QuestionHello agian Tom,
First of all thanks for responding to my question and giving me the xtra advice on the 4.3 and the oil pumps. You wanted to know what year the Vortec is that I'm thinking about. I think it's an 89. But, just in case I don't get this particular one and end up shopping around for another...What years should I look for , or avoid? My Tranny is a T400 Automatic. From what I understand, that's a pretty heavy duty transmission, and should be easy to bolt up to a GM motor. And then I'm guessing if I go this route I will have to probably beef up all my running gear to handle the new horsepower. Sometimes I think I oughta just keep the AMC 304 and maybe just stick a 4 bbl carb on it, and convert it to dual exhaust to get a little more power. What's your thoughts on that?
thanks again
-Brady-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi Tom,
Just a quick question for ya. I am about to embark on the quest of restoring an old rusty banged up 1976 CJ-7. It will mostly be body type work, as the engine and most mechanical components are in great shape. (it mostly sat in someone's back yard rusting for the last 30 years ) I have a friend who is gonna help and is pretty knowledgeble with fixing up cars.
Really my main question is this: Right now the jeep has an amc 304 in it. I have been toying with this idea of swapping in a Chevy 350. Well, I noticed in the paper today that someone is selling a Chevy 350 Vortec engine for like $800.00
The question is: Is the Vortec a traditional carburator run engine? Or is it fuel injected? If it is fuel injected, are there any special considerations I should be making? Or should I just abandon the Vortec, and put in a traditional carburator run 350?
I really would appreciate your thoughts on this question. Thanks.
-Brady
Answer -
Hi Brady,
What year is the chevy Vortec? yes the Vortec is fuel injected. but that not a problem..The Year is....What Trans are you going to use? The 350 is a good swap motor it's not to big and there is ton's of swapping parts and kits for your jeep. If you get any bigger motor size you run into tire wear and overheating. Plus broke driveshafts,axles,ect...Is your jeep a auto or stick? Also the 4.3L chevy is a great motor! 200 hp same parts as a 350! (pistons,rods,oilpump,timing gears,water pump,89 and up has a roller cam! my 89 has it!)plus is shorter in size. I have 179,0000 and use no oil in 3000 miles..A GM man told me that having the same oil pump as the 350 that you get more oil to parts because its a 350 missing the front two clyinders. There are less things to oil. and its a fact that around 125,000 the oil pump needs to be replaced on a 350! But on a 4.3L 175,000 it starts to get weak and lowend wear starts. if you get a 350 or a 4.3L even with less than 100,000 change the oil pump and timing chain! use a high volume pump
Not a high pressure! then your sure to get 100,000+ more miles out of the bottom end!More like 200,000!
Hope this helps and please get back to me on the questions i asked about the jeep!
Tom Woolf
AnswerWhat year is the 400 trans? 1981 chevy changed the bolt pattern on V8 and V6...if you go with a 1981 up motor use a 700R4 trans. It has a lower first gear than the 400 plus its over drive.(better MPG) Also What did the 400 come out of?
The bolt pattern is NOT the same for all GM cars and trucks. The 304 is not a great motor for long life. and the ports and valve size is small..putting a bigger carb will gain very little horse power. the best deal is to find a car or truck that runs(say was hit in rear) so you can hear it and check for smoke and oil pressure(350 cold 50+psi hot30+psi) plus all the little parts you may need are there!(wires,hoses,pumps,belts,ect) remember 1980 started the computer control! you can that a 1980 Up motor and use off road NON computer parts. Things to look for and check. On a 350 chevy the starter is on the passenger side.The fuel pump is on the passenger side. The distributor is in the back of the motor. Is there room at the firewall? the water hoses come out TOP to the driverside and the bottom the passenger side. then there is the oil pan. On the 350 the deep part is at the rear of the motor. Just little things to look at!
Email me back! Tom Woolf
