i currently have a 305 small block chev that im building right now, and i also have a 99 xj. i havent yet decided what the small block is going into right now, but i have defvinately considered the jeep. wont be for crawling, more street/strip use (im sure alot of people dont like that, but o well). anyways, my main factor that i've been holding back with the jeep is header selection. I want long tubes, or atleast mid length. i know novak sells block huggers, but i need something that will complement my powerband. has anyone found any other manf's? or successfully fit a set from a different chassis to a jeep swap?
as for the EFI vs. carb...carb's have come a long way from what they are, yes they can be finicky, but there has been countless improvements to make them more reliable for more applications. also, when looking at something like a gen I sbc swap, its way more cost effective. a proper carb setup is going to be much cheaper than trying to improve the factory efi stuff. a proper manifold and carb selection is going to outflow the TBI stuff no question, and the TPI intake is very choking from the factory. it can be ported, and aftermarket runners and bases can be bought, but at multiple times the price of a very nice carb setup. so basically its cheaper, and will make more power.
yes modern v6's are making alot of power. theyre also very expensive and arent the easiest to come by. secondly the powerband for them arent going to exactly compliment a jeep in terms of torque production. i would imagine a dinosaur V8 would be more enjoyable to drive in a xj than a VQ37HR. while some of the modern v6's (hondas, the VQ's, and the new direct injection 3.6L from GM) are gaining a decent amount of aftermarket support, itll never touch the simplicity of the most common v8, and the ridiculous potential it has with the aftermarket. whatever you can think of, it's probably available, off the shelf. the v6's have a completely different powerband, and are limited as far as torque production...i picked up a sbc that is mint for $50. vortec heads for $100. throw some bolt ons at it, with a cam, and its effortless power. have fun playing with every form of variable valve timing, and lifts, and how it limits you for selection (if an selection), and yadda yadda.
im not against efi, and if it was a gen III i'd stick with it. but i dont see anything inheritly wrong with putting a carb in a previously efi jeep. my last car was a 87 corolla which i converted from a 8 valve, two bbl, 70 hp cali emission 1.6L 4 cyl., to a 20 valve, 1.6L 4 cyl., with VVT, EFI with individual throttle bodies, etc. Technology is awesome, but that doesnt mean using tried and true methods will result is shit.
im also a emissions inspector in Ontario. 88-99 vehicles can have engine swaps legally here. if it is of a different block type (size, cylinders, etc.) not available as a factory option, it is classified as a hot rod, and is tested as such. that eliminates the check for a cat (only checked in filler neck, and gas cap) and dramatically lifts the emissions limits (for both asm, and two speed idle testing) to 1980 emissions specification. its not difficult to make a carb'd engine pass those specs...
anyways that my opinion/experience. if anybody has info of xj full length v8 headers, i would love to hear it.
