Please help on a 401 question

[DaveB]

I picked up an 88 grand wagoneer the other day from a guy who was tired of the thing sitting in his yard. They told me it had lost the original engine and they tried to put in a 360 from a 78. Well after fixing a bunch of stuff they messed up I tried to turn it over and the engine is frozen up. I have a neighbor that picked up a wrecked 77 that had been fixed up really nice before they wrecked it and it has a really nice 401 in it. The 401 appears to have been rebuilt and has a edelbrock intake, K&N air filter, a new carter competition carb and ran with no lifter ticking or oil smoke. I can get the 401 for a good price but wondered if I will have problems getting the 401 to pass emissions. Also will the 77 401 flexplate that is for the TH400 bolt up to the torque converter of the 88 which has torque flight tranny in it ? Do they make 401 flexplates for the newer tranny ? Should I just bag the 88 and sell parts off of it ?
Thanks for any info,
Dave

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I would not see any reason why it would be anyharder to get the 401 to pass emissions than it would a 360. The 77 flexplate for the 401 will not do you anygood. You will need one from a AMC car that ran a 401 and TF727, Matador I think some others as well. I am sure someone knows the answer to that. Maybe even a Part# for it :D

[James 007]

Rule #1. Don't tell them it's a 401! LOL! Use your '88 2bbl carb & intake for smog checks on top of the 401... for "visual inspections" if you have those.

The root is...it's not more difficult to smog... if you maintain your vehicle good. If your cat/tune-up/oil change/smog equipment are all functioning great,... you should do well. smile.gif

Go to http://pub8.ezboard.com/famcforummodifications ...great AMC forum to help you with the "flexplate" issue or www.performanceamstyle.com (http://www.performanceamstyle.com) & talk w/ Randy... great guy, too. From I hear he's on a 2 week vacation, so... smile.gif

[ July 24, 2002, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: James 007 ]

[DaveB]

My biggest problem is that when they took out the 88 engine and put in the 77 they didn't use the 88 intake and carb on the 77 motor. It has a 4 barrel motocraft carb on it. The 401 also has a brand new 4 barrel carter competition carb on it.
Dave

[James 007]

DaveB-

If you can still have access to that '88 intake & 2bbl carb, you'll be fine. Any factory 2bbl carb & intake will work as well, doesn't have to be an '88. If your state smog checks doesn't require "visual inspections"... leave the set-up on the 401 alone. You'll have lot's more fun w/ the 4bbl! :D

[Thomas DeBusk]

Give up on the 401! Pack it up and send it to me so you won't be tempted.

Thomas

[James 007]

LOL! Thomas :D Actually Dave, ...perhaps that 401 maybe more of a burden for you.... I'll help you out by taking it. smile.gif

Thomas DeBusk- I'd sure luv a pic & more info on your MPI set-up on the 360. smile.gif

[sandmanb]

i'll be following this post becouse i'm thinking of droping one of my 401's into my 87 grand wag. i'm mostly interested in the flexplate deal. what it takes as far as parts between the 401/727

[steven79]

I got a good 360 here i will trade straight across for the 401 and it only has 30 thousand miles on it. ;)

[kong]

You shouldn't have any problems with the 401 going in. You know in Utah, you can take the Jeep to all different emissions places and get all different results. As far as visual inspections, emissions folks just make sure that your cat and smog box is hooked up, and make sure you aren't doing anything crazy to endanger the lives of other people on the road. Don't worry about it!
I am currently putting in a 401 in my 81 wag, and I don't forsee any problems.
Get a new flexplate at checker for a 74 Matador or Ambassador with a 401 and it will bolt right up. You do have to remove a little ring insert in the crank or you won't be able to get it into your 727. And if you do manage to get it in there without removing it, you won't get too far before your engine explodes.
As far as your carb and intake, you need to have EGR hookups on it. If you don't, you won't pass. I'm using an Edelbrock 1400 and a performer intake with egr. If your intake and carter have EGR, you are in good shape. If not, use your stock stuff.
Good luck!

Kong
81Wag401+727+219
lots of engine upgrades.... :D

[ July 24, 2002, 11:02 PM: Message edited by: kong ]

[DaveB]

Thanks everyone for the information. I plan on picking up the 401 this weekend. It is too tempting to let it go, plus it would most likely end up at the shredder since the guy who picked up the wreck only wanted the tires. The 401 and the 360 both have EGRs on the manifolds so if I can figure out where all of the hoses go I should be able to make it all work out. If anyone wants other parts off of the 77 I should be able to pick them up at a good price.
Thanks,
Dave

[kong]

Dave if you need any help, I'm in Provo.... :D

[DaveB]

Kong,
Why don't you email me your phone number so I can get in touch if I run into problems or whatever.
Dave
dbuckmil@es.com

[DaveB]

I discovered last night why the 77 360 that was put into the 88 was seized. They didn't know about the bushing in the crank and forced the tranny onto the engine anyway and bound it all up. I removed the torque converter bolts (which weren't the correct grade of bolt) to see if it might free things up and that wasn't enough. I had to disconnect the tranny from the engine and now it can turn over. I am pretty sure they didn't get this to run because of all of the other disconnected stuff that I found but I worry about damage that could have happened due to forcing the tranny into place. Any thing I should look for like the input bearing and seal of the tranny ?
Thanks,
Dave

[Bob Barry]

The damage will be in the tranny; primarily the front pump, but tear it all the way down to check everything out, since they crushed it all together when the tried to force the tranny to the engine.

That's the BIG NO-NO for swapping pre-80 engines into '80 and up trucks with automatics.

Since you won't have to disassemble any of the clutch assemblies or the valvebody in the tranny to check for damage, it will be really simple to fix up the tranny; at most you'll have to take apart the pump housing and reaction-shaft support.

Good Luck!