, 1 start/run hot and 2 dedicated grounds. the rest of the sensors, and ignition are intergrated into the harness, if you get a complete engine. The Ford EECIV computer is one of the most reliable computers ever made, you could probably shoot a hole in that thing and it would still run in an open loop.
I run about 300 hp and 350 ft lbs of torque at the rear wheels, ad dyno'd by a race shop at the Las Vegas race track. I only did a few mods, from Ford Racing.
The 5.0 runs cooler than probably any other V8, its lighter the an SBC by well over 100 lbs, maintanes great oil pressure on steep angles,a nd at continued low rpms, cammed propperly they pull hard, and with a consistant power band, from 700 rpm , the 5.0 will run upside down, and they even get decent trail gas mileage.
You can pick them up complete for $1000, all the time. I built mine from a 90 Lincoln Mark VII that I paid $600 for, with 83,000 miles, and sold the parts I didnt need for $900.
The 5.0 is an awsome Jeep engine.
For those not worried about the Chevy runnin hot, you need to come out to the hammers in the summer, when the temp in the canyons is 120 deg, and your moving at 0 mph all day long. Most every Chevy you run across is overheating, while the mighty 5.0 is purring along under any condition at 185-190.
I like Chevy engines as Jeep power plants also, but you have to solve the overheating probs, and its not as easy as putting in lower t stat, or higher pressure cap.

I'd also say go with the Ferd. Easily adaptable to Jeep trannies, and has EFI. There has to be a Ford harness available if you didn't feel like wiring up your own. What about emissions laws? What years are these motors? (Is that a concern?)

Parts for the 302s should be just about everywhere, they were used in Tbirds, Mustangs and Lincolns. Last month I saw 4 of them in a junkyard, probably all complete. Aftermarket's big for the 302, another plus.

The weight savings alone would be enough for me to do it. With a winch up front, you're nearly back to stock.

Just my $0.02.

Bryan

GO 5.0 EFI...
get a computer/harness at the junkyard (less than 100$)

The yard i went to thisa weekend had about 20 5.0's still in the cars... Mostly Lincon's

JYD motor 175.00
Harness/comp 100.00
C6 tranny 150.00
Ford t-case 150.00

granted there are alot of other issues, parts but you'd be on your way to 1 ton potential

as for axles why not 60's from the JYD they are all the same price (Front 250.00 Rear 150.00) the parts are only marginally more expensive than a 44

Humm
Whats my next mod ?