304 help

i recently posted a thread about puting a 350 in a 94 xj. I have recently come across a 1977 jeep cj with a running 304 in it and i was wondering what all is involved in putting that into my xj. any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

Unless the engine in your xj is blown requiring the replacement then i'd leave the xj the way it is and use the cj to play with since everything's already installed and running. But if you have to replace the engine in your xj then you will need the entire engine and accessories, wiring harnesses, ECM (computer), probably the tranny and TCM (tranny computer) transfer case should be ok unless you just want to change it as well. I'm assuming that both vehicles have the same kind of tranny IE auto or manual otherwise that will make it harder. Easiest thing to do if possible is leave xj alone and play with the cj.

Is there a shortage of 318's or would that be too easy? If you can find a 98 grand cherokee with a 360 that would be interesting to drop in also.


i recently posted a thread about puting a 350 in a 94 xj. I have recently come across a 1977 jeep cj with a running 304 in it and i was wondering what all is involved in putting that into my xj. any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

None of those engines fit easily in the unit body XJ. That is why it is not often done.

The 4.0 six is reliable and better suited for the XJ in weight distubution and torque for true off-road uses. That is a condition where you drive slow and in some low gear situations.

The Chevy small block works well in Hot Rods and vehicles such as my Corvette. CJs and such are a frame based vehicle and use a small V-8 more commonly.

We don't do swaps like that in California because it would never pass smog testing. That is because you would require special testing for a modified vehicle. Other regulations apply that would prohibit you from selling it very easily (especially your year vehicle).

thanks for all of your input it really has been helpfull but i want to go look at the cj and the body and tyhe frame is just to far gone to do anything with. the 304 runs strong but it has some upper end noise so i junked that idea because if i wanted to rebuild another motor i would have rebuilt th 4.0 straight six. a friend of mine want to sell a 74 powerwagon frame and chasis. good 318, good trans and transfercase, so now just to make thing interesting im putting the xj body on that frame possibly. i havent seen it yet so i dont know how beat it is. but thanks again for all of the info you guys have given me and Im sure that i will be asking some more questions.

Only one MAJOR thing wrong with that plan. You cannot put the xj body on anything as it's a uniframe design so therefore the frame and body stay together unless you cut them apart.