Ok I'm looking at buying a 79 CJ5 with the AMC 304 in it. I'm looking at putting a TBI Fuel Injection Kit on it, if I get this jeep. The engine burns a little oil, and all the cylinders have 120+ lbs of pressure, except cylinder #8 which is just barely over 100lbs. When first started up during the day it blows a moderate cloud of white smoke. They say it's not uncommon for these engines to burn about a quart of oil in 3k miles, but this engine burns a little more than a quart in 1k miles. The jeep has 150K some miles on it. My main concern is I don't want to do this if the engine will crap out anytime soon, which I know is a hard thing to determine. Could I assume the majority of the oil burning is going on in the 8th cylinder or is it possible oil is leaking down the valves in which a head rebuild would help out tremendously (just with the oil burning)? I really don't want to rebuild the entire engine if I can avoid it, and a engine swap would be out of the question as an entirely new painless wiring kit was just put in. I realize this engine won't last forever but If I can get at least 15k to 20k miles out of it I would be happy. What do you guys think?

Originally posted by Steven_Mc
I really don't want to rebuild the entire engine if I can avoid it

You can't avoid it...short of replacing the engine with a 350, which is really a better solution. An engine that's going through that much oil is waiting to die...

Good luck,

Jake Harsha

:flipoff2: :flipoff2: WELCOME NEWBIE!!! :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

i bought a 79 cj-5 myself a couple of years ago...it came in shipments.....the body on one truck and the frame on another...with it i got a blown-up 304, so i traded this to a buddy for the now i realize underpowered and unreliable 258 straight six out of a 90 jeep wrangler...(you want to talk about a pain in the ass to wire!!)..anyways...i yanked that piece of junk out of there and dropped in a 360 out of a 84 grand wagoneer!!...best move i ever made!!....the 350 chevy can kiss my ass as i blow past it on the trail....your using oil is probably due to the valve seals being bad and oil runnin down onto the piston head, i had a similar problem with the 360 when i origionally purchased it...took the heads in to get ported and polished and basically just redone and now it burns no oil....your compression sounds fine..the lowest cylender has to be within 20% of the highest in order for the engine to run correctly.....oh and as for the motor swap idea...nice buy on the painless wireing kit...i love those!...but why can't you get another motor?...the 360 is the same block as the 304 basically its just got a diferent bore...and hell i used the 304 wireing harnesses for the 360 i'm runnin now and the 258 man...swappin jeep motors is a sinch...nothin is easier or more fun as long as your swappin up:-D .i love doin it...but basically just get your heads worked on and GET ON THE TRAIL!

what road