AMC V8 into a "short nose" CJ??

JeepsAndGuns

Anyone ever put a AMC V8 (304-360-401) into a older "short nose" CJ? Just wondering if it will fit? Mine is a 60 model. I was thinking I would probably need to swap to a later model grille, cause the older ones (like mine) are a lot deeper (greater distance from the front face, to where the rad mounts) But even if I do that will I have enough room? The CJ is a 6 hour drive away from me in storage, so I cant go measure things on it real easy. Reason for wanting to do this swap----- I am wanting to put a caddy 500 into my 79 cherokee. so as soon as I find one I am gonna do that. So when I do that I will have a freshly rebuilt 401 laying around, and a CJ that needs a good engine. See what I am saying? 401---CJ---need I say more? :lo1l: No I am not gonna sell you the 401, I am keeping it. 8)

Mudrat

JeepsAndGuns wrote
Anyone ever put a AMC V8 (304-360-401) into a older "short nose" CJ?

Um ... got a deffinition for a "Short nose CJ7"?? :-| In my books they are all the same size ... :-|

Lifted79CJ7

Early CJ5's have a short nose. Look how short the front fenders are in this pic:

Notice the distance between the firewall and the flare? I think they stretched it out during the 76 year when they rolled out the CJ7....

Oh, and check over at www.earlycj5.com . I bet those guys would know! Let us know what you find out!!!!

Mudrat

OK, that's a CJ 5 by the way and YES an AMC V8 will fit in there - even a SBC of the 327, 4-bolt, bored, balanced, polished, torker with E-brock 650 double pumper veriety and T-15 with a D20 will work well. Wheelies, u-joints - you get the picture #-o Been there, done that :shock: (flipped it end-over-end in So Cal (Anza Borego) in 1980.

JeepsAndGuns

Mudrat wrote
JeepsAndGuns wrote
Anyone ever put a AMC V8 (304-360-401) into a older "short nose" CJ?

Um ... got a deffinition for a "Short nose CJ7"?? :-| In my books they are all the same size ... :-|

Not a CJ-7 I mean the older CJ-5's and CJ-6's (witch is what mine is) The older ones from '55 till the early 70's (not sure of the exact year) had a shorter nose. The fenders, hood, and frame were lengthened when AMC took over. That way they could fit their engines in there. (mainly the I-6's I think) Arnt the V8's shorter than the I-6's?

Lifted79, I will have to check that site out. Thanks for the link.

Mudrat

Ooopps - I saw a post and didn't notice it was Jack joining in :oops:

Paul posted a spec sheet in an announcment thread on this board here but as you read the thread -IT DOESN'T COVER STRAIGHT 6'S (nobody loves us :smile: ) so I can't tell you the O/A dimentions, but having at least one of each - yes, the 6 is longer than the 8. It's dark or I'd go measure for ya 111!!!

Lifted79CJ7

Mudrat wrote
OK, that's a CJ 5 by the way......

I was just saying that I believe they lengthened the CJ5 nose and introduced the 7 in the same year so they could fit the long straight 6 in there. Not sure how many inches they stretched it off the top of my head.

KEV

The long CJ5(84" wheelbase vs 80") introduced in 72 and the CJ7 was in 76.

pyagid

I believe the 304 came stock in 71 or 72 which would still be a shot nose CJ -Paul

Lifted79CJ7

KEV wrote
The long CJ5(84" wheelbase vs 80") introduced in 72 and the CJ7 was in 76.

:sa:

KEV

JeepsAndGuns wrote
Anyone ever put a AMC V8 (304-360-401) into a older "short nose" CJ? Just wondering if it will fit? Mine is a 60 model. I was thinking I would probably need to swap to a later model grille, cause the older ones (like mine) are a lot deeper (greater distance from the front face, to where the rad mounts) But even if I do that will I have enough room? The CJ is a 6 hour drive away from me in storage, so I cant go measure things on it real easy.

Reason for wanting to do this swap----- I am wanting to put a caddy 500 into my 79 cherokee. so as soon as I find one I am gonna do that. So when I do that I will have a freshly rebuilt 401 laying around, and a CJ that needs a good engine. See what I am saying? 401---CJ---need I say more? :lo1l:

:idea: Also the frame should be drilled and a crush sleeves installed if your going to use a stock style frame horn. The steering will be fun too, your best bet is to get one from a 72-75 CJ5 or CJ6 that way you wont have to cut your dash. While your aquiering those parts grab the steel plate off the firewall and the pedals, it will make your swap alot easier. One last thing, the frame hight is less on your 60 model so you will need to alittle work on the PS bracket . I welded in the factory crossmember (from a 73) to make life simpler. :t:

JeepsAndGuns

Yep, it will take some work, but I think it is doable. My ultimate dream of what I would want to do to this thing would be install a streached YJ frame under it. I would match up the firewall of my body tub to where the firewall of the YJ's body tub would be, that way I could install the longer late model fenders/hood. Then lengthen the YJ frame between the back of the factory crossmember/skidplate and the forward rear spring hanger. Matching the axle to the center of the wheelwell. I did a little research and found that CJ-5's from 55-71 have a 81in wheelbase. The CJ-6's (witch is what mine is by the way) have a 101in whelbase. Now the 72-86 CJ-5's had a 83.5in wheelbase. So according to that info they only lengthened them 2.5in? That doesnt sound like mutch. But back to what I was talking about. So basicly the later long nose CJ-6's would have a 103.5in wheel base, and the YJ has a 93.4in wheel base. So I would only need to stretch the YJ frame 10 inches. Buid body mounts and some other stuff, but I would end up with a mutch better/stonger frame, better suspension and easyer platform for drivetrain swapping. But the only thing would be finding a good YJ frame. Most are still in operation and arnt old enough to be parted out yet. But I am getting ahead of myself. This project is sitll a couple years off in the future.