Dirt Offio

Hello folks!

I have been running XJ's since 2006, 1st a 96, and currently an 89 with a 4.5" lift, cut fenders, and 35's. I have been lurking on here off and on for several years, got tired of the hassle with signing in from FB every time I went to post, or anything, so I finally signed up without it.

I picked up a 2 dr that I am starting to build, but I was looking for some imput on a few things.

Here is the build plan:

the Jeep is a 1984 2 dr, with a 2.5 and an auto. Condition of the drive train is unknown, since someone about 3 owners ago appears to have taken a sawzall to the wiring harness and roached it out completely. (bleepity bleeping blankity blanker...but I digress! lol)

Engine: 302 SBF. HEI dizzy, and FITECH EFI. Stock exhaust manifolds.
Trans: 700R4 out of an S10. Hopefully have an S10 coming home with it in 2 days.
Transfer: This is a place I need help. If I run a 231 with the HD gearset and a SYE, it should hold up to moderate wheeling and daily driving...right?
Front axle: Dana 30, sleeved, big knuckles, crossover steering, newer shafts with bigger ujoints.
Rear axle: Ford 8.8.
JCR Offroad full length subframe reinforcement.
ExoCage


I am going with the 302 for several reasons.
1. I despise all the bulls**t wiring under the hood with the Renix injection. Chrysler FI on the HO's is not user friendly, albeit it has a cleaner wiring harness.
2. The FITECH is easily tuneable with a laptop. Plug and play is the order of the day.
3. Yes, I know there are conversion kits to drop a SBC in an XJ, and none for the SBF. I can fab it, so I am not worried. But the SBF is narrower than the SBC.
4. Weight. A SBF is around 425 pounds, and a 4.0 is around 420. Swap the intake on the Ford for aluminum, and it is actually less than the 4.0.
5. I am a Ford guy at base. I have nothing against any of the big 3, and if it wasn't for 1 issue, I would go with a SBC. The dizzy vs. firewall problem. 302 has the dizzy in front.
Now, I am NOT building the engine up. It will be bone stock. If I rebuild it, it will be back to stock, other than the bore. Not trying to build a rockbouncer or anything.

The 700R4 I am going with because it does not need a bleeping computer, and has overdrive. Those stand alone trans computers are pricey!

I will be starting a build thread when I get it in the shop. I am still cleaning out the new shop, and getting my tools and and lights, etc setup.

Any thoughts from folks on the transfer case? Really, that is my question at the moment, I am sure there will be others. If there is a better option on the case, please throw it out folks!

Cheers!

Dirt Offio

Bradly Mitchell

Sounds like a great built to me! IMO, With the 700R make sure it has a Lock up TC if you plan to daily it, or any extended high speed running for temp reasons. My question is why not run a ford np205 and twin stick it? Probably be the same as building up a 231.

TimV

Just a thought: In my backyard there is a 350 chev drivetrain from a '93 3500. It came with a borg warner TC. Seems like a heavier duty TC, even has a PTO port on it. Maybe such a thing would be more suited if strength is a concern?

andrewmp6

Why not keep it ford with a beefed up aod ?And on the t case look in to a dana 300 its a cast iron case gear driven,You can twin stick it and get a 4:1 gear set easy,And it don't matter if its the wrong drop they make flip kits for it.

jedijeb

Just keep in mind that the 84 has a shorter engine compartment, which is why the I6 doesn't easily fit in them. V8 should be ok since it isn't much longer than the I4.

Dirt Offio

Thanks for the imput guys!

Bradley, Thanks, I spent alot of time planning this one out, it is nice to hear that others don't think I am totally cracked! lol I thought about the 205, but I decided against it for 3 reasons. 1, I don't wheel THAT hard, I get after it from time to time, but I am not a maniac on the trail. 2, The engine is going to be stock, so slightly more powerful than a 4.0L, and the 231 can stand up to a stroker, so, it should be fine. 3, I really don't want to hack the gad out of my floorpan to get that big monster in there.

Tim, I will look into the Borg case...I am not familiar with it.

Andrew, I am not using an AOD for 2 reasons. 1, the 700R4 has a lower 1st gear. 2, the AOD has a horrible durability record. I thought it needed a transcontroller, but I was wrong, that is the AODE. As far as the Dana 300, I don't feel like modding the case to reclock it into position. Besides, if a 231 will stand up to a 5.9 Magnum, it should do fine behind a mild 5.0.

Jedi Jeb, I was not aware of the engine bay difference, Thank you for that information!

Thanks for the replies! I was really expecting a bunch of purists to jump on here like they have with almost every other SBF build post I have seen. And/or a bunch on SBC fans to miss the part where I said why I was not using one! lol

Cheers!

Offio

andrewmp6

A stock aod is crappy the lentech aod in my mustang has lived up to 575hp and 600 lbs of torque for 7 years now and im hard on it.And on the dana 300 flip kits bolt on and most adapter kits to whatever trans have clocking already drilled in to the adapter.You'll have more fun making that ford small block fit since no one makes swap motor mounts for that engine in a xj.

Dirt Offio

Andrew,
The 700 still has a lower 1st gear, and is more durable without a major rebuild and mod session. I never said the AOD can't be BUILT to take the abuse, I said their durability record blows, and it does.
I did not say that the D300 swap wasn't doable, I said I did not feel like going thru the pain in the butt. Nothing against the 300, and I may build a doubler in a few years, which may or may not get one. Also, I have been watching and looking in the few wrecking yards that are in range of my place, and I have only seen 1 Dana 300 come available in the last year. I may have missed a few, but they seem to be getting hard to find, up here in the Northwest anyway. YMMV.

Cheers!

Outlaw Star

For starters, welcome to CF.

Secondly, It's YOUR rig built by and for YOU. Power it and lift it as you see fit, as long as it's safe (no large axle blocks. Lol).

Third, the AOD wasn't exactly durable in 4WD vehicles either. Blown many of them up with a little 351W before I said screw it and put a C6 in instead. The 205 is a great case, but it's heavy as hell. There are motor mount kits for SBF to XJ platform, it's just everything else you can't get off the shelf. Good luck and look forward to seeing this.

Dirt Offio

Outlaw,

Thanks for the welcome and the words of encouragement!

I know it is mine, and I also know everyone has an opinion, some even agree with me, as odd as that sounds! lol

Could you point me at an engine mount kit for putting a SBF into an XJ? I have been looking and have not seen one listed anywhere. Not saying I will buy it, but if I can save a day or 2 of fab work on engine mounts, it might be coming in UPS! lol

I thought about using a C6, but I want this one to be Overland capable, so Overdrive seemed like the way to go.

I agree on the 205, it's an awesome box. I have 1 for my 4 door Highboy, when I rebuild it (again) in the next couple years. (It originally had that Spicer.....27? I think?) But yeah, moving it around takes 2 average men and a tall Swede! LOL

Cheers!

WyoCherokee

interested to see how this goes. probably have to build a custom instrument panel(not exactly a bad thing)

00t444e

If you want a better transfer case I would get a nv271 instead of a 205, they are a little bit lighter, and have the same 2.72 low range as a 231 does whereas the 205 only has a 1.96 low range. The 271 is also every bit as durable as the 205 if not better. They are used in 99+ Superdutys and 03 and up dodge heavy duty trucks.

Outlaw Star

They ain't exactly cheap and are all universal, weld in/up style so making your own might be better if you have the skill and tools.

Dirt Offio

Thanks Outlaw! I will take a hard look at that kit, before I decide.

Dirt Offio

WYO, I have been thinking about it. I could probably get the stock gauges working, but they are usually marginal at best. I probably will be making a custom panel, plus an A pillar pod setup for extra gauges.

00t444e, I do not forsee the need for anything as drastic as the 271, nor the 205. While I am not above smashing the skinny pedal when it seems like the thing to do, I usually wheel with a fairly level head. I am sure a 231, upgraded to the HD internals will more than suffice. 195-ish horse, and 270 ft/lbs of torque isn't going to be pulling down any mountains any time soon! lol. Since the 4.0 only put out 177 horse and 244 ft/lbs brand new, the power level is pretty close...especially since the 302 makes its power a bit higher in the RPM band, so it should be about even down in the power range that really matters. By the way, I like how you used the IH nomenclature for the 7.3 PSD! lol