flip flop.... long winded thread

I'd do the V8, can't beat the sound like the others said.

 

You're right about the Ford Blue paint High5. Couldn't find any AMC blue (too impatient to order it) locally so went with the Ford...after pressure washing, scrubbing, cleaning etc. Will have to clean it up again and put a finish coat on it after I install it.
It's supposedly a low mileage engine (looks good inside) and planned on just installing as is. But once I got it on the stand started replacing seals and gaskets...it looked like it needed headers, intake, and on and on.....should be plenty of power for the little CJ5.

 

IMHO...you could do a lot worse...a lot worse than that small block Ford. I believe your gonna get better milage and drivability and it's just gonna sound better. it's gonna be asier to build and make power. An Amc V8 would be easier but of course you said nothing about having one of those given to you.

 

I also forgot to say that the 289 is much lighter than the 4.2. I don't know the numbers, but I was the one tugging on that chain hoist for both engines!

 

i'm still putting the 289 together.... if i dont keep it, i will use it to pay for my 4.0 head swap. it'd be a long time before i could use it, i have to get the ford T18 tranny, the D300, the 4:1 tcase kit, and the tcase adapter.

 

Years ago my father in law sold me a 53 M38A1 that someone had swapped a 289 into. It also had a Warn overdrive in it. I loved that Jeep. It was a rust bucket but man would that thing GO! That 289 would spin to the moon and sling mud everywhere. It might not have all of the low end grunt as a big 6 does but it will make up for it in RPM's
I am thinking seriously about dropping a 5.0 EFI into my 70 Cj5. I can get it for free for helping a buddy out with a 351w swap into a 9- Mustang so that helps.
I vote for the V8. No replacement for displacement.
clint

 

Just on the side issue.
I think you can get a New Atlas for the same $$$ as the D300 and 4:1 upgrade.
Not a lot of difference performance wise, but with the Atlas it would all be new.
Worth taking a look at if you get to that point.

 

Yeah, that's doubful.

Pretty sure you could pick up a 300 and do the 4:1 swap for a lot less than 2500 bucks.

 

i'd love to have an atlas... but its more than double the $$$

*unless you know somebody who has the sweet hook up :twisted:

 

If you shop around, you can get an AtlasII for about 1800 if you only want a 4:1 model. I am not going to say that the D300 wouldnt be little cheaper, but you wont be as far ahead as you think in the end if you want new/rebuilt stuff all around in your 300. Most places want 700 or so for a low gearset for the 300, then another 4-500 for the adapters to make the case fit, till you buy the case and a rebuild kit you are aproaching even money.

 

He would have to change the adapter and output shaft in any case as there isn't a texas patterned Atlas. Same pattern as the Dana 300 so to be accurate on the money you have to add the adapter cost to the Atlas also. Nickmil

 

Ahh, there is always something

 

500 adapter
530 for the gears, I just saw online. Don't remember where.
150 for the case???
rebuild kit????

The 4.3 Atlas is 2300 bucks. Plus the shaft.

High5

 

if i were to go w/ the ford 289

junkyad ford T18 $150-$200
D300 $150
tcase gears $500-$600
tcase rebuild kit $100-$150



keep the .258 and do the 4.0 swap....

regear the D20 to 3.15:1 or hold our for the lottery win (texas bolt pattern D300)


if i were going to put the money into an Atlas, i'd get the 5:1 or 6:1