360 or 401?

[goldhammer]

That be the question. My 81 W/T is going into semi-retirement and will be a back-up DD, and the tow rig for my 88XJ play toy. Either will be in front of a T18, with 3.31's and 31-10.50's. Either would have a performer manifold and carb, probably stock exhaust manifolds, a bottom end grunt cam and single 2 1/2 inch exhaust, and 0 emmissions stuff. When we go for 2-4 day events, we could stay for a month with what the better half packs.:)

[TexTJ209]

Do you even need to ask? 401. :)

[goldhammer]

What I want to do too. Only one floating around loose and semi-reasonable is in an 84 in a boneyard here for 750, last price I got a year or so ago. Don't know how long ago it got installed or what was done prior to install, absolutely no history on it, but is fairly grease free. Would have to get a flywheel which puts me at just about the cost of going through the 360, even if I don't need to do anything to the 401.

[Knuck]

If it were me, since its going to be a daily driver, I would go with the 360. Parts availabilty is much better. Of course I would still pick up the 401. :D

[krek]

If you do the 360 you'll regret not getting the 401... even if you end up spending more money on the 401 you'll still be content in the long run. :cool:

[skeletor]

you live in the holy grail of fsjs, it shouldnt be hard to find a running 401 jeep or amc around the pacific northwest.

[babywag]

I'd say 401, especially since the price of gas has made them cheap.

I've seen several 401 trucks (drivers) sell for dirt recently in SoCal.
NOBODY around here wants them.

[hockeydawg]

There's no replacement for displacement. 401 all the way.

[dusty]

Mine that i had for sale in the for sale forum is tangled up by a member here, he gave me $200 to wait for him to get the rest of the deal together said he'd see what he can pull off in tweo weeks. Anyways to give you an idea a recently built (2000 miles) running 401 with forged pistons, performer intake, hmv 272 cam and flywheel with clutch for $1900 with all accessories bolted on new flow cooler water pump, new PS pump, edelbrock carb, HEI distributor etc.
Otherwise core 401's +/- $500 ive found em as cheap as $200. an built crate motor can be had $1700-2200 but then you dont have forged pistons, probably ge teh cast 8.5:1 pistons so you lack the compression cackle and lack the entertaining cam. Food for though

He flew into town and test drove it. now he's thinking he wants the darned exhaust system with the 5 chamber flow master and the shortie headers.

:banghead:
That said a 360 can be built to do the job but a 401 makes it fun and does it with style. nothing like pulling into a parking lot with that deep suttle big block vibration that will make even the oldest motor head sport wood.


Do a 401 especially on a tool around rig, you gotta have something that is entertaining especially in a classic Jeep a 360 can be built cheep, but the 401 is only a couple hundred dollars more and brings with it serious torque for when you do tow.

[fulsizjeep]

401s are junk. Send all your 401 junk to Jubilee Jeeps for proper disposal. :cool:

[FloridaFSJ]

I'd go 401 unless you have a fresh 360 laying around. The 401 is more rewarding and it is a stronger motor all around.

[dajeeps]

a good rebuilt 360 has good power as for the 401 i don't know yet . soon i'll find out as it will be here by friday,and i'm eagerly awaiting its arrival.btw on craigs there is a man in sherwood,or. is selling 3 gw's for 1200 the 84 he says that their is a 401 in it. when i had talked to him i invited him to the site so that he might be able to sell them, he says that they all run really good and in good condition. he sounded like an eldery man and a nice guy.

[Casey]

:rolleyes: 401.

Advance Auto can get you a remanned one for around $1600 and they'll take your 360 as a core.


;)

[will e]

If it is available go for the 401 unless you get a killer deal on a 360.

I paid 2300 for a rebuilt zero miles 401 from an ebay auction. Got lucky and the engine run great. Only problem was the buillder was crazy with orange RTV. There are a couple of oil leaks that I am going to chase down.

[Chris P.]

:rolleyes: 401.

Advance Auto can get you a remanned one for around $1600 and they'll take your 360 as a core.


;)
Quick hijack,
Does anyone have any experience with an Advance 401? It sounds very tempting.

[AlsChopShop]

with as much as they pop up around here, i'd 401 it.

i would be more then happy to check out the one in sherwood....

Al

[dlowrance]

The folks here convinced me to go with the wondrous 401...so my build is going to use that as the powerplant...got one sitting in the shop now waiting for me to get my butt in gear.

I've run 360's since the 1980's and never minded them a bit, but I'm trying out the 401 here shortly...well, 'shortly' is a relative term:o ...

[goldhammer]

Thanks Al, but a little out of my range right now. I can work a deal with the yard here. He might wind up going a little lower right now, got to find out. Might be able to get rid of the manifold/carb for a few coins.

[toyotajeep]

All I know is this. I had a 360 in my first plow truck, alot of noise and not alot of action.

The second truck got the 401 (DAJEEPS 401). Night and day difference.

Trucks were built differently, but still there was no comparison. Hardly touched the gas in the 401.

FWIW - ROB