Am I going nuts?

[Pavementsux91XJ]

Ok, so the carbed 360 in my J10 is a headache and a half. (I don't like carbs, I'm a young'n who learned on multiport injection systems and diesels.) Also, the input bearing and synchros are about gone in my T-18. My girlfriend just totaled her S-10 due to a drunk driver. She walked away from it, thank God. Anyway, the s-10 is a 96 with a vortec 4.3 and 4l60E tranny. I'm thinking about putting the Chevy engine and trans in the J10. Novak makes an adapter kit to divorce mount the D20 to the 2wd tranny. So do I sink a bunch of money into the AMC to inject it and the trans to rebuild it, or do I shove the chevy powertrain in it. The goal for this project is to be a trail rig/ weekend cruiser hopefully with the ability to drive itself to the trail and back. I wouldn't be so wierded out by it if the J10 came with the 258, but it seems sac-religious to swap a V8 for a V6.

The 4.3 swap will give me the same power as the 360, fuel injection (Read: better driveability), overdrive, and better fuel mileage. The cons are that ill be replacing a V8 with a V6 and it won't be all AMC anymore.

[del]

If you're worried about a headache, don't swap the in the 4.3. There is the wiring to deal with (computer), and then motormounts/transmount. Then new driveshafts, and the interface between the trans and the cab(shifter). Exhaust, and I'm sure other things. If you're more comfortable with newer injected cars, do the TBI swap to dump the carb. It's cheap if you can turn a wrench and don't mind reading up and researching. It'll run better if you get it tuned right with the TBI. Part out the S10 to pay for parts for the jeep, so it doesn't seem as expensive. And lastly, I've never seen a cheap adapter from Novak, so add up everything before you decide....Del

[258Chief]

I've heard the "I'm skeerd of carbs" way too much over the last few years. Mostly from people that, like you, grew up on EFI of some sort. I grew up knowing both. And I'm sure that IF you can understand a boost map, fuel table, advance table, wide band O2 log or any combo of the sort.. You can easily figure out a Carb..
My personal favorite is the Q-Jet but the 21xx carbs are pretty sweet in their own right.
I'm all for EFI but I learned the hard way to K.I.S.S. way too many times.

Rant over I guess.. Keep her AMC.

[jeeper54]

I know of 2 jeep owners doing a similar swap, just using the trans and transfer case that came with the 4.3 eng. Both were nice and said power and economy was good. BUT both had auto shops at their disposal and deep pockets. Part out the s-10 and use the money for a TBI if you want fuel injection. That's just my opinion.

[Hippie Metal]

Do not Che*y that thing. Do you really want a FRONT LOW mounted oil filter/pump on a wheeling rig


TBI the 360 and you'll be way happier

[leostevo]

Spend a weekend and take apart a carb. Learn where all the passages go. Imagine the paths of fuel and when the throttle plates open. Remember the stages of fuel flow (idle, cruise, power) and learn how they work.

I am 28. My first car was EFI. I bought my '90 GW simply because it was old school. I can keep my GW running literally forever, because the parts are simple and can be fabricated 50 years from now. ( unless ethonal takes over ) TBI and EFI can't say that.

Save your money, learn how a carb works.

And for all that is holy, do not swap a V8 for a 6.

-Steve

[drlocke]

Some of the GM 4.3s were troublesome motors, meaning you might be building in more trouble to make this swap. Also are you sure the motor is completely unharmed after the vehicle it was in has been hit...? If it is a good-running 4.3 right now then you may be able to get some $$ for it, as it may still be in some demand to replace clunkers in many popular GM models that people are trying to keep on the road. IMHO it is best to rehab your original mill and drive train as needed and look at tried and true FI upgrades.

[EBCIII]

Or you could go this route?

http://www.guaranteedcarbs.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?display=action&emptyoverride=yes&templ ate=PDGTemplates/TopBotNav/referrals.html

[tazjeeper]

I love carb.. I hate FI.. if I am out on a trail or on the road. all I need is spark and fuel to drive.. FI needs censers after censers after censers... its alod of crap if you ask me...
I get around 18 to 19 MPG. my father-inlaw does not get that in his f150, my brother gets the same in his dodge 1ton dissel and most new stuff does do reach 18mpg...
I think a 4.3 would be alot of work and you would get nothing but a gas drinking pig... I had an s10 with a 4.3 it only got like 13mpg... I sold it as my old j10 carb is way better to run...