302 swap

Long story short:

My 72 cj5 232 T-14 dana 20, knocks,leaks,spits,grumbles etc.
I finally have all these parts in hand:
65000 original miles T-14 dana 20 combo
Advance adapter plate and retainer
correct clutch disk and pilot bushing for swap
Advance adapter motor mounts for this swap
Rear sump pan and pickup tube from mustang
Ford manual bellhousing, matches adapter plate
100,000 mile 2bbl 302 from 70 torino

I'm sure I have forgot somthing, but I'm looking for advice and input before I start.
I don't thrash my jeep really hard, mostly river bottoms and plowed fields on my fathers farm. I know the T-14 isn't that strong, Its not like I'm climbing dry waterfalls in Utah.
But what do you guys think, and has anyone out there done this or somthing similar

thanks in advance

 

I have a 289 in mine, went through 2 T90's before I installed a 10 bolt toploader, wide ratio Ford 4spd, best thing I ever did....and then it was the transfercase....and then, well you get the picture! There is lots of little things you will end up needing, radiator (changing in-outlets??), fan - spacers, shroud..etc. exhaust, I used the cast iron stockers, clutch, gas line, the list goes on and on! One nice thing is with the newer Jeep there's a lot more room, mine was in a 2A!

Dale

 

Man, if you want the Ford V8 - go for it.

However, 258s are really cheap on the private party used engine market. A 258 will drop in to replace the 232 - couldn't be easier. I'm sure it will end up cheaper too, when you add up all the bits and pieces needed for the 302 swap. Plus, HP is roughly proportional to displacement, so 302/258 = 17% increase in power over the 258, approximately. Not a huge gain for effort you're going to have to put into the swap.

A 302 is an oversquare engine (bore bigger than stroke) at bore:stroke 4.0":3.0". The 258 is the opposite, an undersquare engine 3.75":3.9". The 302 is a power engine, the 258 is a torque engine. The 302 torque peaks at higher RPM, so you will have to wind it out compared to the 258 to get the same acceleration. Nothing wrong with the Ford engines, but not ideal for a Jeep IMO. You're going to have much better highway performance with the 302, if you keep the revs up, but the 258 will be better at low speed. What axle ratio do you have?

 

I found that the "Bomb-proof" motor mounts from M.O.R.E. made for an easier installation as well as the confidence in knowing I will never blow a mount again,,,but they are a bit pricey.

For a radiator I used a HD 4 row for a CJ with an AMC V-8 ,,inlet & outlet are on the same sides as the ford. It is listed in most catalogs as the "Heat Buster". I found mine on E-bay.

One other thing is that on the ford motor the starter bolts onto the bellhousing, not on the block, so do some research and get a flywheel & bellhousing combo that are compatable ( within the same year-span of manufacture) or your starters teeth wont mesh with the flywheel. The T-176 trans in my CJ-5 has the same bolt pattern as the ford T-18, so getting a good bellhousing was pretty somple.

Are you going with a carb or FI? I have found that my biggest headaches (so far) center around the FI system, the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder mount and tight exhaust routing space.

Good luck with the swap.

 

My tires are 33-10.50-15, axle ratios are stock 3:73 and open, and the mud I like to play in here in NC requires rpms to clean out the treads. My thoughts on this whole swap originaly came from my love affair of a high revving ford small block.
I have ABUSED the T-14 behind my 232 (which runs out of breath @ 4800rpm) so I feel OK that a stock 2bbl 302 really won't tear things up. ( its not like I'll be dumping the cluth drag strip style).
Any and all input so far has been most helpful and informative. If anyone els out there has some input, I welcome it.

mike