i have a 87 wrangler. i want more power , i have a s.b. 350 30 over, cam whole nine yards, i also have a 302 that begs to be rebuilt . which motor would you recomend ? or do you think that there is another motor i would be better off with ? mabey a 327?
i play in the mud do some trailn
what trans should i hook up if i were to try some other size motor?
thanks justin

Since your Chevy is already built, run that.

Carb'd or EFI?

There are lots of SBC Jeeps out there. And a few SBF Jeeps too:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/HackFabrication/WiringProgress005.jpg

The benefit to the Chevy is that you've already got it build, there is a world of aftermarket support for the Chevy/Jeep swap, and there are a ton of parts out there.

The Ford can be built to be a real nasty motor. Up until around 500hp when you start breaking the stock 5.0L block. Then you've got to go World Products, or the Boss block from Ford Racing, or from a number of other suppliers. There are also a ton of them sitting in the bone yards (also 351W's-which IMO, is something to look at), and in my area they are more plentiful and more reasonably priced.

Transmissions:
Automatics...
Chevy: 350TH, 400Th, or 700R4 (non computer).
Ford: C4, C6, AOD.

Manuals...
Chevy: NV4500, NV3500, SM635 (or SM420-although the newest one is 40 years old).
Ford: T18, T19, NP435. All 4spds. Ya want the O/D you're gonna have to fab up a ZF swap.

For simplicity it's the SBC. For something different it's the SBF.

You make your choice and you pay your money....

This engine is already in the Jeep correct? If it is and you're looking for more power, you don't have the whole nine yards. I don't know why you would put a smaller, shorter stroke engine in something that you want more power out of. Keep upgrading your 350. There are 400-500 hp 350 chevy builds in at least one magazine a month, read one and go from there.
Travis..

572!...That thing is nasty!:grinpimp:

how bout that new LSX that GM is comin out with, thats suposed to be teh shti!

no i am taking a 4cyl weed wacker motor out , i have a 351 w but i thought that would be too heavy?

There are some oil pan issues with the fords. Dump in a rat motor/th400/atlas/60/14 if ya really want more power.:smokin:

572!...That thing is nasty!:grinpimp:

Ramjet 383:smokin::laughing:

It's not too heavy, somebody even put a powerstroke in a cj:

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=600468

...i have a 351 w but i thought that would be too heavy?

Nope. It is a physically bigger motor than the 302. However, a number of the 5.0L parts will fit. Especially aftermarket heads. Keep it simple and run an offroad 4bbl, or go nutso and adapt the EEC-IV Mustang EFI.

Considering that you do sand and trails, I'd think that a good Ford setup would be a 351W/C6/NP205. Plus it will give you the advantage to run the Ford Dana60's down the road because of the driver's side drop. Sand and mud you're looking for wheel speed. The 2:1 low in the NP205 won't hurt you, run the appropriate gears in the diffs for your particular tire size. Even on the trails you'll encounter in Michigan, with the C6 and the 2:1 tcase, you'll be fine.

A good question to ask yourself is: How much time/money/effort am I willing to spend?

What are you running for a T-case and axles? Will they be up to task of more power.Breaking every time you push the pedal down will suck.