Topic: Moving to the dark side

[oldjeep]

Looks like a 4.3L swap is in my future.  Parts accumulation has begun.  190HP/260 TQ sounds like a nicer place to be

[FourbangerYJ]

   HP and TQ are waaay over rated! 

What tranny?

[aw12345]

I wheel with a guy that has a 4.3 and auto in his cj7 is an awesome rig. Has deaver modified springs in it.
He built the thing from a freeby burned out shell. 2 years and 20.000 dollars later he has an awesome Jeep and he wheels the snot out of it I thimnk it stayed immaculate for about 1 month. He loves the engine setup

[oldjeep]

  HP and TQ are waaay over rated! 

What tranny?

AW4 

[oldjeep]

I wheel with a guy that has a 4.3 and auto in his cj7 is an awesome rig. Has deaver modified springs in it.
He built the thing from a freeby burned out shell. 2 years and 20.000 dollars later he has an awesome Jeep and he wheels the snot out of it I thimnk it stayed immaculate for about 1 month. He loves the engine setup

One of my buddies runs a 4.3L in his CJ7 and it has always seemed to perform well.  Thought about a v8, but I used to shatter D44 shafts with a 225 Buick.  Don't think my D30 and 8.8 would survive long. 

[FourbangerYJ]

One of my buddies runs a 4.3L in his CJ7 and it has always seemed to perform well.  Thought about a v8, but I used to shatter D44 shafts with a 225 Buick.  Don't think my D30 and 8.8 would survive long. 

That's part of the problem when going to a bigger motor. Everything else down stream needs to be beefed up.

The 4.3 is a great little motor. Lots of upgrades avail if needed.

Is this a winter project?

[oldjeep]

Is this a winter project?

Not sure, depends on how quickly the parts accumulate.  I'm not taking anything apart until I've got everything for the swap.

[aw12345]

I think a 4.3 is a great swap, leaves ample room in the engine bay. a v8 causes cooling problems and a serious lack of room, not really a good trade off for the bit more power that you get compared to a good running 4.3

[FourbangerYJ]

Not sure, depends on how quickly the parts accumulate.  I'm not taking anything apart until I've got everything for the swap.

Don't hurry cause when you get it all put together 

[jcsanders79]

Well since my current Jeep is the only 4 I've ever owned I consider this the darkside!  All I got to say is those AMC 360's were BA!!!

[Jeffy]

Don't hurry cause when you get it all put together 

I never banned Swink...

I'm not sure if I'd consider a 4.3L the Darkside though.  They're still rejected by those with V8's! 

[FourbangerYJ]

I never banned Swink...

I know I was just joking around. Speaking of Swink have you heard from him lately? It's been a long time. Last I heard he moved form N.D. to Oklahoma.

[jagular7]

With the 4.3 swap, you still plan to use a Jeep tranny, the AW4?  Would the GM tranny be better? They have 4-spOD autos and bolt right behind the engine. The 4.3 was in many GM trucks as well as the 4-spOD auto with a driver's drop NP231 behind it.  Though not a Jeep NP231, but a GM NP231 with slip yoke. There isn't much following for a SYE for them, but H&T should work. Or look at doubling or other options on the tcase?

You could look at adapting the Jeep tcase to the GM trans or Jeep trans/tcase to the GM engine.

How about a 3.9l Dodge V6 as an option? They are in the fullsize trucks as well as the Dakotas.

[Jeffy]

I know I was just joking around. Speaking of Swink have you heard from him lately? It's been a long time. Last I heard he moved form N.D. to Oklahoma.

  He calls me up once in a while.  Most recently he bought Sam a Rustang.

[chardrc]

Looks like a 4.3L swap is in my future.  Parts accumulation has begun.  190HP/260 TQ sounds like a nicer place to be

good luck.. my DD is my future donor vehicle for my 4.3lswap... sure its only the tbi version but we paid $2400 for it 7 years ago so by now i consider that free parts when the body rusts beyond DDbility (about 4 or so years down the road)...

1 thing ive learned from my dad is that planing can go on for ever.... we have a cj2a in our backyard and a front d44 and ford 9inch rear for it + a t18 and rebuilt 4.3l in our garage, + the stock suspension from our 06 Rubicon... and its been at that point for about 4 years now.... but i have a strong felling your swap / build will progress allot faster.