360 into '70 CJ-5

[ExpandingMan]

Can this be done? My buddy blew out his Dauntless V-6 in his 1970 CJ5. I have a backup Cherokee with a decent 360. Do y'all think we could do this?

Please hold back your strong feelings about parting out the FSJ to save the CJ5. I'm still mulling this over.

Thanks for your infinite wisdom.

[fredws]

It should go right in there, I have a '81 CJ-5 with a 304 in it, and the block should be the same, on the outside anyway. I don't think there is any difference in the '70 and '81 that would matter as far as putting in the engine.

[reddog]

I only have an educated guess here. I think you will need to swap in a different tranny or use an adapter. I had a 69 CJ5 but it has been a while. I believe the 69 and early 70s are the same drivetrain. I think the drivetrains DID change when they started putting the V8s in the CJs. Fred is correct the 304/360/401 blocks have the same bellhousing bolt pattern and the same outer dimensions. I am not sure about axle drops but they may have also changed. The Dana 27 in the front is pretty weak for a V8. Simply said I don't think that it is as easy as dropping in the 360.

Kerry

[Panther]

I think the engine compartment was made larger for the V8s like reddog said so I'm not sure there is enough room. I don't remember the cut-off year by most of the AMC changes started in 76.

[Cecil14]

I believe the frames changed a bit somewhere around '76 or so. I know there was a major change made at that time but can't remember what exactly it was.

Anthony

[Kaiserjeeps]

Better get out a shoehorn. I have a 69 CJ and looking at the availible room you have you would be better off finding a 225 to put back in. That was (in my opinion) the best motor jeep ever put in any CJ. These Kaiser built jeeps have a shorter frame and shorter front sheet metal. You will find your challenges trying to squeeze a V8 in. Plus the early frames leave a little to be desired in the strength dept. Get on the early CJ-5 V6 jeep list. I bet somebody has one. JUST my opinion....

[reddog]

Excellent point KJ! My 69 V6 with 4.55 axles went ANYWHERE I pointed it. I do miss the thing a bunch!

Kerry

[derf]

The "Long Nose" CJ came about in the 1972 model year. That was the first year that the AMC engines were offered. The nose was stretched to accomodate the I6 more than the V8. The 1976 frame changes were independent of the effort to fit engines.

You may be able to squeeze an AMC360 in a 1970 CJ but it will be tight. A smaller V8 (like a small block Chebby or Ford) or even a Chebby 4.3 V6 may be a better choice.