original buildup vs. vortec engine.

[Wagoneerlover]

ok amc folk here is my question. I have been considering building up my jeep wagone with a 700r4 overdrive trans and a custom efi fuel injection system. I think that it may be better to simply swap in a vortec 350 engine and transmission that might be better. What do you all think? why spend so much money buidling up the oem stuff when I can go to lean and efficeint fuel injection (factory) and have a great engine? what are the benefits of bui;ding up the original vs swapping in the vortec engine and 4l60e transmission? remember I want to use this vehicle for long distance traveling. and such. (it seems like the buildup of the original components will actually cost me more money. what do you all think?) a custome efi unit cost 1600, and the 700r4 about 2000. okay so it would be less expensive but for the purpose I am building it for would it be better to keep the oem equipment?

[FSJ Thing]

It's really a personal desire type of thing. There are positives and negatives to both and from my point of view, they both go on forever and it will eventually come down to what you WANT to do. I personally think that if you are capable of doing most of the work yourself (turn a wrench and have the time) It's always alot cheaper to get the best performance and reliability by building the oem stuff. If you have the money and really want the vortec because for some reason or another you feel that it's a better engine, then go ahead and do it. Alot of the board will use any info you post as a reference if/when they consider the same swap themselves. So do what you wanna, we'll all support you either way!

[Jlamb]

I was thinking of the similar thing. I wanted fuel injection. I am just going to end up puting a Jasper 401 in it. This will give me the least amount of headaches, and give me great dependablilty. The engine is only going to be $2200 and come with a 3 year 75,000 mile warranty. No matter what you do I am sure it will be right for you, but for me I just wanted the transplant to go as smooth as possible,and get great results. Good Luck

[FSJ Thing]

Originally posted by Jlamb3485:
puting a Jasper 401 in it. This will give me the least amount of headaches, and give me great dependablilty. Let us know how it goes with the Jasper engine.

[Elliott]

Nothing stays OEM in these babys very long anyhow. Jeeps just suck fuel that's all there is too it, but to do a complete swap like 'yer talking is spendy unless you get the right vehicle to part. Personally, most here know my tendancy, I wouldn't kid myself that swapping something else in is going to save any money even in the long run.
You pretty much have to make the decision based on what it is you want to run in your rig and leave the cost out of the equation. Unless you already have the parts laying around, if you don't have a lil bank roll you aren't going to go far with either a rebuild or conversion.
If you have buddies that are really happy with their Vortechs (I don't) then listen to what they like about them.
If you are selective you can build a pretty nice AMC for a 1/2 way decent price, but do you want to deal with filling the gas tank up as often?
I wouldn't drop $1,600 for EFI for an extra 3 miles per gallon, if I was going for a high miler rig it would be a Cummins.

[ January 26, 2004, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: Elliott ]

[mdill]

If you want EFI and an overdrive tranny, then
the Chev setup may have the edge, as you can get
a compleate drivetrian with a proven factory setup
as a unit with good CPU code. You won't get any
better mileage than a well setup AMC (Carb or TPI)
injected and a swaped overdrive trany, but the
engine package will be less $'s, but that will
largly be off set by the $'s need to do the swap.
Neither chioce will pay for it self in fuel alone.
Take your pick, and do what you want.

Mike D.

[The Anti-Chrysler]

If you're going that far into it, and you're not mechanically inclined to do an engine build-up, then the Vortec is definitely the way to go. I have a Vortec 350 in another swap project, and it's a great motor. My local junkyard has lots of them, and they're pretty cheap, since what they tell me is that they can't be killed, unless abused or worn well over 200k miles. They are the best and last version of the cast-iron traditional 350. With about 340 ft-lb. stock, they're a great motor right out of the box (TBI version has 300 ft-lb.). I got one for my other project with 7,000 miles with all accessories and wiring/computer, as well as a 4L60-E trans. for $1800. I got a good deal because of my relationship with the junkyard, but even for a few hundred more bucks, it's still a great deal. I'm eventually going to use a Vortec 350 in my '82 J10 after the 360 goes to heaven. I haven't decided on a NV4500 or a 4L60-E, but I would have to swap axle ratios for either.

P.S. The trans would cost you $2000??? I can get a good 4L60-E for about $400.

[1BDWAGN]

I was going to swap in a 350 TBI and 700-r4 myself but when I researched it more it seemed like a lot of work for not a lot of gain. Plus if you buy the adapter to bolt the chevy trans to the stock t-case it gets even more costly. So I decided to stick with the AMC 360 and evently I will put the Chevy TBI on it. My 92 Blazer got 13 MPG regularly and on good road trips I could get about 15. The thing I miss about that truck was that the stock tank gave me a range of 340-370 miles. Whereas now I get paranoid when my tank shows E and stop for gas only to find out I still have about 8 gals in the tank. Oh, and to me when the carb is behaving the AMC is smoother. Not only at idle but throughout the powerband. I do notice the 360 has a little better mid-range. I get about 11-12 MPG in the Wagon with 32s and horrible gears.

[The Anti-Chrysler]

I think when I was planning to do the swap, I would just use a GM transfer case with a driver's side drop, and probably even use a slip-yoke rear driveshaft so I wouldn't have to swap out the output shaft on the transfer case. Relocating the crossmember in these rigs is easy enough that using the GM transfer case should be a piece of cake.

As far as a comparison between an (emissions era) AMC 360 and a TBI 350, the 350 should whoop the 360 if it's in good running condition.

The Vortec motor is even better, with about 45 more HP than the TBI 350 motor (255 vs. 210). The AMC bested around 185, and varied down to about 129-144.

[Jlamb]

I will keep you posted on the Jasper transplant. I am will be doing this in the summer.

[BIGYELLOW78J10]

Originally posted by The Anti-Chrysler:
The Vortec motor is even better, with about 45 more HP than the TBI 350 motor (255 vs. 210). The AMC bested around 185, and varied down to about 129-144.But will the Vortec leak oil like a sieve?

[The Anti-Chrysler]

Originally posted by BIGYELLOW78J10:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by The Anti-Chrysler:
The Vortec motor is even better, with about 45 more HP than the TBI 350 motor (255 vs. 210). The AMC bested around 185, and varied down to about 129-144.But will the Vortec leak oil like a sieve?</font>[/QUOTE]:D :D smile.gif Not the one's I've seen, had or driven. That's another better thing about the newer motors - much better gasket materials and thus better leak resistance.

If oil leaking / AMC auto-undercoating is required, I'd recommend loosening up on the valve cover bolts. :D tongue.gif