Rebuild my '91 4.0L High performance engine built by Clifford or go V8 power?

After the fire, a friend of mine spoke with a racing machine shop and they said being that the valve cover (metal) melted down into the engine, they feel that the engine would not be a good canidate for rebuilding. So, should I take the time to take the head off and try a rebuild or should I do a swap?

I was considering a Chevy 350 LT or LS-1 engine as a swap canidate. They parts are everywhere and the blocks seem pretty readily available. Anyone have any thoughts on this engine. I heard it has good low end torque for 4 wheeling.

Since I have no wiring now at all, how difficult will it be do get a hold of a wiring harness. Does Painless Wiring make complete harnesses for this engine?

Any other V-8 a better canidate?

I will be rebuilding with d44, d60, NV4500 and an Atlas II. I think it is kind of heavy for a 6 cyl, but the one good thing is that the 6 cyl. is emissions legal in MD.

I definitley want fuel injection and prefer MP vs. throttle body. I also want an engine that has easy to find replacement parts for, and is a common swap so there is lots of info available on how to. I originally wanted to keep it Jeep and go 5.9, but I hear that it's really not a popular swap for some reason.

I might have a tough time getting it to pass inspection with the 8.

Here is the link to the burnt engine:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/41033834/41035361bGmkCr

Thanks for your help.

4.3 Chevy V6

Plenty of power.
Easy to find in a boneyard.
Bajallions of hop-ups
6 cylinder - easier to pass emissions (maybe?)
Stock stuff to bolt up to that tranny

Originally posted by Mo
4.3 Chevy V6

Plenty of power.
Easy to find in a boneyard.
Bajallions of hop-ups
6 cylinder - easier to pass emissions (maybe?)
Stock stuff to bolt up to that tranny

Yep, or a TBI 350. I like the TBI engines because of the hop-ups and they are relativly easy to deal with the wiring, plus they are less expensive than a TPI/LT1 engine, or Vortec.

What kind of Jeep is this going in???
Maybe think about a 283 small block chevy


W.B

Originally posted by Willysboy2001
What kind of Jeep is this going in???
Maybe think about a 283 small block chevy


W.B

'90 Wrangler (SOA) being rebuilt from ground up due to vandals burning it down.

TPI 350 or a 5.0cobra,

i would stay away from the lt1, cause of the optispark junk.

the 5.0 is light, small, very tough bottom end, can run upside down, and has near the aftermarket support that SBCs have.
also very cheap to find and get a hold of. do a search oin this if interested, there is a huge amount of detail. good candidates for swap are 90-92 stangs


TPI 350....late 80s/early 90s f bodies and vettes.
fairly falt tq curve like the 5.0, the tpi EFI unit will bolt to gen 1 350 blocks, so that you could get a long block from somewhere, and grab a tpi system from ebay for a couple hundred.

both engines with an aftermarket harness will be "Stand alone" as well.

either engine has way more power potential that you need as well, so you have a pretty good range of options there as well.
HTH
you or jason can email me backchannel about this if ya like...ive spent alot of time amassing info on this stuff, and about legalities in MD.
later
~John

John- can I do a v8 swap retaining all original emissions equip from the 8 and keep it legal in MD?

We definitely need to talk.

Thanks for the ideas.

My TPI is street legal in NJ. You need to keep all the donor's emissions equipment, but can only have 1 cat, even if the donor vehicle had two. :confused:

I'm thinking TBI would be a much cheaper way to go, but if you can find a TPI motor complete, go for it!

Bryan

in your position, I'd seriously consider a Stroker 4.7L motor.
Mike at accurate performance is in Delaware and on this board somewheres.
I'm going to yell so the appropriate people can hear me:

IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR BUISNESS IF SOME CHARITY IN THE FORM OF HELPING RESCUE JEEP WERE DONATED!! I'M SURE ONE OF THE TRADE RAGS THAT CRUSIE THE BOARD WOULD THINK ABOUT DOING A FEATURE ON AN ACCURATE PERFORMANCE STROKER BUILD-UP/HUMAN INTREST PIECE, TOO!!!

5.9L Magnum

If you have the $$$$$ 383 Stroker

An AMC 304 will fit and works nicely, but you'll have to add the fuel injection.

If I where you I would swap in.
Either a Ford Mustang, or Crown Vic 5.0 or Chevy LT-1.
I went with the Ford myself.

I'd really love to keep it Jeep and go with the 5.9L. Pros and cons?

f uwanna run with a 360 i have a line on a frshly rebuilt 360 tranny and x case fairly cheap im in indy.. i might be able to meat u sum where in the middle if ur really serious..

buddy i work with had it in his j10 before destroying the truck..

i think he shot me a price of 300 for it all ill have to double check..


and do u have ur front 44?

ive got a pass drop 44..

email me and let me know

stangman669@hotmail.com


me personlaly im going 5.0 ho in the heap this winter..

I am very impressed with the 5.0.
The engine is super strong throughout the powerband. I run a B303 Cam which really adds to low end power, but the long oval runners of the 5.0HO intake manifold are inheirant to a very good torque (most gearheads agree that Ford really fawed up when they didnt use the HO style manifolds for the truck 5.0 engines).
The 5.0 is light, affordable, easy to swap, and have aftermarket support that rivals the SBC nowadays. They maintain good oil pressure, on nearly any angle, they are easy to keep cool, and the EECIV Computer management system is widely regaurded as one of the most reliable ever produced.
I can tell you that I have swayed even some of the most devoute Chevy hinks, after they have seen me fully getting into the throttle durring competitions.
It can easily idle under heavy load at 400rpms in 3rd gear low, then jump to 3000 rpms in less than a second, without sidestepping the clutch.
Mine was dyno'd at the track in Vegas at 272HP/320ftlbs at the rear wheels, (with mostly bolt on and computer upgrades, and an E303 cam). It has less HP now that the B303 cam is being used, but the power band is much more off road freindly.

I dont think you can go wrong with an FI SBC either,..but the Ford 5.0 is another strong option.

i say 5.9 magnum, but i'm a mopar guy. it will bolt up to a dodge 999 auto, so put a jeep 999 tailhousing on and run a dana 300 with junkyard stuff. if you want to go manual, get a dodge 435 trans with a stock 208 t-case adapter and a 300 bolts right up. also if you get a 1500(1/2 ton) truck engine harness(magnum), its a stand alone harness.;) oh and i forgot to mention the R/T cam and computer, can you say easy 300hp and smog legal.

what does it mean that its a stand alone harness?

Originally posted by RSQJEEP

I was considering a Chevy 350 LT or LS-1 engine as a swap canidate.

If you go the LS1 route, you should probably go with a truck derivative (4.8, 5.3, 6.0). You'll save a bunch of bucks, even if HP will be down & you won't get that cool aluminum block. Early 6.0's had iron heads, so if you go 6.0, look for a newer one to save some weight. My 2002 6.0 is far & away the best "stock" smallblock I have EVER driven.

TEX

If smog is an issue like it is in Kalifornia, I'd suggest doing your homework on that aspect of it.

If the rules are what we have in Kalifornia, if you go too old, the engine can't pass smog, but if you go too new, you will have to pass the (likely) tighter smog regs of the newer engine.

Also, out here that engine had to be offered with the style of tranny you put behind it, so if it was never offered with a manual transmission and you want manual, you are screwed and vice versa.

If you don't care about smog just ignore this.

since I'm a ford guy, I'll also say the EFI 302s (and 351w) are both great motors, but the 302 would probably be my choice.

Not bashing the SBCs, I just have no history with them.