Will an Amc 360 fit?

[Darky]

Problem here is everyone's comparing stock 360 to built, stroked 4.0's. I've seen close to 400 horse naturally aspirated 360's. Show me 1 straight 6 that can claim that power.

Now we are comparing ultra high end built 6's. Anyone spending that kind of money to build a 6 is nuts, not to mention smogging a turbo huge cammed engine won't happen. Every stroked crate motor available is under 300 horsepower. If you took that 19 psi turbo of that 505 motor, it wouldn't make 400 horses. As I originally said show me a
Naturally Aspirated 6 making 400 horsepower.

Oh, so now you're adding in a requirement that it be naturally aspirated and cheap? You asked for one pushing over 400 hp, I gave you one...

Cal already pointed out Eric Filar's 300 horse naturally-aspirated, non stroked 4.0. If you're building your engine yourself, which if you're debating doing a stroker vs swapping a V8 is what you should be considering, There's no reason you couldn't replicated his build whie adding a stroker crank and bored out cylinders, and still probably spend less than you would on buying, building, and swapping a 360 in. Remember, you'd likely need a new transmission and tcase as well.

 

[zachandandy]

I agree that smoking a 400 horse 360 would be rough, but 300 is doable. Point being build potential at the prices a 400 horse 6 would cost is not even close. As far as cost goes, you can find running wagoneers for 500 on cl all the time, which gets axle upgrade and drivetrain. I can scrap the rest for $200. I already have the Howell efi kit. Port and polish$30 in abrasives. Summit 8600 cam and lifters $100. Gaskets $100. Hei distributor already have. $600 probably 230hp and 350lbft and upgraded axles. Now compare $2000 to $5000 strokers.

 

[zachandandy]

Darky, reread the 1st post you quoted, I didn't add naturally aspirated, it was in there.

 

[cal]

Now we are comparing ultra high end built 6's. Anyone spending that kind of money to build a 6 is nuts, not to mention smogging a turbo huge cammed engine won't happen. Every stroked crate motor available is under 300 horsepower. If you took that 19 psi turbo of that 505 motor, it wouldn't make 400 horses. As I originally said show me a
Naturally Aspirated 6 making 400 horsepower.

I drive a non turbo huge cam'd 6 over 300 horsepower, it smogs fine. Banks Power is working on a smog legal turbo kit for the XJ, so give me a little while and we'll be there...

Show me a 360 that gets better than 15 mpg, whether its the stock 160 horsepower motor or a built 400 horse motor. AMC6's get the same or more power, with more gas mileage, better reliability and are lighter.

You arent comparing apples to apples and bitch when other people dont?

 

[cal]

I agree that smoking a 400 horse 360 would be rough, but 300 is doable. Point being build potential at the prices a 400 horse 6 would cost is not even close. As far as cost goes, you can find running wagoneers for 500 on cl all the time, which gets axle upgrade and drivetrain. I can scrap the rest for $200. I already have the Howell efi kit. Port and polish$30 in abrasives. Summit 8600 cam and lifters $100. Gaskets $100. Hei distributor already have. $600 probably 230hp and 350lbft and upgraded axles. Now compare $2000 to $5000 strokers.

37 horsepower more than a stock HO 4.0? That wont even counter the weight gain.

 

[Darky]

Then throw in motor mounts, crossmember, transmission mounts, adapting the gauges and sensors to talk to the completely foreign system on the 360, possible transmission tunnel/firewall/hood mods to fit everything, adapting the linkage to fit, cutting off spring perches and welding on link brackets/repositioning spring perches so the axles fit, etc. You seem to think that all you have to do is get the engine, tranny and all that and it'll magically fit and work.

Throw in a hundred or so for motor mounts, another hundred for crossmember/tranny mount, 2-300+ for driveshafts, 50-100 to get the axles to bolt up, anywhere from just a little to 500+ to get the gauges and everything else cooperating, new wheels (Waggy's run a different bolt pattern), 150-300 for new steering to get it tight and adjusted to fit your XJ, the list goes on. Run a stroker, you get the same power, better mileage, and everything bolts up to it just like stock. You can build one yourself for $1200 if you do it all yourself, minus the boring of the cylinders, and still be under $2000 if you pay for more of it.

But hey, it sounds like you're really set on doing the 360, so have fun, report back with how it works out. And when you meet Cal on the trail and get smoked by his I6, try not to feel too bad...at least your V8 sounds better than the 4.0...

 

[Darky]

Darky, reread the 1st post you quoted, I didn't add naturally aspirated, it was in there.

You mentioned a naturally aspirated 360, not 4.0...

 

[zachandandy]

I'm far from set on anything. Stock waggy motor mounts are $10 apiece and I can weld, so most of your items are basic fab and nearly free. If I buy a wag far parts it will have 15" wheels. Point is the Amc 360 gets a bad wrap because everyone looks at hp when jeeps are all about torque. Compare torque both stock and built. And as far as mpg's I could care less. My jeep is a weekend toy. Do boat owners, drag racers, or crawlers talk mpg's? I've burned 40 gallons in a day in the boat, you have to pay to play.

 

[cmelo]

Whoa whoa whoa, what's all this talk about fuel efficiency, power and practicality? You do it because it's cool. Can a 4.0 make more power than a 360?-in many instances yes. Get better gas mileage?-probably 100% of the time. Is a 4.0 more practical?-Now more than ever. Is a 4.0 more cool than a 5.9?-nope.

 

[IdahoEagle]

Yes, with a little work an AMC V8 fits into an XJ/MJ... There is a guy on here somewhere that has a bada$$ 2wd MJ with a 401 under the hood in front of an AW4. It takes a little surgery and creativity to do so, but if you can weld, aren't afraid to cut up your truck, you can fit one under the hood...

 

[austinaubinoe]

My DD is a AMC V8 powered waggy and I love it to death! However, If I was gonna swap a V8 into my XJ it would have to a a MOPAR 360. They used them in the 1998 grand and in dodge truck up till 02 iirc. and pretty sure you can get your gauges to work with it.

 

[cmelo]

Yes, with a little work an AMC V8 fits into an XJ/MJ... There is a guy on here somewhere that has a bada$$ 2wd MJ with a 401 under the hood in front of an AW4. It takes a little surgery and creativity to do so, but if you can weld, aren't afraid to cut up your truck, you can fit one under the hood...

If you're talking about the drag comanche that I posted in this thread he uses a th400. A 401 would destroy an aw4.

 

[Darky]

My DD is a AMC V8 powered waggy and I love it to death! However, If I was gonna swap a V8 into my XJ it would have to a a MOPAR 360. They used them in the 1998 grand and in dodge truck up till 02 iirc. and pretty sure you can get your gauges to work with it.

shelbyluvv is putting a MOPAR 5.2 in his MJ, I pointed out the thread earlier. He's just about done and it would all apply to the 5.9 also.

 

[tbburg]

Whoa there guys! He asked if the motor would fit, not for an argument about HP.

Lets face it. Regardless of what motor you like, hp is always measured in cubic dollars. Yes, a well thought out 4.5L-4.7L stroker will make more HP then a STOCK 360. But throw the same money at a 360,... been a long time since AMC played the power game. Most people don't remember how well they did. There's a lot of parts floating around for those motors.

zachandandy: the way I see it, do what you like. The motor will physically fit. Exhaust is going to be a pain, as with any V-8 in an XJ. Cooling is going to be an issue. THE issue if you are trying for max HP. Have fun and good luck. Post pics. We'll all enjoy looking at them. Document your hassles with the smog nazis and do a build thread when you get it figured out. Then the other crazy AMC freaks(says the guy with $700.00 worth of head work in his 304 ) will know what they're in for when they try it.

And again: have fun! :thumbup:

 

[BlueCuda]

According to Google(it has to be true right?) The 1989 Grand Wagoneer 360 had 144HP, which is not at all surprising for smog era V8s.

I think it would be great to see an XJ with a built AMC360 but you won't catch me doing it. Far to many better options for value and overall power.

The Magnum 360(non amc) was available 94-02 IIRC in trucks, dakotas, durangos, and in the 98 5.9 Limited grand. A little smaller as far as dimensions go with better HP and more availability.

 

[O-Gauge Steamer]

All ZJ's have Magnum motors in them. 5.2 and the 5.9. Just sayin...

Jeep, I believe, did not advertise this but it is pretty plain in the FSM when they talk about the care and feeding of a roller cam. Which is what makes the Magnum a Magnum. The reduction of resistance at the lifter is substantial.

Is the rated HP of the 360 on the low side? You betcha. It had to breath through a simply horrible 2bbl emmissions carb and had a truely weak ignition. A DUI one wire distributor and a good carb with manifold goes a long way. Also, there are FI systems available for that motor. TBI to be sure, but better than a carb as it is a closed loop system. Looked at them for the Wife's 90 Waggy. All sorts of goodies are available. Edelbrock makes aluminium heads for the motor along with several intakes.

 

[cal]

All ZJ's have Magnum motors in them. 5.2 and the 5.9. Just sayin...

Except for all of the ones that don't?

Don't forget the 4.0 ZJ's.

 

[Darky]

Whoa there guys! He asked if the motor would fit, not for an argument about HP.

Lets face it. Regardless of what motor you like, hp is always measured in cubic dollars. Yes, a well thought out 4.5L-4.7L stroker will make more HP then a STOCK 360. But throw the same money at a 360,... been a long time since AMC played the power game. Most people don't remember how well they did. There's a lot of parts floating around for those motors.

zachandandy: the way I see it, do what you like. The motor will physically fit. Exhaust is going to be a pain, as with any V-8 in an XJ. Cooling is going to be an issue. THE issue if you are trying for max HP. Have fun and good luck. Post pics. We'll all enjoy looking at them. Document your hassles with the smog nazis and do a build thread when you get it figured out. Then the other crazy AMC freaks(says the guy with $700.00 worth of head work in his 304 ) will know what they're in for when they try it.

And again: have fun! :thumbup:

That's the point I'm getting at is yes, a decent stroker will outdo a stock 360. But throw the same money at the 360, and you've got it installed in your XJ, probably still stock. Throw that money at the 360 again, and you've got more power. For the cost, a stroker makes more sense. And he did ask for thoughts, comments, and suggestions...

 

[MoparManiac]

Then throw in motor mounts, crossmember, transmission mounts, adapting the gauges and sensors to talk to the completely foreign system on the 360, possible transmission tunnel/firewall/hood mods to fit everything, adapting the linkage to fit, cutting off spring perches and welding on link brackets/repositioning spring perches so the axles fit, etc. You seem to think that all you have to do is get the engine, tranny and all that and it'll magically fit and work.

Throw in a hundred or so for motor mounts, another hundred for crossmember/tranny mount, 2-300+ for driveshafts, 50-100 to get the axles to bolt up, anywhere from just a little to 500+ to get the gauges and everything else cooperating, new wheels (Waggy's run a different bolt pattern), 150-300 for new steering to get it tight and adjusted to fit your XJ, the list goes on. Run a stroker, you get the same power, better mileage, and everything bolts up to it just like stock. You can build one yourself for $1200 if you do it all yourself, minus the boring of the cylinders, and still be under $2000 if you pay for more of it.

But hey, it sounds like you're really set on doing the 360, so have fun, report back with how it works out. And when you meet Cal on the trail and get smoked by his I6, try not to feel too bad...at least your V8 sounds better than the 4.0...

If you can fabricate, motor mounts/crossmember/trans mounts/driveshafts/etc. are a non issue and are just the cost of steel which won't be much for the amount of work to do.

Yes there are other issues, but it depends on your budget. If you get a running waggy for $500, some people might use the entire drivetrain for cheap. All they have to do is fab up the mounts. I can see the appeal.

I'm going to be looking at stuffing a Chrysler 440ci big block into my MJ in the next year (probably over next winter). Why? Because my father and uncle collect old Mopar parts (about 20 440 blocks, half of which are already machined and ready to be built) so the cost to build the engine itself is FREE, hence the appeal.