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Hey there, selling my 1998 cherokee with a novak v8 conversion done to it. Here are some things about it: ( I most likely forgot lots of things)
305 Chevy V8 out of an 87 Formula firebird with approx 140,xxx on it
Chrysler 8.25 rear end
All gauges work except the tachometer because factory it is made for a 6 cylinder
Bushwhacker pocket style fender flares
Led Reverse light mounted on hitch
New clutch disk pressure plate and flywheel (20,000 kms ago)
Transmission was moved forward with a custom crossmember to use existing transfercase and shifter location.
Novak billet aluminum adapter plate mounted to Lakewood sfi bellhousing
Driveshaft is custom length by coast powertrain and balanced
Upper and lower balljoints replaced along with every joint in the front end with Moog parts (have receipts)
Aluminum underdrive pulleys
Moroso power steering pump relocation kit with all new belts
Custom clutch line made for new master cylinder to SBC slave
Jeep harness merged into sensors to use stock gauge cluster.
Two electric pull style fans mounted to brand new Xj radiator
New Shorty powermaster starter
Oversized battery mounted in stock location
Oil pan electric heater and coolant circulator both powered by one block plug in.
Curt trailer hitch
Hella "Blackout" fog lights
H4 conversion headlight housings with white Night Hawk bulbs.
12' box with a JBL sub and Clairion amp
Original Jeep Ax15 Transmission
New axle seals and diff fluid in the rear about 10,XXX ago
Rustys drop control arms
Rough country 6.5 inch short arm lift (month old)
Rustys Adjustable track bar
Led Lights in reverse lenses
Rustys Drop pitman arm
3 Inch pinion angle shims
1.25 rough country transfercase drop
SFI approved bell housing
Edelbrock torquer intake
Edelbrock 650cfm carburetor
Hedman Shorty headers
American racing 15x8 Aluminum rims ( 1 year old)
35' BFG KM2 mud terrain tires (70%) ( 1 year old)
Magnaflow exhaust system with a resonator (quiet)
JBL Speakers and "Dual" brand head unit
Comes with a sub and amp (Pictured)
Interior is clean but could use a couple things.
It looks decent, but IMHO $9000 Canadian / @ $6450 U.S. is still too steep for that build. The RC lift alone is a deal breaker for me, and WHY, if someone is going to go through the time and effort to do a V8 conversion would you install an LG4 305? Especially one with 140,000 miles. A stock '87 LG4 was rated at 170 hp/250 ft. lbs., and a stock '98 4.0 was rated at 190 hp/225 ft. lbs. There's not really any gain. They could've dropped in a 350 for exactly the same amount of work.
The mighty 4.0 wasn't offered in mine. Too old. Supposedly, the firewall wasn't deep enough for the 4.0. Just the mighty 2.8 which was junked with a broke crank.
Don't believe everything you hear. Especially the internet. There is someone with a trashed windshield because they read on the net that sandpaper under the wipers would keep the windshield from icing up.
I agree. The 6 1/2" short arm kit is junk. From all makers.
Yes a real POS but the bad part is the lack of doing nothing with transmission, TC or the differentials when using V-8 power in a low HP carbed unit to boot.
Don't believe everything you hear. Especially the internet.
What is this a remark for? The seller's XJ came with a 4.0 (a remark in the ad about the tach's functionality confirms it couldn't have been a 2.5). If you mean to imply that we all think the 305 is a dog, I can only speak for myself when I say that I know how lame the 305 is from a lot of experience with multiple 305's. It's a durable engine to be sure (but so is the 4.0 and arguably even more durable), but it is inefficient and frustratingly weak. Back when I had my El Camino, I had considered stroking its 305 to a 334, but the cost and effort of doing even that was stupid. Every angle I've ever looked at a 305 always ends with the same answer--swap to an engine that isn't lifeless.
A 350, 383, or LSx would have been exactly as much work as a 305 and much more bang for the buck. A Buick 3800 is another, often overlooked, choice that isn't as cliche as a Chevy V8 which also works for all XJ engine compartments including 84-86. For the 84-86 years, which the seller clearly doesn't have but for the sake of argument, a Chevy 3.4 is virtually plug-and-play in the 2.8's place. I'd still personally go Buick 3800 everytime, but at least the 3.4 isn't as awful as the 2.8.
It's a decent-looking XJ, but I'd refuse to pay anything close to asking price for this thing. It might as well be an motorless roller as far as I'd be concerned since that 305 has to go.
Weak? Garbage? I have a 305 in mine and it works great. It'll surprise you.
I've got the exact same engine in an '86 Z-28. There are no surprises. Stripping off the emissions equipment and adding headers (like the seller appears to have done) will help some, but your still dealing with a small-bore small block that will cost exactly the same in parts as a 350. The only way I could reason it, would be if I already had the engine sitting around and installed it because it was "free". I still probably wouldn't though because it's still a waste of time to replace the 4.0 with a 305.
One other thing to consider is that the seller might have removed his "good" engine from the XJ, and replaced it with the 305 just to sell it. If I had a decently built small block that I wanted to use for something else, I may do the same thing.
12-19-2015, 05:59 PM
V8 XJ For Sale
