I have a '90 YJ that is in need of a new motor and I am weighing my options.
1. rebuild, stroke and inject what I have (258)
2. find a used TJ motor and all computer parts and slap it in.
3. find a rebuilt 350 and change the tranny.

I think, cost wise, it would be cheaper to rebuild what I have and be on my way. I also know that people are going to say " Go V-* or don't bother", but I don't do anything that requires tons of torque or high wheel speed and I don't want to buy new axles :nuke: just yet. I have too many other things I want to do before I shell out for new axles.

TIA! :confused:

Daren

If wieght is a problem and you want a light V-8 I would go with the 302 our the 351W they are both very light motors and can be built to up to have power... I have a 302 in my Jeep and I just love it:D

1. rebuild, stroke and inject what I have (258)

Pretty straightforward but expensive and not a whole lot of gain for the amount of effort involved.

2. find a used TJ motor and all computer parts and slap it in.

It's be much easier (and cheaper) to use a YJ 4.0.

3. find a rebuilt 350 and change the tranny.

Best plan. Just get a later TBI 350 and you're good to go...


IMHO,

Jake

You cant go wrong with a Ford 5.0 HO. , They are strong, light, and reliable.

Or get that 4.0 and put your 4.2 crank in it, makes a nice stroker, still get the FI heads etc.
$.02

Anyone have a list of vehicles to use as a source?? I was thinking of swapping in a 5.0L, and was just thinking of getting a full size 4x4 ford truck that has been smashed, and swap the whole drivetrain. Can that be done??

What are some other donors?

A real Focker:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Focker
Anyone have a list of vehicles to use as a source?? I was thinking of swapping in a 5.0L, and was just thinking of getting a full size 4x4 ford truck that has been smashed, and swap the whole drivetrain. Can that be done??

What are some other donors?

A real Focker:flipoff2:

The 5.0 HO mass air Car engine is a better candidate. The truck engines are good also, but the manifold sits a lot higher. The car engines also come with forged pistons, and more aftermarket support than almost any engine on the planet available.
You can use a truck bellhousing to mate the engine and drivetrain. I used an NP435 tranny from an F250, but a T18is another good candidate. A C6, or C4 tranny could be used if, a slushbox is your preference.
Depending on what side the pumkin is gonna be on your axle swap, you could use a D20 or D300 for a transfer case, both can be geared plenty low.

A donor for the engine is any 90-93 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury with a V8, they are all the same engine. If you go with an 87-89 speed density controlled engine you can swap over to a mass air set up for about $300. You can get some very good deals on 5.0 engines if you look around.

I have no regrets at all with my swap, I think its awsome choice for a Jeep engine.

Is the D20 stock in a Jeep?

The 5.0 HO mass air Car engine is a better candidate. The truck engines are good also, but the manifold sits a lot higher. The car engines also come with forged pistons, and more aftermarket support than almost any engine on the planet available.
You can use a truck bellhousing to mate the engine and drivetrain. I used an NP435 tranny from an F250, but a T18is another good candidate. A C6, or C4 tranny could be used if, a slushbox is your preference.
Depending on what side the pumkin is gonna be on your axle swap, you could use a D20 or D300 for a transfer case, both can be geared plenty low.

A donor for the engine is any 90-93 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury with a V8, they are all the same engine. If you go with an 87-89 speed density controlled engine you can swap over to a mass air set up for about $300. You can get some very good deals on 5.0 engines if you look around.

I have no regrets at all with my swap, I think its awsome choice for a Jeep engine.

When you say a truck bellhousing, do you mean the bellhousing out of a Ford pickup, like an F150 or F250? Would this also be applicable to a 76 CJ with a three speed manual (I don't know how to tell what tranny I have yet)?

I do already have a complete, running, 5.0 roller engine out of a 90 Mustang, with a wiring harness and computer. Any wiring harness mods would pose no real problem for me, I just need to know what bellhousing and clutch combo I could use to make the factory trans work. Or is there a better, yet somewhat cost effective, transmission for this kind of swap?

Also, the forged pistons only came in the HO engines from 86-92. The HO engines prior to 86 had cast pistons. The HO engines post 92 had hypereutectic pistons. Newby to Jeeps, not Fords.

How do I tell what trans, transfer case, and axles my Jeep has? Sorry so newbyish. Thanks.

Ford power BLOWS :flipoff2:
Only certain transmissions will bolt to certain engines.
Parts are more expensive, harder to get some.
Ford transmisssions are and always have been junk.
There is no interchangeability.
Go for the GM POWER
Buy all the motor you can afford. $$Ram Jet$$ BB or SB
Then all the rest will be a nervana of interchangability, With factory and aftermarket support that will delight and amaze.
Look at the Hot Rod crowd most all chevy power for the resons i have mentioned.

Originally posted by Underdog
Look at the Hot Rod crowd most all chevy power for the resons i have mentioned.

Get a clue Undermut, The 5.0 is smokin in all classes. they are getting consistantly into the 6's in Pro Street.
Hot Rod magazine made a statement in one of their rags a few months back, that the glut of sucess of the 5.0 has lead to after market support and technology not rivaled since the popularity of the SBC.
Chevy trannies what a gem they are, the 700R4 is I think considered disposable after a tank of gas. The 350 auto is a great tranny but so is the C6.
The 5.0 is 100 plus pounds lighter than the SBC and a lot easier to keep cool. And there are no parts that are harder to find or more expensive, than an SBC.
I like both engines, so pick whichever one suits you best, I merely wanted to point out that you were just another "think you know it all" "Fawkin Newbie", that doesnt know his dick from a valve stem. :flipoff2:

Hey dumb ass.
All i was doing is giving an opinion. Fer Kris Sake,
You are the one with thew high and mighty Fomoco attitude.
All you Ford fans are the same :flipoff2:

I need a reference manual on doing a v-8 conv, anyone know of one or can point me in the right direction. I want a 5.0L swap and need some step by step info!! What trans, transfer case, motor mounts conv. kit, rad, and all the other bullshit, I do need expertise from people who have done these swaps chevy or ford, as long as it is a conversion. Thanx

The things a Focker has to do to get answers:rasta: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Focker
Is the D20 stock in a Jeep?

Yeah! 71 to 79 CJ's, 67 to 73 Jeepsters, early Wagoneers - All passenger side drop & 2.03:1 lo range

Early (66 to 77) Broncos - Driver's side drop & 2.32:1 or 2.46:1 lo range depending on the year and/or engine.

Lotta people don't like them but I've never had a problem with one, Jeep or EB. They're cheap and plentiful.

Tera sells a 3.15:1 lo range gearset for them.

go with the 302 T18 D20 combo

don't mind me "302:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: they said 302"

ok sorry/...anyways get a REAL motor!! go for the 350 tbi or tpi to 700r-4....the wieght difference is not much differnt between the 302 and 350!!

and NEVER install a 351!! those motors are a big JOKE!:p

Hey thanx for the info RockCrusher, I've got a 88 yj with a 4.2 and my trans case is the np231 would that be able to work? I'd like to go auto also! Thanx for all the great info:beer:

Well, I'm runn'n a 91 TBI 5.7 in my 87 YJ. And for all the same reasons H8 loves his 5.0, I love my TBI. They both work great. I have had no heating problems (dispite the tiny radiator, new griffin comming soon), aftermarket support is awesome, the swap was too damn easy, it's a torq-e bastard and you cant beat the reliability of the TBI. There's nothing that cant be fixed on it with a blunt rock.

IMNSHO... Either the 5.0 or 5.7 are great motors for the swap. It just depends on if you favor Turds or Chebbys. I just happen to be a Chebby man :D .

Either way you go... DONT spend the major $$$$ on building and beefing a 6 banger. It's not worth the money. For the same or less, you can have dependable V8 power. By far the no 1. best thing I ever did. You wont regret it.

and NEVER install a 351!! those motors are a big JOKE!

There are 2 different 351's The 351/400 M is a pile but the 351 W small block is a great motor.

hey guys, considering the 302/351w swap myself and was wondering about the driveline length compared to a 4.0/ax-15 length. is it shorter/longer and how much of a pain is the wireup? oh yeah, possible general price would be extremely helpful also so i can plan this before my wife gets wind of more money going to my trail/dd/pizza delivery thing.thanks!

fish

I burned up two pistons on the bad gas in Panama in my 258 powered CJ-5. When I got it back to the states, we did a SBC swap.

My dad had a used 327 SBC sitting in his garage that we used for my engine swap. So that for me was FREE, but you should be able to find a used SBC for a couple hundred (I found a running 350 a few years ago for $250). The bottom end had previously been rebuilt, so I only had the heads done (Valve Job + changed to Z28 Valve Springs) That was about $250.

Instead of an adapter, I got the (Novak? Advance Adapeters?) Bellhousing, since I didn't have a Chevy Bellhousing to begin with. I think that was about $300. The engine didn't have a flywheel (was previously behind a Auto trans) so I picked on up from a bone yard for $50 and had it resurfaced (I can't remember how much that was, I think $25) I used a new clutch and pressure plate.

I used the complete MSD Ignition on it: MSD-6 Control Module, MSD Distributor and MSD Coil. This made wiring pretty easy. All the ignition parts totalled about $500.

Since I had a 258 before, I went with a Modine V-8 Radiator for a CJ. The Inlet was in the wrong spot so that had to be moved. I think it was about $250 all told for the radiator.

Then there was all of the misc parts that you don't think about, but they nickle and dime you. I think I spent about $300 on this stuff. We did save some money by keeping the tranny in the same position (had to reshape the firewall a bit so that the distributor would clear) so I didn't have to redo drive-shafts.

Anyway, by the time it was done and ready to wheel I'd spent about $2k. If I had to do it all over again, I think I'd pick up a TBI 350 and 4L60E from the bone yard complete with wiring harness, computer, etc. Probably would have cost a bit more at the end, but the TBI is worth it.

- Mike

Ok so if I get a complete 350 tbi from say a smashed 90 fullsize chev 4x4, I'll have the motor, trans, transfercase and wiring. Part 1 done.

I'll need to get a rad so it will stay cool, should I get a trans cooler? Odds and ends I understand, no prob.

The big question what cross member, and motor mounts are good to go with?? I want this thing to be street legal also and not a hack job, I'm not worried about the money as this will be a slow process, and a do it once and do it right project.

Please fill me in and any links to companies with adapters. will be appreciatted.

Focker

i think a carbed v8 and auto tranny would be your best option if you are concerned about money. if not then put in the injected v8.

Originally posted by Focker
I'll need to get a rad so it will stay cool, should I get a trans cooler? Odds and ends I understand, no prob.

Get a Trans Cooler -- Definitely.

The big question what cross member, and motor mounts are good to go with??

Should be able to use the stock skid plate, may have to drill new holes or elongate a few.

I fabricated motor mounts, but there are companies that make SBC to Jeep motor mounts.

Please fill me in and any links to companies with adapters. will be appreciatted.

Advance Adapters (http://www.advanceadapters.com)
Novak Adapters (http://www.novak-adapt.com)
Hedman Headers (http://www.hedman.com)

- Mike