1978 Wag

[83 WagDriver]

I have the oppertunity to maybe buy a 78 wag with the 401 engine.
My question is can I swap that engine into my 83 Wag Limited that comes with the 360.Is it legal to that swap in Calif? Also...what transfer case does that 78 have? If everything goes well i plan on doing this and then part out the 78.

Mario

[Bob Barry]

It would not be a legal swap, if they bothered to crawl under and try to identify the displacement from the numbers cast into the side of the block. Do a search in the archives for info on the pilot-hole sleeve you'll need to remove to avoid destroying your TF727 tranny.

That '78 came with the TH400 tranny and BW1339 Quadratrac transfer-case.

Why not keep the '78 intact and drive that?

[83 WagDriver]

Why not keep the '78 intact and drive that?
by Bob Barry

because it has rust in the rear and I love my 83.Plus the interior is shot.
Now that wag has Wash plates but it will pass cal smog.Sounds like it might be a headache swapping eng right Bob?

[Stuka]

if you are going to be parting it out, how good is the driver side fender? As I need one for my NT cherokee....and you are kinda close...

as for the engine...it would be the same as swapping in a 360, except for the sleeve that needs to be removed. You will need to put all the smog stuff ffrom your 83 360 onto the 78 401 so it will pass smog.

[Al Johnson]

Your '83 has a two barrel carb, and the '78 has (or may have) a four barrel. The 4BBL would probably cause you some problems with emissions inspection. It would be an awful waste of a 401, IMHO, to choke it up with a 2BBL just to pass emissions, unless you swapped carbs every time you went to get emissions checked.

I'm so happy Minnesota dropped emissions inspections!!

Al