258 umph

[tsm1mt]

Anyone run a 258 SII or S-800 for any length of time?

My GF has (jokingly, I think) stated she wants her OWN race Scout since I keep breaking mine doing stupid things like trying to clear doubles..

I've had a ~68 I6 800 chassis for a while now - it's already been stripped down of unnecessary "stuff" but lacks engine/trans and axles.

I was just offered a '74 SII for a good price.. rust bucket.. with an I6/3spd and 3.73 D44s.

I'm thinking of either throwing my current 'cage into the SII and let her run it as-is, or swap the engine/trans and axles (and springs) into the 800 chassis.

The SII springs would be good for a little lift from what I'm told, and the SII axles would be wider giving it a better COG. Keep it more or less "stock-like" and let her run around in it.

I just don't know if the I-6 would be any fun to drive at all - especially since I have no interest in learning how to make a 258 make power n' go fast. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Sound like it'd be a fun thing to play in? It's for her, not me. I'll keep my 400hp 304C, built 727, and 4.88s. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Ben W]

Don't know much about the 258's, but I do know a 360 or 401 AMC would be an easy swap.

[Scout Dude]

I friend of mine had a SII with a 258. It sure wasn't a race car that's for sure. Barely faster than a 4 cyl. Wouldn't it be easier to put a v-8 in and move it back so you don't endo when you jump?

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by Scout Dude:
<STRONG>I friend of mine had a SII with a 258. It sure wasn't a race car that's for sure. Barely faster than a 4 cyl. Wouldn't it be easier to put a v-8 in and move it back so you don't endo when you jump?</STRONG>

*easier* is to bolt the 258 in to the factory mounts and leave it. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

This 6cyl rig would be for my gf, and I don't want it to cut too deeply into wrenching time on *MY* rig. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

I've been keeping an eye out for a wrecked Chevy pickup. I wanted a 350/350 combo and a pair of axles. The 350 would tuck nicely into the 800 firewall/trans tunnel without too much butchering. Bolt the axles up, cut driveshafts to fit.. and she'd probably never flop it with such wide axles.

Instead, I found this $100 Scout II. Jerk the engine/trans out, slide it into the 800 and bolt it up.

convert to SII leaf springs and swap the SII '44s under it - wider, stronger.

Swap a SII p/s box and column in (or something like that).. butcher the front end into a tilt clip or just remove the inner fenders and convert it to power brakes.

Ta-da.

I want to save the "serious" work for my rig. I'd like to move the engine back around 13" and drop it another 3-5". On a Scout II that'll mean major surgery to the firewall and trans tunnel - IH SV8-s are HUGE compared to stuffing a 350 or 5.0 Ford in.

Get a rig for her ready to go with as little effort as necessary.. and when she starts GETTIN IT I'd start looking for another engine swap.. 401? And then start looking at moving it back.

As it stands, I'm not sure she knows there a whole 'nother half to the loud pedal in my rig. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Part of that might be that I didn't put the seat far enough forward for her legs. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Maybe I could just drop enough weight that the 6cyl would run alright..

*shrug*

Shop needs finished first.. just need to decide what I want from the '74 SII soon..

Not enough hours in the day! Dang..

[scouter77]

Any AMC engine will bolt right in... I have the 258 in my scout. THERE ARE ALLKINDS OF MODS FOR THESE! because the jeep crowd runs these and they are trendy and all they are simple to setup... You can get a blower even <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> Seriously search the for sale forum on any jeep board and I know someone who is selling a 4 barrel manifold and GM hei setup for these. I am getting an hei.. <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0"> I like mine. Thing is I would build a racer for torque not mad HP...

[jdjanda]

I had a built 304 in my 79 CJ, used to race Mustangs, and Cameros up to sixty MPH then the shakn got too bad <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0"> . Blew the tranny twice doing that. The AMC motors are a lot easier to hop-up than the IH's I know Tom <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> to me, but it's true. The AMC 8's are about the same weight as the sixes, and shorter.

Joe <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by jdjanda:
<STRONG>I had a built 304 in my 79 CJ, used to race Mustangs, and Cameros up to sixty MPH then the shakn got too bad <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0"> . Blew the tranny twice doing that. The AMC motors are a lot easier to hop-up than the IH's I know Tom <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> to me, but it's true. The AMC 8's are about the same weight as the sixes, and shorter.

Joe <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Oh, I *know* it's true. I could've built two really nice SBCs or 351Ws instead of my 304C. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

AMC's still more popular than IH.. heck, at least AMC built muscle cars you can rob parts from! IH built Bulldozers. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

She was kinda likin' the idea until I told her it's a straight-6. She doesn't want any of that. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

So much for low buck/low work.

The axles will still work well for her '68 800 street/trail rig, and I need another transfer case anyhow..

She'll just have to wait for her own racer for a while.. I'll probably just have her drive *before* I do - that'd be the easiest/cheapest route. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[jdjanda]

How about a 360/727 combo out of Grand Waggy. Should be able to find fairly cheap.

Joe <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

[dodg partz 1t]

what about takin' a 4.0L and stickin the crank and rods out of the 258 into it ..... now you have torque and revs ...... she may convince you to convert yours to an I6 ......

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by dodg partz 1t:
<STRONG>what about takin' a 4.0L and stickin the crank and rods out of the 258 into it ..... now you have torque and revs ...... she may convince you to convert yours to an I6 ......</STRONG>

Hot-rod I6.. Hmmm.. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Nah. If I can't just bolt-it-in and Go it won't happen for a good while - too many other projects that need to get done.

When the time comes to build a second race rig it'll either be a low-buck 350 swap (cheap) or another "performance" SV-8. I currently run the only Scout II racing in Montana with an IH powerplant. Might as well make it the only TWO. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

But not now.. the next engine I build is a 392 for my Travelette. Plus there's the new front end for the racer, new 'cage.. maybe some other cool stuff.. and plenty of other rigs in line after that. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">