Hayden98XJ

Hey guys, didn't wanna post a whole thread for this because I usually can just read around but i'd like to know some opinions. But the engine in my 98 4-door blew and my dad said I should mod a V8 engine to fit. So just trying to figure out if I want the I6 or V8. A truck buddy told me to get a Chevy V8. I guess i'm just wondering the pro's and con's. Am I correct in saying that for any V8 I get I would need to mod it, or buy a kit for it to fit? I'm in high school and i'm not doing any major wheeling so would the bump in gas mileage be worth it?

Michael952

Ls1 would be nasty
Or a 350 but efi isn't easy

Jeepineasy

If you have the motor cheap and.can.do the work. Why not. Other wise is just built a stroker.
When my motor blows I'm going to find a 80s Ford with a 302 and use the tranny and transfer case. Might be able to get away with the aw4 with a 302 if I kept it mild.

My second choice would be q 5.3 or 6.0 Chevy

CherokeeCountry

Honestly, I've been in your spot, and it sounds like a kick-*** and sweet idea to have a 350 SBC in your Jeep, but honestly if you aren't a mechanic of a pretty high caliber, put the work and money in on a stroker motor.

Hayden98XJ

Soo save the money and get a stroke kit? (Previous engine had a bent rod, still usable?)

n_a_i_w

Im planning a LSx or LT1 swap beginning of next yr. Debating on putting a RV cam in it. This is the site I've been researching. It will be a bit $$$$ but I think it will be alot of fun to do.
http://www.novak-adapt.com/index.htm

Pretty good info on there. Debating on the tranny to go with it but i figure I'll starrt getting everything together through out the yr. Holly makes a throttle body fuel injection system that I think I'll go with unless I can find another good name cheaper.

5-90

What are you building it for?

The typical V8 has a torque peak somewhat higher in the RPM band than the typical I6 (this is why so many Cummins Diesels are still I6...) it's easier to balance the I6 properly, and probably the most steady cylinder configuration available (I think it was only the horizontally-opposed engines that have fewer unbalanced forces.)

If the plan is for high speed, a destroked V8 is the way to go.

If the plan is for towing/hauling/working, gimme the I6 - preferably an oversquare I6 (bore<stroke,) like the AMC stroker. You can't wind the engine up as far with the longer stroke, but you'll have more torque off-idle and at low RPM (which is what you want with the truck in general anyhow.)

If I decide to not stroke my 6-242 in my 88 as part of a refit, it's because I'll be looking for a variance under CARB to either:

- Convert to a small to middlin' Diesel (four or I6 cylinder)
- Do a Diesel-electric hybrid (drop the axles except as beams, independently drive all four wheels, use something like a three- or four-cylinder Perkins to drive a dynamo - essentially, do it like the locomotives do.)

Most likely the latter. I've always wanted to do a hybrid drive, but do it properly (a gas-electric hybrid is inefficient, the Diesel/electric hybrid has it beat all hollow. It's just that the American car-buying public still remembers the Olds Diesel from the 1980's...)

If I was going to do a V8, I'd either do an AMC401 (if I could find one) or build a Gen-II V8-426 Hemi (from the ground up) just for "Wow!" factor. The SB Chevvy and Windsor Ford swaps have been done to death, and the LA-block V8 came OEM in the ZJ - which kinda takes the fun out of it.

(OK. Maybe an LA488 or LA505 V10 Magnum - but that's because it's still shorter front-to-back than the AMC six...)

Michael952

I'd go with a 5.3

Hayden98XJ

I think I wanna go with a stroker kit if they have them with new rods, just do a rebuild on my old engine?
Edit: Still new to this, please let me know if I get anything wrong.

EVILXJ

i lost my motor a couple months ago, i pieced my own stroker kit together, with everything including machine work ive about about 1500-1600 in it building it myself, thats new everything besides rods which i got used for $80

greendohn

Wouldn't a monster h.p. engine be hard on the rest of the jeep ?

The I6 is iconic in it's application to these wonderful jeeps.

Rebuild your I6 and maybe throw a "stroker" kit in the old beast and run it for another 200k miles.

5-90

****** used the I6 in Jeeps shortly after they hit the civilian market (L6-161, L6-226, F6-226,) and Kaiser did the overhead cam I6 (6-230) in the mid-1960s, as I recall (the Kaiser "Tornado" engine didn't catch on.)

Three of the four domestic production "Modern Era" AMC sixes (232ci, 258ci, 242ci) were in Jeeps for a number of years (the 199ci was probably considered "not torquey enough" for light truck applications, but it was pretty undersquare.)

I'm still cranky with Dr. Z who decided that the "AMC Six was a dated design, and would be scrapped rather than the tooling renewed" - but Mercedes-Benz continues to use the I6, as does BMW, and GM is bringing it back as a truck engine in VORTEC trim.

Frankly, revision of the cylinder head and stroking it up to around 280-290ci (making it somewhat oversquare) would have been an excellent way to go for the AMC six and Jeep vehicles in general, but I don't think the Germans have quite forgiven us for winning WWII (and both sides have agreed that the Jeep was the vehicle that made that really possible.)

Alternatively, a 'clean sheet" design with a reduction in bore and an increase in stroke (in an effort to keep displacement constant - or thereabouts - but improve engine torque and fuel economy when coupled with cylinder head design) would have been a good way to go.

But, what do I know? I'm just an enthusiast, and an engineer that doesn't have any accountants to answer to (and would run roughshod over them if I did - you're an accountant, you are not an engineer. I don't tell you how to do your job, stop telling me how to do mine!)

Hayden98XJ

I think i'll just pick up an I6 at a local junkyard and as I get a job and more cash flow I'll stroke the blown engine(and do more mods as I learn), so I keep good gas mileage for a while.

SeriousOffroad

Do the V8, you won't regret it.

Atmos

for a stroker I believe you have to rebuild the whole engine so it's like brand new otherwise stroking it will take years off it's life. it has to be professionally re-done
and theres no point to a V8 IMHO. especially for your applications, which I'm assuming is just driving around town. it's all about torque anyway right?

but if you want some good pros vs. cons vs. price you should watch this video when you have a minute.
it's from powerblock. I'm pretty sure it's the right vid.

http://www.powerblocktv.com/player/s..._num=TK2009-02