Engine Swap

[Wag Rookie]

I want to pull the 360 I have in my 87 grand waggy and put a newer fuel injected V6 in there. Hell the newer 6 bangers are putting out just as much power as the old hunk of steel anyway. Anyone convert one like this yet?

[waynestiles]

Not to be a wet blanket but . . . . .
Maybe as much "power" if you are just looking at numbers. But I wonder about torque, drivability, and longevity when hauling our heavy old rigs around. Seems to me the AMC engines evolved for low end grunt although a well organized GW can lumber down the highway at a pretty good clip without soounding like its buzzing itself to death.
I'd be checking out how well and how long a light weight higher revving v6 would last---then calculate the conversion costs over the probable life span.
Don't forget to factor in the repair costs of a basically do-it-youself-able engine vrs an engione that will require professional care or at least a professional set of hi-tech tools.

I've got a F@*D Aerostar van with a V6--almost as old as my GW. and with a light load it actually does pretty well on the highway, BUT with a load in it, or pulling my camper it really dogs and can't stay in OD. And it is not much of a DIY motor (not to mention that abysmal tranny). Got a friend with one of those little supercharged V6 Buicks (3800SC) goes like snot--oodles of HP---but it'd never pull my camper. the GW will haul the camper down the road like nothing was back there.
Now a couple guys in the Willy's/Yahoo forum have done V-6s in their little 50's willys PU and wagons and they seem to work pretty good but they are a fair amount lighter and more street-resto-roddish than off road/heavy haulers. Advance/Novak has some data on the conversions I think.
But like the man said, "ya pays yer money and ya makes yer own choice"

[JeepinPete]

Which newer V6 are you thinking about?

[yoslvr442]

i was just going to ask that same question.

[Wag Rookie]

Havent narrowed it down yet was hoping someone would have already done it to save the research involved. I am more then capable of doing a swap myself even if it required making new mounts but I was hoping to not have to swap out the rest of the drive train.

[yoslvr442]

The only V6 that i would say would be something like the newer 3.0L Duratec. I know that they have pretty decent tq. They are found in the explorers. Maybe even use a v6 out of a bigger dodge. or you could go import.

[JeepinPete]

The only practical way to keep the rest of the drivetrain would be to use an engine with a SBC bolt pattern, since there is an adapter available. With that in mind, you are looking at the Chevy 4.3L, or maybe (?) the GM 4.2L inline 6. The 4.3L is a very common swap, though I haven't seen any done in a FSJ.

[Wagabond]

4.3 Vortech or 3.9 Dodge would be the easiest options. Other than a Re-gear, I don't see why not. They are mounted into vehicles as heavy or heavier than an FSJ.

I would like to put a Turbo 231 in my Wagy, but they are hard to come by cheaply.

[YellowJeep]

How about a turbo'd 3.8. You could call it Grand Nationeer! :thumbsup: Probably not the best motor for your rig but with a stock turbo, it might spool up nice and quick with the right gears...N/M, I'm just twisted that way:D:D

I wouldn't be all that concerned with longevity, durability etc because of the wieght of the vehicle. Most new vehicles are so laden down with gizmos and safety features they end up weighing a lot more than you'd expect.

I agree with Pete. The 4.3 would be good, but get the vortec model. The regular TBI 4.3 is a SLUG. I'd like to see someone do a swap with the GM inline 6 4.2 or maybe even the new inline 5 from the GM small trucks.

With any late model swap, you are probably best getting trans/t-case/motor/harness/ecm from the same rig. Unless you like to suffer, you can adapt almost anything to a TH400 with a GM case.

[mrtazwrench]

HMMM... Just picked up an 88 wag with a noise in the motor, and I got a 96 4.3 vortec in the shed with sale pending, but it never seems to leave, I actually have the whole driveline from a blazer, but it has the single speed AWD case, I'd maybe do motor and trans, and find a different t-case. The blazer it came out of had 3.42 gears, guessing I'd want to go lower if I put this in a wag.

Also have a line on 6.2 diesel parts, but the diesel needs a rebuild.

[-Bluegill-]

Find a late 90's (or newer) auto 4WD S-10 and put its whole powertrain in. 4.3 Vortec (~260ftlbs torque), NP231 t-case. Just be sure to take its ECU & harness also. Use SBC engine mounts, you'll have to fab tranny mount, t-case shift linkage, exhaust, and maybe driveshafts.

I've seen quite a few 4.3 Chebbies rack up 300,000miles & still run strong.

[JeepinPete]

I have no experience with the 4.3L. What kind of MPG do they achieve in a little Blazer?

[Casey]

I have no experience with the 4.3L. What kind of MPG do they achieve in a little Blazer?
Like anything, it depends on the driver and use. I had one in an S-10 truck with a 5spd and could squeeze 21 out of it on the highway on a regular basis. Around town the mileage was around 15-17.
My dad's S-10 Blazer (700r4) got 16-18. Both were 4x4 on 235 tires.

In a GW? I'd bet around 13-15mpg. I can get a 360 to get that kind of mileage. My old POS '88 GW could get 13.9 all day long. Edelbrock cam, intake and carb. Without the cam and someone else driving it...

[Lindel]

2002 Blazer, 4.3L, 4L60E, 2WD. When it's all highway and 60 to 65 mph, it might (and I do mean MIGHT) get 15 mpg. Typically, it's more like about 12 mpg combined.

I can typically go further on a 1/4 tank in my Silverado (8.5 gal) than 3/4 tank (about 15 gal) in the Blazer.

The Blazer is my work vehicle (to be traded out for a 2008 Chevy Equinox on Friday), which means Y'all are paying for the atrocious gas mileage!

[-Bluegill-]

I get 19-21 city and 22-25 hwy from my daily driver: '95 S-10 (4.3 TBI Vortec, 2wd, 5spd, ext. cab). And that's with 2 rear axles & another 250lbs of steel in the bed. :D

[BigRedChief]

I like the idea of a V-6 swap since it should get pretty good mileage and have plenty of power (the newer generation of V-6's anyway). I've heard some absolutely abysmal MPG numbers from them too though. A guy I work with has a 4.3 in his S10 ZR2 and only gets 15-17mpg. I just posted this in another thread, but I have a 4.8L V8 in a 2wd '01 Silverado that gets 21-22mpg max. The lowest I've seen so far was about 17 mpg out of it.

[JPSwapMohn]

Only thing I can offer on the V6 is that my pops had a Chevy 1500 with a V6 and manual tranny and was able to pull his dual axle work trailer with it without great issue. Can't say it was perfect, but it did the job and did not complain.

For what it is worth, after converting for the tire size, I average about 16-17 out of my rig. I am running a Golen LT1 with a mild cam and a few minor improvements, 4L60E, NP229, 3.31 gears and 32" tires. The gears are a little too tall as I am below 1600 rpm's when cruising at 70mph. 4.10 may be in my future. I have not gotten to a new rear bumper and tow hitch as of yet, so no data on towing..

[jaber]

Huummmmmm, interesting points.... :cool:

[backroadin']

I think to do the swap just to do something different is great - but if your ultimate goal is better economy, I wouldn't bother - if it was me. I don't think a v6 will get better enough mileage to justify the cost and effort. As stated above, a newer v8 can get just as good mileage and have lots more power - which in the long run you'll probably be glad to have. I have a Tundra and I got the v6 thinking I'd get better mileage, but I get about what the v8's are getting, 15-17, with alot less power. That's a bummer.
However, if you do paln to swap in a v6 or v8, I agree with yellowjeep - get the whole shebang, tranny t-case and all. It'll be tons easier - especially since you don't mind fabbing mounts. For economy sake, it would make sense to keep the newer engine with the drivetrain it was designed to work with instead of throwing a nice efficient motor at 20 year old drivetrain parts which probably weren't designed with economy in mind. Newer automatics are way ahead of yesterdays when it comes to efficiency.
These are just my opinions - best of luck whichever way you go and post pics if you end up putting something cool in there!! :D

[Wagabond]

You'll get the same mileage from a 360 barely off idle, or a V6 to the floor, at every light.

If your doing it for room, or because that's what you got, that's one thing. But a 360 can get 15 mpg with a Qjet or TBI. A V6 will do only slightly better.