Specifications
QUESTION: Will my stock axles hold up to the power and torque of
the new engine?
Answer: For stock V6 engine conversions and most V8 conversions,
the stock axles are acceptable. We have had several customers
comment that, under normal use (with stock wheel and tire sizes), the
stock differential assemblies work fine. The alternative to upgrading the
rear differential and axle assemblies would be to install a custom made
rear axle unit.
QUESTION: How strong is my stock transmission for use with the
V6 & V8 engines?
Answer: Vehicles equipped with the early model 3 speed transmis-
sions should seriously consider changing to a standard Ford or Chevy
transmission. There are several adapters available and, in some cases,
the cost is less than when using the original transmission. If the original
transmission was the T18 or T176, it will perform excellent with the
power of a new V8. The strength of your transmission should be
regulated by your driving habits. If the original transmission is going to
be retained, then we suggest you use caution when having the pedal
to the metal.
QUESTION: How strong is the transfer case found in the Jeep
vehicles?
Answer: The transfer case is sufficient to handle both V6 & V8
conversions. When the factory designs a transfer case, they have to
allow for the added torque in the low range position. It is for this reason
that they over design the transfer case gear box. We very seldom have
a customer find the transfer case unsatisfactory in this regard.
QUESTION: Will I require a body lift?
Answer: Body lifts are very inexpensive and easy to install. They will
provide additional clearance in the engine compartment area and also
added clearance for the transmission tunnel area. However, most
conversions can be completed without a body lift.
QUESTION: Will I need to modify my driveshafts?
Answer: It is almost impossible to answer this question due to the
various engine and transmission options. Whenever possible, we will
manufacture the components in a way that will prevent any modification
to the driveshafts. You can usually plan on driveshaft modifications
when installing V8 engines with a new automatic transmission. V8
engines retaining the stock 4 or 5 speed transmission will not normally
require driveshaft modifications.
QUESTION: What does the kit include?
Answer: We do not offer complete packages. Motor mounts, trans-
mission adapters, headers, etc. must be ordered separately. You must
plan on fabricating the necessary brackets to mount the power steering,
alternator, and air conditioning units.
QUESTION: How long should my conversion take?
Answer: We have been surveying several of our customers over the
last few years, and we have seen variations between 40 to 100 hours.
The average time seems to range between 40 to 50 hours for the
complete conversion.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Questions & Answers)
Over the years, customers have asked various questions pertaining to the durability of their vehicle, and whether or not
additional modifications should be made in making them more durable. Below, we have listed some of the most commonly
asked questions when performing a conversion, or preparing the vehicle for offroad use.
QUESTION: I have a 1986 Camero TPI engine and I would like to
install this into my Jeep vehicle. Is it possible to retain
the fuel injected unit or would it be better to switch to
carburetion?
Answer: It is possible to install the Tuned Port Injected 305 or 350
engine, but you must have a complete engine, including the wiring
harness and the electronic control module. These will need to be
installed into your vehicle along with all of the correct sending units and
sensors. There are new wiring looms available to assist you in
connecting the TPI engines into the Jeep vehicles. We installed a Chevy
4.3 TBI engine into a 1966 CJ5 using all of the original California smog
equipment, along with a special wiring harness. We found the instal-
lation of the computer system to be excellent, and found very little
difficulty performing the engine swap so that the vehicle could retain its
smog legal status.
QUESTION: I live in California and if I do a V8 conversion, will it still
be smog legal?
Answer: Our kit is not smog legal in the State of California. However,
California law states that the engine you chose for your conversion
must be the same year or newer than the year of the vehicle. Vehicles
in the State of California that are 1972 and earlier are usually smog
exempt. We recommend that you check your states laws on engine
swaps before starting one. We do not provide a diagram or installation
procedure for using the emission equipment. If you need assistance in
this area, we recommend that you purchase the technical service
manuals from General Motors,Ford or Chrysler, whichever pertain to
your vehicle and the vehicle that the new engine came from. The
manuals will give you the information that you will need to complete the
installation of the equipment.
QUESTION: Will the stock radiator work with my new engine?
Answer: Depending on the size of engine that is going to be replaced
will determine the feasibility of retaining the original stock radiator. If the
original engine is a V6, V8 or straight 6, you should be able to retain the
radiator size and simply change the inlet and outlet locations. If the
previous engine was a 4 cylinder, then we highly recommend increasing
the radiator capacity for use with the new V8 engine. Automatic
transmission coolers can be incorporated into the stock radiator with
very little difficulty.
QUESTION: Will the Jeep 4.0L engine interchange with the 258 6
cylinder?
Answer: With the introduction of the Jeep 4.0L in 1987, the engine block
was slightly changed to incorporate two additional bellhousing-to-
engine block mounting holes. The engine also requires a flywheel
sensor that is not available on the earlier style AMC bellhousings. We
manufacture a special conversion bellhousing (Part No. 712569) that
will adapt the Jeep 4.0L engine Jeep vehicles 1976-86. There is also
a bellhousing available for the 4.0L high output engine that will permit the
use of the Chevy transmissions, such as the truck 4 speeds.
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frequently asked questions