C*evy 350, anyone done it recently?

[Slingmaster]

I gotta bite the proverbial bullet, I can't find a decent 360 or 401 anywhere. I'm thinking of a 350, with a 2bbl and I'll add the finishing touches as my wallet allows. Has anyone done one and if so how much was it and do you have any particulars I need to know about Also did the 76 J-10 have mirrors on both sides? and if so where can I get replacements? FSJ's seemed to have avoided living in Tennessee. Thanks again

[Dive 30]

My thought process went the same way so I did some serious research into the matter. The biggest problem is the adapter. At some point, either the T-Case or Tranny you will have to drop a $300 to $500 bill on an adapter unless you have the TH400 (you should if it's auto, manual should be the Warner T-15A). If you have the TH400 you can take the tail shaft out of the Jeep case and put it into the GM case (housings are different) and then you wouldn't need the adapter. Autozone, NAPA, and Advanced Auto have remanufactured 360s available for $1040.00 to $1800.00. If your local stores won't get it, and you want to, I will sell you one of my old blocks and ship it to you. There are also blocks on Ebay every now and then. Parts are available from the parts stores, Ebay, or Summit, you just have to look around.

If you are dead set on the Chevy, Advanced Adapters sells universal mounts for the 350 and the TH400 tranny, I didn't look for the 205 T-Case, but you would need passenger side Diffs for the GM T-Case to work (you should with the QTrac) but I'm pretty sure that you will need custom drive shafts.

Hope that helps. If you need some more of the research material that I did, let me know. I was looking at dropping the VORTEC 383 HD, and either the 4L80E or 700 R4. I decided to drop in a remanufactured 360 with the Edelbrock Performer package. Machining around here is pretty spendy $300 to $400 not including head work, and pistons/rings were another $400, for $300, I'll save the time and work.

[SAR-4800]

I have a buddy that was considering the same swap as you, but he decided since he was bound to spend good money for the adapter plate and engine mounts, he might at well throw a 454 in there. He's done bought a 454 with 160,000 miles on it (but still running strong) for a little over $600 from the classified ads. Now he's going to do a mild rebuild before tossing it in.

I figure if I were to have my AMC 360 clonk out, that's prolly what I'll end up doing. :D

Now if I can only convince him to buy a computer and use this site for tech help, he'll be alright.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I was wandering around eBay and looky at what I found for you guys considering the Chevy Swap :D Adapter Plate (http://cgi.ebay.aol.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=594944596)
;)

[ September 09, 2001: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[<BE>]

I'm also in the middle of researching this because I just blew my AMC 360 a few days ago. Even though I've found quite a few messages on this subject by searching this forum I've not been able to get a specific info about tip, tricks, gotchas, etc.

Here's what I know so far:

1) Go to Advance Adaptors at http://www.advanceadapters.com or Novak Jeep Conversions at http://www.novak-adapt.com/ for most of the parts you'll need.

2) I intend on getting a 1990 or better 350 out of a GMC truck, Camaro, or Firebird so that I have a good fuel injection system.

3) There is a book available at 'Jaguars That Run' at http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Chevrolet_TPI_TBI_V-8.html that apparently documents the issues with swapping these engines into other non EFI vehicles.

That's as far as I've got so far. I'm surprised that this isn't documented better as this question comes up quite a bit.

Brent...

[Dive 30]

Yeah, it certainly is do-able, and the TPI is attractive, but the 360 with the Edelbrock Performer package is plenty potent, and I want the challenge of making my own TPI. Besides, the trannys and diffs are plenty strong and they are Jeep! not DC or GM. Not to mention the simplicity of bolt-in replacement to get you back on the road. Especially if its a daily driver like mine.

[<BE>]

Well I've just priced out everything I need to mate Chevy small block to my T-176 4 speed manual tranny and the NP208 transfer case and it comes to around $1700 CDN not including shipping or taxes. Ouch!!! :eek:

After taliking with a few of the huys at the parts counters with these suppliers it was suggested that for that kind of money I might as well just look for a wrecked late model GMC truck and put the whole drivetrain into the jeep. I want to convert to an automatic tranny anyways so maybe that is the way to go but I'm confused about the transfer case. My current tc dumps on the right and apparently all the late model tc's in GMC trucks dump on the left.

Now what???

Brent...

[porchpiggy]

Pre-88 GM uses a passenger side drop. :cool: