I was just thinking out loud..... How well would an AMC I6 fit into a 80 or 800 chassis??

The hard part about a V-8 swap is it mostly the crossmember and rad., or is it the body as well?? I've never seen a I6 in a 80/800 (although I have heard they were done), and only seen a Scout II once, and didn't look closely at it (stupid me).


Oviously with the I6 you would need to re-structure the crossmember, would it be better to just start with a V-8 chassis?? or would it be a good way to "save" a 4-cyl rig?


Thinking out loud for a fun (80!!! top-less, door-less, windshield down!), econamical (good on gas) driver/light wheeler/commuter


thoughts?????

-mark

Move the front crossmember forward and mount the radiator at the grille and it might fit. The firewall tunnel is too narrow for most V8's but an inline might tuck in there OK.

Moving the crossmember really isn't that difficult, and you need to change the radiator for any engine swap.

Originally posted by RustoleumWhite
I was just thinking out loud..... How well would an AMC I6 fit into a 80 or 800 chassis??

The hard part about a V-8 swap is it mostly the crossmember and rad., or is it the body as well?? I've never seen a I6 in a 80/800 (although I have heard they were done), and only seen a Scout II once, and didn't look closely at it (stupid me).


Oviously with the I6 you would need to re-structure the crossmember, would it be better to just start with a V-8 chassis?? or would it be a good way to "save" a 4-cyl rig?


Thinking out loud for a fun (80!!! top-less, door-less, windshield down!), econamical (good on gas) driver/light wheeler/commuter


thoughts?????

-mark

I think the I6 800 has more in common with the V8 than the 4.

I do have an I-6 800 I could measure and pic for ya, Mark.. it's sans drivetrain, but it has the "slanted" mounts in it for the 6.

Originally posted by RustoleumWhite


*I* wouldn't mind a I-6 frame, Nice strait-6 with the 4.0L efi and a 5-speed would make a NICE driver.....

A 4.0, AX15, Dana 300, with some Scout II or Wagoneer axles would make a great all around rig. The d300 bolts up to the ax15 with just a spacer ring. You can buy wrecked XJ's for next to nothing for the 4.0 and AX15. The only other thing you would need to address would be Power steering, and its not that difficult to do.

Originally posted by Ben W


A 4.0, AX15, Dana 300, with some Scout II or Wagoneer axles would make a great all around rig. The d300 bolts up to the ax15 with just a spacer ring. You can buy wrecked XJ's for next to nothing for the 4.0 and AX15. The only other thing you would need to address would be Power steering, and its not that difficult to do.

My thoughts exactly Ben. PS would be the only real issue, but that can be worked out. PB may not be nesseary with a good master cylinder and that light of a rig.


Tommy, ya, snap some pics, I'm curious now........

Originally posted by RustoleumWhite


My thoughts exactly Ben. PS would be the only real issue, but that can be worked out. PB may not be nesseary with a good master cylinder and that light of a rig.


Tommy, ya, snap some pics, I'm curious now........

PB won't be necessary. I have the stock '61 MC and disc's front and rear. Locks up all 4 36's with no problem. When I had the Scout II axles with disc front and drum rear, braking was excellent also.

Also, the scout 80's had hydraulic clutches, it should work with the ax15's hydraulic setup, so probably no clutch linkage nightmares to work out.

The inline 6 800's had the same layout as the v8's. The install would require the same modifications as the v8 swap in a 4cyl 80/800.... unless the motor would fit into the tunnel better.

I agree on not needing the PB, my 800 has a SII master and I don't plan on adding power it when I swap the front axle.

Sounds like it would work out great. If you are really concerned about PB's I have heard of some people using a hydro-boost set-up. Although, I really don't see how that would fit either. Me, my stock set-up couldn't stop me even if I were going uphill. I put in a Camaro Master that I had lying around and it stops great. Of course, when I had the stock M/C, I still had drums on all four.:eek: