258 users [Archive] - International Full Size Jeep Association

threepiece188

11-04-2009, 04:33 AM

My 83 Wagoneer that I drive every day has a 258. I did a body off restoration about 5 years ago and I installed it at that time (I have several 360's laying around that I could have used) My previous FSJ was a 1979 Chief with a 258 and T18/D20 ( which now lives in my current Wagoneer) Prior to the Chief was my first FSJ that I bought in 1982, a plain as could be 1974 J10 shorty. This truck also has a 258 with a 3spd. It has no stainless trim, no radio and a painted front bumper. I use the word "has" because I still have it! I plan on doing a complete restoration on it at some point in the future, and yes I will be keeping the 258.
Dan

tgreese

11-04-2009, 05:19 AM

My J-10 has a 258.

The V8s were more popular for these vehicles, but the I6s are around. I'd guess there are a couple dozen of them represented here. Not rare by any means.

addicted

11-04-2009, 05:36 AM

I pulled the 360 from my '89 Grand in favor of a fuel injected 4.0 from a '97 Cherokee. I would rather an inline 6 than a gas guzzling V8.

Daace

11-04-2009, 05:47 AM

The fact is, you guys can do an engine swap without being bugged that much, here with the administration, it's nearly like a full street-legal homologation...

I have both 360 and 258.. What I like on the 258 is that it's really funny with T176 manual transmission and NP208 T-Case. I don't know how the carburetor has been tuned up, but it has also a very low gas mileage it's close to 11 liters for 100 km..

Well i don't remember how many liters are for an american gallon and one mile is 1.602 km. F..king metrics :D

TK421

11-04-2009, 05:51 AM

I run a 258, it's a great running engine for 35 years old. For trotting around town, light offroad use and hunting, it's perfect.

1983 j10

11-04-2009, 06:00 AM

im running one it my j truck im in the process of rebuilding it with some performance on it. i like the i6 better cause you can get more torque and horsepower out of them with less than a v8

jeepdriver99

11-04-2009, 06:08 AM

Daace

11-04-2009, 06:26 AM

thx for calculation. Looks always bigger to me when told in mpg..:D. Looks like there are some I6 around indeed.. i guess this afternoon i'm gonna do some work on mine trying to bring it to a nearly new condition time after time..:thumbsup:

jeepjseries

11-04-2009, 06:31 AM

Not a power house but for 17 miles to the gallon about 15 in town cant beat a 258 not to mention reliability straight six is a awesome motor no matter what anyone says. I have had a few 360's more power less reliability and mpg. Nothing wrong with a 360 just not my cup of tea.

Daace

11-04-2009, 06:43 AM

Yep.. I noticed the reliability matters too.. The V8 needs nearly permanent maintenance.. both are nice engines though.. hope I can keep up the "collection" with a GW and J-truck later..:)

talntar

11-04-2009, 07:07 AM

for whatever reason 6's are rarely seen in the northeast.at least where i am at.
all of the wags i have had(10) have been 360's.
4 doors are much more commen then cheros as well

2ToneBluJ10

11-04-2009, 07:29 AM

21 miles per gallon is very good fuel economy. I gotten that on a 600-700 mile highway trip with an automatic trans. in my truck back when gas was real, not the blended stuff we have now. I get about 14 mpg around town and 18 mpg on the highway now.

GWDriver

11-04-2009, 07:56 AM

I've had various I6s, 1 AMC 258, 1 Jeep 4.0, 3 Chevy, 2 Ford and 1 slant 6 Chrysler. All were great powerplants and served me well. Yeah, I'd have another. Put it in front of a 4 speed auto & mileage is more than acceptable.

newtojeeps

11-04-2009, 08:16 AM

My 82 Cherokee has a 258/T5/208 w/3:31 gears it the on on my sig. have gotten as good as 26mpg with real gas. Combined mpg normally is about 18mpg

jeepdreamer

11-04-2009, 08:17 AM

My '83 Cherokee has one. IMHO, the 258 is an excellent motor. There are ways to make it better but not much is a requirement. Factory carbs are usually junk. The ignition isn't all that great either. The plastic valve cover was a mean joke!
I'm running a webber on mine as well as a DUI dizzy. Clifford valve cover (still can't make it stop leaking!) and all the emmission garbage was removed. The exhaust is a pair of resonators from an unknown source which anyone thats heard it would ask if its a diesel!:thumbsup:
My only real complaint (other than the horrid body cancer!!) is the pathetic gears in the diffs. 272!?! Awww, COME-ON!! What tard at jeep decided 272 is a good choice for a JEEP!?!?!?! Prob. the same less-ron that designed the plastic valve cover! With 33-10.50 BFGs my gearing is Waaaaay outta wack! Prob. wouldn't even move without the T-177 tranny!?

tgreese

11-04-2009, 08:39 AM

...
My only real complaint (other than the horrid body cancer!!) is the pathetic gears in the diffs. 272!?! Awww, COME-ON!! What tard at jeep decided 272 is a good choice for a JEEP!?!?!?! Prob. the same less-ron that designed the plastic valve cover! ...
That's the era of the early ramp-up of the CAFE (Corporate Aggregate Fuel Economy) standards. AMC/Jeep was struggling to conform to the standards, and was lightening everything they could think of. The 258 lost about 80 lbs in 1981, from what I've heard. This was due to aluminum intake manifold, lighter exhaust manifold, lighter crankshaft, lighter block (using better casting technology), and ... a plastic valve cover.

The gear ratios and aluminum 4 and 5 speed transmissions (SR4, T4, T17x, T5, dropping the 3-speeds) are also evidence of this effort to squeeze a few more MPGs from the Jeeps without a major redesign.

grand_wag_85

11-04-2009, 11:35 AM

My DD AMC Eagle has a 258 and so does my J10.

Daace

11-04-2009, 12:52 PM

Yep, that plastic valve cover is awful and doesn't prevent oil from leaking from the bolt on top..

I intended to change the carb, but for it's very efficient and i don't have to complain about torque, speed and gas mileage, I think i'll give it a good cleaning and gasket refection only..

What pisses me off is that the fuel filters have been modifed by on exhaust filters and I cannot find any on the market, so i'm trying to find out where the "exhaust to tank" is normally linked. But I'll ask for that in another thread.

toffamc

11-04-2009, 01:34 PM

Salut le Frenchy, t'inquiètes, moi aussi je roule en 258 et j'aime ça.:D, regardes la liste, j'ai plus que des l6 maintenant.
At the moment my daily driver is an AMC Pacer 258.
@ Bientôt Fabrice.
Chris.

Daace

11-04-2009, 02:07 PM

Ben c'est toi qui me la vendu celui-là non ?

You're the man that sold it to me, aren't you? If you don't mind, i'll call you on the phone for a couple of pieces of advice :D
As far as I can see there is no medecine to cure you for now, the jeep virus got stronger.. :P

jaw knee

11-04-2009, 08:22 PM

258 owner checking in :)

orangebike

11-04-2009, 08:24 PM

yep here is another one.....have 258 buick 350s and a 360 in the truck 258 is by far my favorite/most dependable rig

Daace

11-04-2009, 11:52 PM

I guess, Jaw Knee, that we do have a very similar model.. do you have manual tailgate window crank and striped brown interior too? :D

Stuka

11-05-2009, 06:03 PM

Yup I have one. Ditched the plastic valve cover, put in steel timing gears, got rid of the Carter BBD carb, and otherwise its just been running :)

Locked and Loaded

11-05-2009, 06:27 PM

I've got the 258 in my 81 J10. I like it. It's took me everywhere I needed to go. I don't need the extra horsepower of a V8 because I don't have a big heavy brow to haul around.

Zorm

11-06-2009, 11:08 AM

Got one too, look at my sig for the mods I have done. Will be pulling it out this December, hopfully and swaping in a MPFI 4.0 and matting that to the T176. The 258 has never let me down.

Metal Twister

11-06-2009, 11:44 AM

My rig has a 258 in it and it works pretty good for what it is. I need to pull a trailer so I will be going larger soon. Just curious if all the 258 had the same transmissions and transfer cases? Mine is a 74 with a three speed, and I have now idea which transfer case it has in it. Guess I should find out... LOL:thumbsup:

jeepjseries

11-06-2009, 07:37 PM

Should be a dana 20

LTS06

11-07-2009, 02:13 PM

I have a bad 258 in my J-10 now...it will be replaced with a good 258 over the next week or so. I had a running 360 in my garage for a good few months but sold it.

I've only ever owned 1 V-8 jeep...it was an AMC 360 put into a YJ. It ran but I never actually drove it (bought it as a project) and got rid of it before I really worked on it any.

All other jeeps I've owned, DD, and wheeled have been either an I-6 or th elitle 4 bngrs (my DD TJ is a 4 bngr).

I'm not opposed to a V-8...I just honestly don't know what I'm missing since my rigs have always performed just fine without one. Anything I lack in grunt I make up for with gearing.

jaw knee

11-07-2009, 11:13 PM

I guess, Jaw Knee, that we do have a very similar model.. do you have manual tailgate window crank and striped brown interior too? :D
Yes! Very striped and simple, color of interior is more tan than brown had vinyl floor instead of carpet. Even came with radio delete.

benztechnc

11-08-2009, 04:19 AM

another 258 here. I've had a 6 in a ford truck and my tj is also a six. That TJ will jump. I never do any more than lite hauling.

Daace

11-08-2009, 10:31 AM

Yes! Very striped and simple, color of interior is more tan than brown had vinyl floor instead of carpet. Even came with radio delete.
Indeed more tan, three color stripes but in mine radio should have disappeared long ago and floor has been covered by thick carpet in tan color.

Here's the link for cardomain page : http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3054648/1