Going to swap out the 258 for a small block. I want to have fuel injection for sure. I would also like for it to pass emissions and have heard that the ram jet can be hard to make pass vs the more high tech LS1/LT1. Is there an advantage one over the other? This is going in a 1984 CJ8, dana 60's with 39.5 boggers, an NV4500 will be going in at the same time as the motor. Believe it or not this jeep is street legal in GA, and I do drive it around Gainesville on weekends. Does one engine make a better torque curve for rock crawling than the other w/o replacing the cam etc? Basically I'm searching for experience/opinions here.

I'm not that familiar with the Ramjet but the biggest problems I've had with the LT1 is the Optispark. It sucks water in then crossfires and it's expensive to replace. No repair option. Another problem is the powersteering pump is set up for rack and pinion steering. Not enough flow and it's difficult to modify to a standard Saginaw style pump. A little issue is that the motor mounts are different for almost every year of the LT1 but they are pretty easy to fabricate.

The torque curve is great on the LT1 and swapping to the LT4 hotcam kit is even nicer!

If I was starting over right now and I had the cash to buy any of the 3 you mentioned I'd go for the ramjet. If I was cash limited (which I am), I'd probably go with a mild TBI 350 or 454.

They're all nice motors, no doubt. It'll probably come down to what you can find and afford. A RamJet may not be street legal because it doesn't have an EPA certification or whatever for any configuration because it was never a production issue. That aside, you can't argue the power or simplicity.

I'd probably go for an LS1 out of the bunch, mainly because they're new & aluminum. Don't rule out TPI. Lots of torque, not block specific - can even be used on a generic 383.

Bryan

I don't much about the others, but alittle about the Ram. Drop it in hookup 12V and varoom off you go how's that for simple :flipoff2:

Have you considered a Ford 5.0HO
They are cheap, simple, reliable, and have excelent power curves.
They are light weight, compact and very simple to hook up.
I have amazed even the most hardcore Chevy fans who have seen the engine in action at competitions.

nothing is as cheap or simple as a tbi 350.

Originally posted by yjtj
nothing is as cheap or simple as a tbi 350.


Probably not as cheap, but they are very affordable, and also very simple. You also get the added performance bennefits of sequential EFI.
In any case its just another option I was throwing out there.