Well, here we go...

Last week, while looking for parts for my 42 MB, I saw a 1946 CJ2A on Craigslist for $500, so I snatched it up, and forked out the $398 to pay the back registration on it, then towed it back to Fresno from San Diego. It's tubed from the firewall back, and has the old Willy's flat head installed. The seller said the motor had been rebuilt 6 years ago, but he hasnt driven it in the last 4. I also have an 87 Grand Wagoneer that I found on craigslist for $300. Now comes the hard part, my plan right now is to swap the waggy D-44 axles under it, moving the rear axle back about a foot, and the front axle forward 2-6 inches. Most likely 3 or 4 link the rear, but I'm leaning towards leafs in front, so I dont know yet.

My real "problem" is that I found a 4.3l Vortec with loom, black box, trans and t-case for $400 (+$100 to remove it all and put it in the bed of my truck) with about 80K miles on it. So, do I swap over the AMC 360 and the rest of the waggy powertrain and walk away from the 4.3, or do I just use it's axles and try to find someone who can do the danged set-up on the EFI? The only person I found so far willing to help with the set-up wants 2K to program it, saying its easier to buy a new stand alone box than mod the original box to work. WTF? :confused:

I guess I am looking for someone within a 200 mile drive willing and able to install, set-up, program the wiring and box to get this little mill running after I install the motor, OR someone who sells a plug and run stand alone box.

If I go with the vortec I need the stock fuel pump, a new rad, the buggy fuel cell I have shouldnt work, so a fuel tank, maybe a stand alone black box if it really is better than modding the stock one (if you have to)... anything else? I am kind of afraid of getting into this 4.3 only to find it's way over my head and far more costly than installing the 360 would have been.

So, any input from you more seasoned builders would be great.

the pics from the craigslist add:

sounds like you spend a little too much time on craigslist...haha.... Is the engine TBI, CPI or the later Vortec? The older TBI is very simple to get running, the others are expensive.

Well, the waggy was a 3 for $900 deal last summer, 2 were runners, the 3rd is a donor. The MB I got from my sister's neighbor back in June, I took it down last week for VIN assignment. It runs fine, but you never know when you might find parts you "need" for cheap on Craigslist.

This Vortec is from a 97 S-10 Blazer that I stumbled across while looking for something else at a wrecking yard. It clears Lien sale in 2 weeks, then they will let me drive the Blazer around the yard to make sure everything works, then I pay them, they pull it out, put it in the bed of my truck, and I bring it home to put in my CJ... unless its going to be stupid expensive, as I have the AMC 360 that costs me nothing. If the 4.3 costs $500, and a control box costs the same, that $1k mostly pays for a TBI conversion for the 360 in the waggy. The only thing I loose by using the Waggy motor/trans/Tcase is the overdrive, but the 727 trans is way stronger so its a trade off I am still pondering. By moving the rear axle back like I plan I dont think I will have a drive shaft angle problem.