318 &727 swaps?

[Big Dave]

Has anybody swapped a 318 and 727 engine and trans into a grand wagoneer with a 258 and engine and trans combo?

[ARJeepman]

I've been thinking this swap over for some time. Either 318/360 would be great choice. I have a 318 now with 190,000 and still strong. Only real problem I see with this swap is distributor is at back of engine.....possible firewall contact. A/c hoses and p/s hoses are the only other possible big problems. I think this swap would make a great rig out of these old trucks! I'm sure somebody has done this before......hope they step up and show us the way! Have a great week and weekend!

[smithhl]

I was going to do this swap before I got my AMC 327. I had a 258 & 727 combo, and was going to swap in the 318/727 combo. Everybody that I talked to said all I had to do was switch the tailshafts and motor mounts. The 327 is a little bigger than the 318 and it's distributor is in the back also, and there's plenty of room. I also think my T18 and belhousing was shorter than the 727, so there was even less room than I had. Also the Chevy engines have their distributor on the back, and I haven't ever heard of a Chevy conversion having a firewall clearance problem.

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81 Wagoneer Brougham
327 Vigilante T-18 NP-208

74 Volkswagen Sunbug
Superbeetle

[nograin]

Try calling Jeff Kennedy at Kennedy American
614-879-7283.
I think hw was talking about some prefabe mounts to make just that swap. If my memory is right, and it may not be, he was going to have Schumaker Creative make 'em up, but they then found out that someone else was already doing just that. Anyway, its worth a call. Basically he supplies hard to get parts for AMC, Rambler, etc.

The rear distributor can be a pain, even on Chyrco products, just do some measurements first. You'll prob have a little room to play around with, its not too hard to shift an engine a little this way and that to get it to sit where you want.

[UnkleMunky]

I don't know if this is another problem or not, but weren't Dodges "passenger" drop until the mid-90s? Jeeps from '80-on would be "drivers" drop for the front differential. If you can use the Jeep t-case, you should be ok(or hopefully they bolt up the same so you could use either....I'm not 100% sure on that), but make sure the shaft doesn't interfere with the engine by running up a side it wasn't in stock Dodges. You may have considered that point, but just wanted to bring it up in case it wasn't noticed.

Take care...
Michael
'78 J10/'76 J10/'89 Reliant