jeep210

Does anybody know just how much work goes into a small block swap. Im ready to get rid of this 2.8 litre and want the v8 power. I have already found the motor mounts I just need to know about transmission and transfer cases issues as well as where I will be able to mount my radiator. Please help!!

JeepDriver

I would love to put a V8 in my cherokee. Someday I'll try it with a summer project.

wicked_xj

http://www.youtube.com/user/denverjay77
383 worked

go with a 205 transfer case trans maybe a turbo 400

my i6 f150 2wheel drive with bald tires went against my x friends f250 302 33 in tires,hd flat bed 4x4 higher couldn't pull me until he put it in 4wd. put a 4.9 i6 in it

okcjeeper

Brace up that unibody frame cause it'll twist like hell when you get on it.

farmfuel

a 302 would be an easy fit, and you'd be able to use the ford drivetrain for your driver's side drop differential. I also wouldn't worry about the torque factor on a SBF with only a 3" stroke. People have told me that a factory 5.0HO engine left alone in a cumstain will get 18-20 mpg if you're easy on it.

You could find any I-6, 302, or 351 transmission (called an M5OD, and get the BW1356 t-case as a package deal) Drivers side drop t-case, 5 speed w/ hydraulic clutch, and the M5OD is small block bolt pattern. A 302 would be easier to do; it's a 60* V engine vs the SBC 90* engine. Easier acess to the manifolds, etc.

That 2.8 is junk. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that engine. I had an 84 with that engine, and it was on its 5th engine when I sold it. Perhaps you could find a TBI 2.8 in an S-10 blazer? That motor isn't like the carburetored engine; the carburetored engine's rod has its own journal, and if I'm not mistaken, the TBI 2.8 crank rods share journals. You should give it a thought kicking over to EFI 2.8. I can't spit without hitting those Blazers at the wrecking yard. Have fun pulling the harness, though.

jeep210

I forgot about that whole transfer case front output problem. Dont ifs chevys have a drivers side drop differential. I thought about a ford v8 but they are longer than chevy motors and i found the motor mounts for a sbc through advance adapters. You would think that a 350 would put out the same torque as an I6?

farmfuel

A I-6 won't fit in that 86-down AMC front end. The front clip is different. (shorter)

You're correct about the IFS GM products being driver's side drop.

About 12 years ago, I put a 350, SM465, and a NP205 in a 88 Wrangler. The Wrangler originally had the 4.2- great motor, but I never could get that carburetor running right. About 8-10 mpg. Once the 350 went in, hp went way up, amount of tickets went way up, and even the mpg went up. I've never owned anything since then that compared to that. I got in so much trouble in that thing. My kids will NEVER have V8's (I'm really lucky I'm still alive)

I guess you could find a NV3500 to bolt up to that sbc, but I don't know what T-case is behind that NV3500. Maybe a NP246, NP241? I don't know. That NV3500 isn't easy to find. Most 350's had 700R4's or 4L60E's. Standards in Chevy's are hard to find. I'm all about finding parts for cheap, not lining the pockets of cigar-smoking used car dealer types. I've also had good luck with Craigslist.org. Some people have stuff they don't know what it's worth.

jeep210

What does the NV3500 come out of? So if I used basically engine to transfer case out of say a 93 pickup truck I can retain my drivers side drop front axle.

BlueXJ

That would depend upon the transfercase more than the tranny.

cherokee4meplz

The LS1 is always a favorite candidate for a v8 swap. the ECU only needs about 5 wires from the vehicle to operate properly, and there are entire forums dedicated to Ls1 swaps for support.

wicked_xj

ls1 sounds realy good i just like the 383 roosters

farmfuel

That is correct. The last year of the pass side drop was 91- in the Burb, K30's, and the K5. None of these ran 5 speeds. No fullsize Chevy ran a 5 speed with pass side drop cases. I've seen 85-up hydraulic bellhousing SM465's bolted up to 208's, but the 208 is a pass side drop (unless it's the 208F- F for Ford, found in 80-up Broncos, etc), but the 465 is a granny 4 speed.

NV3500 would be found in 88-up applications...the same ones with the drivers side drop cases. I think 92-98 they ran a NV4500 in the 3/4ton and 1 ton. This would be the same bellhousing patten for the 6.5 diesel, sbc, and bbc. It's a grany 5 speed, and a little overkill (and way too pricy because of its reputation)

You could even get the drivetrain out of an S-10 with a 4.3 if you could find it. SBC is the same bellhousing pattern as the 4.3. Not too sure if the 4.3 had the NV3500 bolted up to it or not. They used to use a T-5 back in the day, but I don't know about a T-5 and a 350; probably not a good idea.

jeep210

The whole s-10 thing i probably never would have thought of and on the positive side everytime you turn around you see one. Thanks farm fuel!

farmfuel

You should seriously contemplate about putting in a TBI 2.8. Go find someone advertising in the autotrader or craigslist that has an S-10 TBI 2.8 bolted up to a 5 speed (T-5 I think). Go give him a line of B.S. about how you're intersted in buying it- and go take it for a test drive to see what you think. Like I mentioned about the crank differences- I think there's a lot of differences between the two, even though they look similar. You'll be able to keep fuel economy with the 2.8 too, if it's your DD. The wiring harness for the EFI 2.8 would be the ONLY difficult thing to have to tackle (minus the fuel pump)- everything else would bolt right up. I'm all about minimal hassles, and EFI= more power and more efficency.

jeep210

I was just on craigslist and found a few with the efi 2.8 for cheap. Do they retain the same motor mounts? If I were to buy the whole truck than the only problem with the wiring harness would be running it and finding a safe place to put the computer.