Newbie, with a ???????

[71wagoon]

Hey guy's, just found the site which is AWESOME. Loy's of good advice here, and seem to have friendly/ helpfull folks.

My question to you is... I just got a 71 Wagoneer, originally with a 360. What tranny and transfer case do I have? The rig only has 60,000 miles on it, I have the whole engine in the back minus the block - everything else is there. I was thinking of pulling the rest of the running gear and installing a Ford 351W, AOD, and not sure of the transfer case. Did Ford use the pass side drop on the front diff, or driver side?

I guess that was more than one question, but I appreciate any help on this. the truck has been sitting since 82 with no engine in the bay. This is a nice rig that I would like to build into a killer mud/ trail toy, and would be good as a daily driver.

[Stolen76]

welcome aboard ! Check out this link for some quick info and specs on what you have..

http://www.ifsja.org/tech/index.shtml

[J10/J20 Project]

welcome Newbie.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

You will have the TH400 if it is an Auto. Behind that will be the Dana 20 T-Case. The Transmision will most likely be a Buick Nailhead Cased TH400, with an adapter ring that may or may not be there since it is possible that the adapter was left with the now missing engine, this adapter would adapt from the Nailhead bolt patern to the AMC Patern. Other adapters used were Nailhead to BOP/Cadillac, and AMC 327. I can not help you on the F word stuff. ACK!!!!!! LOL have fun and welcome to the Forum :D :D

[BostonWagoneer]

Originally posted by 71wagoon:
The rig only has 60,000 miles on it, I have the whole engine in the back minus the block - everything else is there.Only missing the block? :eek: That's a lot of the engine missing! :D :D

Welcome aboard! smile.gif

[Mud Thrasher]

While the ford motor and setup sounds good and let me say that it can be done it's not the easiest. I'm a Ford fan but I have to say that if you wanted to put a different make motor in the bowtie would be the easiest of the two. Although, it would be simpler to put the 360 back in. It can be built up to give you some pretty impressive numbers, is a good motor, attaches to some pretty formadible trannies(TH-400&Chry727) and you can get a transfercase to match up to those that will match your axles. The one prob that you need to check would be your wiring harness from it sitting up so long. Good Luck and congragulations on your wag.

[Tad]

Welcome aboard, 71wagoon.
This is the best place on the planet for FSJ questions.
Here is a research tool for all the things that plague us...

Marty Sells’ Really Fast Search Tool (http://www.studiosells.net/cgi-bin/keyword-search.cgi)

and then you need to ckeck out the...

John Jacobs FSJ FAQ's Page (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jjacobs149917/fsj_faq.htm)

Keep us posted. smile.gif

[Crazy_Jeepman]

With that trans and available adapters the AMC 360 or 401 would be a direct swap. Change the Adapter and frame towers for the motor mounts and the Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Cadillac, become a simple swap. Chevy would be a bit more involved as you would either have to recase the Transmission to a Chevy bolt patern, or buy an adapter that I am not sure exists. Depends on what you want to use it for......

[71wagoon]

WOW!!! there were some quick responses!! I did find an adapter plate in back yesteday while rummaging throught the parts. I was thinking mainly of the Ford swap, cuz I drag race Fords and have a butt load of performance parts for them, and know the small block inside and out. I wanted to lean away form the chev swap cuz I have a little block against them. I broke down and bought a Suburban for the ol lady, and that is a BIG pile of ----! Sad thing is it only has 80,000 miles on it and is a 90, but with many probs. Any way, how is the buick nailhead? If that is a bolt up swap, I will have to give it some thought. I was also leary of the trans since it has sat outside for so many years. I know nothing about these rigs, but plan to learn. I have always admired the Jeeps in general, and wanted to get a Cherokee, but I guess with a family, the Wagoneer is nicer to have. Thanks for the fast responses!!!! I will keep ya posted on the progress, I start on it as soon as the motor swap for my wife's race car is done.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Well you would not want to go with the Buick Nailhead. However the Buick 455 or Cadillac 500 is a nice swap. If you decide on an engine that requires the BOP adapter I have a couple as do others here.

[71wagoon]

Is that the same adapter I have in the back, the one that bolted the AMC 360 to the TH400? My brother in law has a Chev 305 4bbl motor, complete, sitting in his shop, said I could have it for a case of beer, what adapters would I need for that, if I decide to run a (uuughghh) c-h-e-v--- I can't even say the whole thing, but they are cheap and simple to build. I guess they're OK, cuz if I break in the woods, there are plenty out there to get parts off (left for dead in the brush)

[71wagoon]

Sorry, guess I should have re read crazy's post. I'll have to look into the 455 or 500. I like the big block power best. hmmm I have a 500 hp 429 Ford sitting in my shop...

[Rande]

First off, welcome on board you poor misguided creature. You have found one great support group for the brain damaged.
;) tongue.gif

Ford never had a passenger side drop transfecase. If you want to go with Ford equipment, you will need a post-1979 front axle which will have the driver's side pumpkin.

The GM Turbo400 tranny that is in your truck has the older Buick "Nailhead" pattern bellhousing as previously mentioned. You certainly can use the older Buick engine if you can find one and really want one, but that's a bit of trouble.

As Pete (CrazyJeepman) says, The big Buick, Olds, Pontiac or Caddy engines would be a good choice because Jeep used the Buick 350 engine on that same transmission with an appropriate adapter for a few years. That same adapter that was behind the Buick 350 engine will allow you to use any of those engines (unless there is an issue with the starters that I don't of). There should also be a steel ring about 6"-8" in diameter that is a part of the adapter for the tranny. It fits behind the flexplate on the crankshaft flange. It spaces the torque converter away from the engine block far enough to fully engage the torque converter onto the tranny input shaft. You must have that part for your AMC engine (my '72 AMC engined truck had it). I don't know if the Buick engine adapter used that flexplate spacer. Others will have to confirm that.

Always thought it kind of ironic that an adapter is needed to fit a Buick engine to a Buick tranny. ;)

If you want to use a Chevy engine, you can have the Jeep tranny output shaft and transfercase adapter installed in a Chevy Turbo400 so no adapter to the engine would be needed. That will probably cost a couple hundred dollars to have a shop do it for you (wild guess). Then engine mounts will have to fabricated but that is probably not too difficult. I don't know how the radiator inlet and outlet will line up with the various engines. Exhaust pipes will have to custom made. Throttle connection will need to be dealt with.

If you change over to the driver side pumpkin front axle from a 1980 or newer truck, you could use a Ford drivetrain. A 460 would be great!

The post '79 FSJs used a Chrysler built TorqueFlight 727 tranny (the six cylinder engines used a different Chrysler tranny)that Jeep called "TorqueCommand" (with the bellhousing designed for the AMC engine). So, if you decide that you need a Supercharged 426 Hemi in your truck (I do!!), you could get a TorqueFlight 727 tranny from a Dodge truck with 4 wheel drive and use a Jeep driverside drop transfercase.

If you want a Pinzgaur (sp?) engine, you're on your own!

[ December 01, 2002, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: Rande ]