M38A1 engine swap info - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Noah LaForge · 04-21-2011, 08:08 AM

I recently picked up a '54 M38A1 and I am looking to swap in a 4.3 chevy engine with a 5 speed.
Does any one have any info on doing one of these swaps?

ssims · 04-21-2011, 07:16 PM

More about swapping a 4.3 into an early jeep than almost any other swaps, keep looking. Start on the Novak site.

Good luck

jjeep71 · 04-21-2011, 08:55 PM

Not exactly what you are looking for but lots of good info here.
http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/en...3-sm-420-swap/

I got the Willys · 04-22-2011, 04:29 AM

Remember,the 4.3 is the same as the Chevy V-8 from the motor mounts back.Leaves more room up front cause it's shorter.
Best thing to do is look for a local Jeep with a Chevy V-8 or 4.3 swap and see what they did.

oldtimingman · 04-22-2011, 05:11 AM

easy swap. Except for the 5 speed. which one have you got? an SM420 is likely a better swap if you plan on using it off -road

1946CJ2 · 04-22-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtimingman

easy swap. Except for the 5 speed. which one have you got? an SM420 is likely a better swap if you plan on using it off -road

and for length, depending on lift.

I got the Willys · 04-23-2011, 04:55 AM

You're talking about taking the engine,tranny-transfer case from a 4x4 S-10 ?

Noah LaForge · 04-28-2011, 06:44 PM

What I wanted was to put some sort of overdrive trans in when I do the 4.3 swap, and I was thinking since a s10 5 speed would be already mated to the engine it would be the easiest, but the spline count doesn't match the dana 18 t-case and the s10 t case wont work with the axles it has. So I've now decided it would be easier just to find a buick bellhousing and mate it to the t90 trans, then buy a bolt on overdrive later on when I have some more money(I'm working on a high school student budget).

I got the Willys · 04-29-2011, 01:46 PM

I think you're going to need a Chevy bellhousing.V-8 and 4.3 is the same.
Does the Jeep run now? Might be better to gather up all the stuff you need to do what you want,mock it to what needs to be modified and swap in all in together.

Noah LaForge · 06-23-2011, 09:37 AM

For right now I'm just gonna run the stock engine for the summer, then swap in the 4.3 using a novak adapter(http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kits_cx.htm) during the winter.

Noah LaForge · 06-23-2011, 10:10 AM

Here's a current picture

[IMG]

[/IMG]

04-21-2011, 08:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Noah LaForge Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Member # 181678 Posts: 16	M38A1 engine swap info I recently picked up a '54 M38A1 and I am looking to swap in a 4.3 chevy engine with a 5 speed. Does any one have any info on doing one of these swaps?

04-21-2011, 08:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
jjeep71 Wheeler Join Date: Mar 2008 Member # 110523 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 226	Not exactly what you are looking for but lots of good info here. http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/en...3-sm-420-swap/ __________________ 71' CJ5, 87' 231 V-6, SM465, D-18 w/Warn OD, D44-Detroit, D27 Powerlock & disc brakes, Warn 9000# winch.

06-23-2011, 10:10 AM	#11 (permalink)
Noah LaForge Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Member # 181678 Posts: 16	Here's a current picture [IMG][/IMG]

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04-21-2011, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
ssims Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 36767 Location: Orange, Texas Posts: 89	More about swapping a 4.3 into an early jeep than almost any other swaps, keep looking. Start on the Novak site. Good luck

04-22-2011, 04:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
I got the Willys Banned Join Date: Apr 2011 Member # 188016 Location: To be announced Posts: 85	Remember,the 4.3 is the same as the Chevy V-8 from the motor mounts back.Leaves more room up front cause it's shorter. Best thing to do is look for a local Jeep with a Chevy V-8 or 4.3 swap and see what they did.

04-22-2011, 05:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
oldtimingman Tinkerer Join Date: Jul 2006 Member # 75774 Location: In a van down by the Rogue River, OR Posts: 605	easy swap. Except for the 5 speed. which one have you got? an SM420 is likely a better swap if you plan on using it off -road

04-23-2011, 04:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
I got the Willys Banned Join Date: Apr 2011 Member # 188016 Location: To be announced Posts: 85	You're talking about taking the engine,tranny-transfer case from a 4x4 S-10 ?

04-28-2011, 06:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Noah LaForge Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Member # 181678 Posts: 16	What I wanted was to put some sort of overdrive trans in when I do the 4.3 swap, and I was thinking since a s10 5 speed would be already mated to the engine it would be the easiest, but the spline count doesn't match the dana 18 t-case and the s10 t case wont work with the axles it has. So I've now decided it would be easier just to find a buick bellhousing and mate it to the t90 trans, then buy a bolt on overdrive later on when I have some more money(I'm working on a high school student budget).

04-29-2011, 01:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
I got the Willys Banned Join Date: Apr 2011 Member # 188016 Location: To be announced Posts: 85	I think you're going to need a Chevy bellhousing.V-8 and 4.3 is the same. Does the Jeep run now? Might be better to gather up all the stuff you need to do what you want,mock it to what needs to be modified and swap in all in together.

06-23-2011, 09:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
Noah LaForge Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Member # 181678 Posts: 16	For right now I'm just gonna run the stock engine for the summer, then swap in the 4.3 using a novak adapter(http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kits_cx.htm) during the winter.