Mating a Chrysler 360 to a 79' Jeep Wagoneer

[tbezilla]

Has anyone ever put a pure Chrysler 360 V-8 in a Jeep Wag? I'm getting a bit tired of having to jump through hoops for AMC/Jeep parts. If you are at all familiar with the AMC years, you know that AMC manufactured absolutely nothing underneath the sheet metal - The 79' Wag for example employs a Chrysler block, Motorcraft ignition and fuel system/carb & GM tranny.

Anyway, I'd be real interested in hearing success stories/tips for swapping out the AMC variety pack with a pure and simple Chrysler 360.

Thanks in advance.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by tbezilla

If you are at all familiar with the AMC years, you know that AMC manufactured absolutely nothing underneath the sheet metal - The 79' Wag for example employs a Chrysler block, Motorcraft ignition and fuel system/carb & GM tranny.

Are you TRYING to be offensive to Jeep fans?

People who are familiar with Jeep products know AMC made excellent straight six and V8 engines using their own excellent design!

They did not use other manufacturer's engines!!
(uh........except for buying the Buick 225 cid V6 design in the late 60's and calling it the 'Dauntless, selling it back to GM in '73........and using a few Buick 350's in Commando's, 35 years ago....................
oh yes, a few Gm 2.5 liter 4 cyl engines found their way into Jeep CJ's in the late 70's and early 80's........and the GM 2.8 v6 in some XJ's)

But still, your Wagoneer has an AMC engine. It is NOT a Chrysler engine.

AMC made excellent V8's since 1955, in 290, 304, 327, 360, 390 and 401 cid displacements.
Chances are your wag has an AMC 258 straight six or an AMC 360 or a 390 V8.

These engines are completely different than the Chrysler ones, and a Chrysler engine swap would require an entire Chrysler 4x4 driveline, engine, trans transfer case with custom made mounts and driveshafts.

A better swap would be to find a Chevy 350 V8 with a matching THM400 trans from a 4x4. This should bolt to your existing transfer case, but would require lots of custom fabrication for enginje mounts, exhaust etc.

The best solution IMO is to find a better source of auto parts.
Cobbling together your own swap will just be more of a parts and service nightmare, not less.

AMC used excellent, easy to service components, and all parts required should be readily available. The fact they so many components were sourced from other manufacturers (who used them in huge numbers for all kinds of vehicles ) ensures the parts availability is BETTER not WORSE.

[neon_rt]

Jeep used a Chrysler TorqueFlite transmission for most of their vehicles with V8's. The transmission was designated A998 or A999 (can't remember off the top of my head). It was a heavy duty version of the A-904 Torqueflite. Someone I talked to was pretty sure Chrysler put heavy duty A-904 innards in a 727 case. If this is accurate, you could put a Mopar small block and TQ 727 into a Jeep without much adapting. To not offend the Diehard Jeep fans too much, I would use a Jeep Grand Cherokee MAGNUM engine (318 or 360). The MAGNUM series engines have Dodge Block design with AMC head design adapted to it. The AMC V8 heads are superior to just about any head design out there. That is why Dodge adapted them for use after aquiring AMC.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by neon_rt

Jeep used a Chrysler TorqueFlite transmission for most of their vehicles with V8's. The transmission was designated A998 or A999 (can't remember off the top of my head). It was a heavy duty version of the A-904 Torqueflite. Someone I talked to was pretty sure Chrysler put heavy duty A-904 innards in a 727 case. If this is accurate, you could put a Mopar small block and TQ 727 into a Jeep without much adapting. To not offend the Diehard Jeep fans too much, I would use a Jeep Grand Cherokee MAGNUM engine (318 or 360). The MAGNUM series engines have Dodge Block design with AMC head design adapted to it. The AMC V8 heads are superior to just about any head design out there. That is why Dodge adapted them for use after aquiring AMC.

I'm pretty sure this particular Jeep has a THM400. I could be wrong, but I had one years ago, with a 400 trans.
I think Jeep switched to Chrysler autos after 1980. Before that, Jeep used GM transmissions.

[neon_rt]

I think that if the Jeep has a six, I would go for a complete engine/transmission change. If it has a Jeep V8 in it, I would keep it. There are plenty of performance parts out there for it. It is an excellent engine design.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by neon_rt

I think that if the Jeep has a six, I would go for a complete engine/transmission change. If it has a Jeep V8 in it, I would keep it. There are plenty of performance parts out there for it. It is an excellent engine design.

I agree about keeping the Jeep V8.
These Jeep V8's will bolt in place of a six, and use the same six cyl. transmission.