Who has swapped a non-Jeep engine into thier FSJ?

[skid2964]

Who has swapped in a non-Jeep engine? I think we have a big block chevy and a caddy out there somewhere dont we? I want to hear about the swap details and the problems you encountered.

I am still leaning towards a non AMC. (Pontiac 455) Especially now that the 401 I pulled is not rebuildable. I found a replacement 401 block, but thought about it and started considering a Pontiac again.

My main concern is engine height from the oil pan to the valve covers(heater box and brake booster clearance). Also, I would need to fabricate motor mounts, I guess the best way is to dangle the block in the engine compartment and design the mounts as you go.

How did ya'll do it?

[Mike D]

I put a 283 in my 63 Jtruck...

Moved the Tcase cross member ---
New drivelines ---
Home brew motor mounts ---
New front springs ( they were flat anyways ) ---
Adapter out of a slightly newer Wag that had a hydormatic adapter to dana/spicer20 Tcase
Used a TH400 tranny (4wd version)
Extended the shifter link to the Tcase 2wd/4wd shifter arm
And a spliced togeather radatior hose for the lower hose

[ March 12, 2004, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: Mike D ]

[River Beast]

RAMJET FSJ (http://www.promogiant.com/wag/)

This is owned and built by Ben Haines in Cerritos, Ca... GREAT guy... hasnt been around much due to work... but he is still going strong on the waggie... :D

Ramjet 350 crate motor...
http://www.promogiant.com/wag/img/bigpics/ramjetin3_600.jpghttp://www.promogiant.com/wag/img/bigpics/ramjetin3_600.jpg[/img][/URL]

700R4...
http://www.promogiant.com/wag/img/bigpics/underside3_600.jpg

... and NP208
http://www.promogiant.com/wag/img/bigpics/underside5_600.jpg

[ March 12, 2004, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[curt]

Putting a buick 455 in my 73, but it is kinda just the Big brother of the buick 350, which we all know it the best factory FSJ motor.

(ducks punches from AMC guys!)

[zmjeeps]

I put a 455 in a J truck and a 500 Caddy in a wag. Both required a 2" body lift to clear the heater box and the brake booster. Could have gone hydroboost to avoid the brakes, but heater box was still an issue. Didn't want to lower the entire driveline either, because we didn't want anything hanging down below the frame.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I have put SBC and BBC engines in several FSJ's. I am now doing 2 Caddy 500 swaps into my 80 Cherokee and 86 J10. If you plan on running the same T-Case and have the TH400, easiest is to get the Pontiac TH400 and have the tailshaft swapped out with your Jeep TH400. Then assemble the engine trans and t-case. Set the T-Case in its original spot and bolt it down. Next is to center the engine between the frame rails the crank makes a good refferance point in getting it center. #1 is FRONT CLIP OFF, this makes all the differance in the world, and a lot easier to see what is needed to do to make the frame towers for the motor mounts, which generally is no where near as hard as made out to be. Just a few pointers. ;)

[diver]

Working on a 351m/c6/np205 right now!

[Elliott]

Big Block Chevy in M715:
http://www.m715.com/images/dubuc15.jpg
http://www.m715.com/images/dubuc16.jpg

Buick 455 in ’68 Flatbed Dually:
http://24.91.255.242/images/Sept14/DSCF0055.JPG
http://24.91.255.242/images/Sept14/DSCF0056.JPG

Caddy 500 in J10:
Deleted
Deleted
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/battillac/images/p1190046.jpg
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/battillac/images/p1220067.jpg

External Dimensions for comparo:
F) bottom of oil pan to top of carb
AMC 28"
Buick 455 27"
Pontiac 455 28.5"
Caddy 472 29"

E) bottom of oil pan to top of valve cover
AMC 21.25"
Buick 455 22"
Pontiac 455 27"
Caddy 472 28.5"

C) width valve cover to valve cover, w/o exhaust
AMC 21.5"
Buick 455 23"
Pontiac 455 23"
Caddy 472 23.5"

D) width w/stock exhaust manifolds
AMC 25.25"
Buick 455 28"
Pontiac 455 27"
Caddy 472 28"

[ March 12, 2004, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: Elliott ]

[Getmuddy2001]

Im running a 440 from a 69 charger.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by getmuddy2001:
Im running a 440 from a 69 charger.Got any Pics? Few of us on IRC (FSJ Chat) have been discussing the 440 swap. RIGHT LARRY!! LOL ;)

[Banks]

Elliot,This is the 500 in my 73 J-4000.The first 2 picts.are of the 360 that came out.I had no clearance issues,but I belive in 74 AMC went to the large brake booster,and that may have been a problem.On this truck this engine dropped into place. Marc

[Tad]

Originally posted by getmuddy2001:
Im running a 440 from a 69 charger.I want pic's of that!!!!

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by tadsal:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by getmuddy2001:
Im running a 440 from a 69 charger.I want pic's of that!!!!</font>[/QUOTE]I ASKED FIRST!!!!!! tongue.gif

[Tad]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by tadsal:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by getmuddy2001:
Im running a 440 from a 69 charger.I want pic's of that!!!!</font>[/QUOTE]I ASKED FIRST!!!!!! tongue.gif </font>[/QUOTE]So What!!!
I'm sitting here nice and warm with the doors open.
You won't be able to move around in your yard until MAY!!!!

[skid2964]

Originally posted by zmjeeps:
I put a 455 in a J truck and a 500 Caddy in a wag. Both required a 2" body lift to clear the heater box and the brake booster. Could have gone hydroboost to avoid the brakes, but heater box was still an issue. Didn't want to lower the entire driveline either, because we didn't want anything hanging down below the frame.So, it is safe to assume that I MUST put in at least a 2" body lift to make this happen?

And what about this hydraboost? Im not familiar with that ...

[ March 12, 2004, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: skid2964 ]

[Elliott]

Go here and scroll down:
http://home.online.no/~falmaas/axles.htm

[Crazy_Jeepman]

In all my swaps no lift was needed, with the 454 the heater box was in the way but I used a older style heater box because they are metal and did some creative denting to make it fit. However the 500 Caddy fits fine. If you were to clear the heater box, believe me you would need more than 2" to do it. Smaller diameter brake boosters are available and do help. Hydro Boost units are small and work well. Hydro Boost is a hydraulic booster, powered from the power steering pump, a very small unit compared to the Vacuum booster.

[Gawdzilla.]

this is interesting...
Q1 out of curiosity, w/my sbc already in, what other motors might bolt up?
Q2 what differences in MGP, if any, are noticed in the larger swaps?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

BBC will bolt up with no mods at all. Well except for the clearance of the heater box and depending on how the SBC was put in in the first place. However where a SBC resides a BBC will go.
Oh Fuel mileage questions I do not answer......... No point really......If I find a Combo that gets over 12 MPG I will let everyone know. smile.gif

[ March 12, 2004, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[skid2964]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
In all my swaps no lift was needed, with the 454 the heater box was in the way but I used a older style heater box because they are metal and did some creative denting to make it fit. However the 500 Caddy fits fine. If you were to clear the heater box, believe me you would need more than 2" to do it. Smaller diameter brake boosters are available and do help. Hydro Boost units are small and work well. Hydro Boost is a hydraulic booster, powered from the power steering pump, a very small unit compared to the Vacuum booster.Off of what vehicle would I find a smaller diameter brake booster?

[ March 12, 2004, 09:11 PM: Message edited by: skid2964 ]

[Gawdzilla.]

Thanks CJ. Thanks for sharing the thread Skid.
I have lotsa room underhood for the sbc- no clearance issues at all
http://mysite.verizon.net/pcfly/motor.jpg
I plan to clean it up a bit when I do the rebuild smile.gif These types of discussions get me thinking there might be a "better" replacement than a rebuild.

[ March 12, 2004, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: Gawdzilla ]

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by skid2964:
Off of what vehicle would I find a smaller diameter brake booster?I could not tell you what vehicle to find a small diameter dual diaphram booster from. I bought one from Summit I beleive. I think it was around 150.00.

[skid2964]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by skid2964:
Off of what vehicle would I find a smaller diameter brake booster?I could not tell you what vehicle to find a small diameter dual diaphram booster from. I bought one from Summit I beleive. I think it was around 150.00.</font>[/QUOTE]Oh! one from summit would be even better!
Would you happen to know its diameter?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

It has been a few years ago, but this one looks like it I guess. Though they have added about another 100.00 on it.
]Summit Racing.............Brake Booster (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SSB%2DA28136&view=257#largerimage[/IMG)

[ March 12, 2004, 10:12 PM: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[skid2964]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
It has been a few years ago, but this one looks like it I guess. Though they have added about another 100.00 on it.
]Summit Racing.............Brake Booster (http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SSB%2DA28136&view=257#largerimage[/IMG)Thats not bad, has the cylinder attached and everything, and its stainless steel! ... 7" diameter. looks like that will work. the original booster is 10.5".

That unit will bolt right in? no modifications? shaft matches up? brake lines too?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I beleive the Jeep booster to be 11" or better. No its not just a bolt in there would be holes to drill and what not, but not overly hard to do. However for the price and performance, I would opt for the Hydro Boost brake booster, Can be found in Cadillacs, Some GM 10 tons, Motor Homes and other donors at the junk yard CHEAP!

[skid2964]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
I beleive the Jeep booster to be 11" or better. No its not just a bolt in there would be holes to drill and what not, but not overly hard to do. However for the price and performance, I would opt for the Hydro Boost brake booster, Can be found in Cadillacs, Some GM 10 tons, Motor Homes and other donors at the junk yard CHEAP!How does the power steering pump run the brakes and the steering? is there a manaifold that distributes the hydraulic pressure from the pump to both units?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

reroute the lines, from the pump they are run into the Hydro Boost and then to the power steering then back to the pump.
Good Tech on it here (http://www.monsterslayer.com/jeep/HydroBoost.htm)

[Lindel]

I haven't done the swap yet, but I'll be putting the latest edition of the tried and true sbc. A 5.3L Vortec (read truck LS1), or if I can get a good deal on one, the 6.0L. The measurements are very close to the original sbc, but because of the aluminum heads, and composite intake, I'll be lighter than the AMC 360 by almost 100 lbs.

[82wagonlimtd]

hmmmmmmmm 6.0 AWD.....sounds good

[Bob Barry]

I'll be dropping in an Olds 455. My plan was to position the engine in the compartment first, rigging some adapter from the motor-mount towers to the Olds engine mounts, probably using frame pads from an Olds car. I am concerned about firewall clearance for the distributor and rocker-arm cover clearance for the booster and heater box. I would then position the trans and tranfer-case; the crossmember is going to have to be custom anyway to work with the NP205.

[Wagoneerlover]

I am planning on installing a small block chevy 350 and a 700r4 transmission. I would have done it already but its freezing out here on the east coast. every time it warms up a little the frost comes right back a day or two later.

[Marvin Gates]

If you are gonna do a 455 swap take a look at Elliots pics of the Buick, it would be my choice because the distributor is in the front, a Pontiac or Olds is in the back, a lot easier to work on. Just a thought! :D smile.gif

[Elliott]

The Buick also has a very high nickle content in the block, like the 401, making 4 bolt mains unnecessary. Like the 401 it would require some oiling mods for high hp builds.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jholthenrichs/weightsn.htm#Blueprint%20Specs

[ March 14, 2004, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Elliott ]

[skid2964]

There are alot of things I do like about the AMC, it breathes well, forged guts, small for its CID, but there are things I dont like. The Buick suffers from same things I do not like about the AMC. That darned external oil pump, aluminum housing thing is what is pushing me over the edge with this engine swap idea.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

But so many CHOICES!!!!! smile.gif

[skid2964]

Choice is easy for me ... PONTIAC 455 !

[FSJnovice]

Wonder how difficult a LA series motor from dodge would be. Have access to a couple of 5.2s and 5.9s even che*y motors also but would try not to take that route if possible.(personnal preference) Also have access to propane gear ie tank hoses and the carb replacement. The dodge motors are interesting to me any comments?

[GWDriver]

It'll be 'do it' time when I get back to the states. I'm just not sure what to 'do it' with. My 360 is 'lunched' I think and I know the SBC 350/700R4 combo is a good set up (have it in my Suburban).

Yeah, decisions.decisions.