V8 Swap hope

[outlaw525rdr]

Been reading the forum for a while now, just never posted..lots of good info here. Now i need some of that expertise

i have a 95 YJ running a 2.5 liter..pretty sure all the running gear on my yj is stock except for a 3 in body lift from the previous owner and the 31's.

I just picked up a running 1985 J10 with stock running gear and a amc 360..I would like to use everything from the j10 for my YJ. Is the 360 a direct bolt in? I want to use the auto transmission, transfer and axles too. Will the majority of this be pretty easy to bolt in or put together.. I am pretty good mechanically but any input would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[superj]

Check your local smog laws because that wont pass any kind of smog test.


you will have to change your gauge cluster to an older yj cluster or the gauges won't work, if I remember right.

 

[superj]

Oh ya, none of it is bolt in

 

[SteelHeadz]

If you transplant the engine, transmission and the axles to the YJ , you will need a few modifications on the axles to bolt on to the leaf pack perches and the shock brackets as well. As noted by SuperJ, smog requirements might not be up to date on that setup on your current state laws however, that J10 should have a smog equipment like a smog pump, canister and all the other parts related to it that you can modify to transfer to make it work. No guaratee that it will pass NOx requirements though. You will have to modify the front and rear driveshafts to fit the proper lenght and get it balanced by a professional shop. The shifter , if you previously had a manual trans, you will need an auto shifter on the floor or on the column depending on your preference. I personally like the push button shifter on the dash. Electronically actuated on the trans output shifter shaft thats less intrusive to the interior of the jeep. Good luck.

 

[flatie46]

I've been told often by a friend the a YJ is really close to a CJ7. I really don't know myself but V8's were offered in the CJ7's so maybe the engine and trans would be a bolt in. Other thean what SteelHeadZ mentioned above of course. Shouldn't be too bad a project at all.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Your 2.5L engine is rated at 123hp while the '85 360 is rated at 160hp. Is the difference really worth the trouble of the swap?

Nothing about that swap will be bolt-in, the very least of which will be custom motor mount perches welded to the frame. Then a custom transmission crossmember and fitting a full-width front axle and getting it centered correctly.

 

[flatie46]

Maybe he's looking at 140ft/lbs of torque in the 2.5 VS 365ft/lbs of torque in the 360. Not to mention how easily he could kick it up a notch. Headers, alum intake, 4 barrel, ignition and so on.

 

[69jeepcj]

The yj and the cjs are diferant, The frames are dif, the axles are dif, the tcases are dif, the pumkin on the front axle is on the drivers side on the yj and passenger side on cj. Only thing they share is the same tub deminsions. This is not a simple swap. Everything from the j10, engine, engine frame mounts, trans, tcase, axles, steering gear box, engine wireing, ignition and im sure im leaving somethings out will have to be swaped to the yj. I dont think the j10 is computer controlled, and your yj should be, so some of your dash gauges may not work. The swap can be done and your yj will have much stronger running gear but it will be a lot of work. I think you would have a awsome little yj though when done. Sounds like you have your hart set on doing this, so good luck and keep us posted.

 

[outlaw525rdr]

Yeah,, i really couldnt turn down $400 for this J10 with a rebuilt motor in it..i plan to use just about everything from the J10..I post some pics as i go along for general info if people ever need to go thru it

 

[flatie46]

I guess I assumed the frame would be the same since the tub in a YJ & a CJ7 are so close. If you have a CJ with the AMC 20 ( and wheel it) your prob not afraid of an axel swap anyway. It may be more than a bolt in job but in my eyes, if he gets it done he's going to have twice the Jeep he started with.