Anyone use a 383 stroker in their CJ?

I will be the first to admit I am a dreamer. Most of my ideas never come to reality.

Now, has anyone used the 383 in their CJ? I ask just for knowledge. My Dauntless runs fine, no problems or complaints with it. Is it too much power to be safely contained in a CJ? Any issues or concerns?

Thanks.

 

It is probably a bit much for a CJ IMHO. Too run that motor too much would have to be changed for reliability sake. Axles, transmission, and transfer case would all be susceptible depending on tire size and the weight of your right foot.

 

I have friend that has one in his 77 cj5, it has dana 44 front and rear (Scout axles) along with a t18 transmission and 3.73 gears and outboarded springs. It also has a shackle reversal and the wheelbase was stretched about 2" over stock. Its a screamer and does good in that body but the later jeeps are much heavier. His makes about 400hp I would guess, it will pull the frontend up about 1"-2" and skip it across the ground. Its not for the faint hearted to drive but it is fun once in awhile.

 

Also keep in mind that the 383 puts out gobs of torque, which makes parts breakage much more likely than say a stock 350. The 383 is a great motor, but unless you need a lot of torque (for towing or somthing) I'd probably go with somthing else. There's really no reason you *couldn't* do it, but unless you plan up updating everything else (t-case/tranny, axles) I would probably choose somthing else. Just a thought...

 

Let me also say that the friend of mine put his in the Jeep because he had one sitting on an engine stand and needed a motor. He did not build this for his Jeep!

 

This is the kind of information I wanted, thanks. I am not one to put my foot in it all the time. I was thinking of just replacing the front axle with a Dana 44 and keeping everything else in tact.

 

neither was I till I put a SBC in the YJ... it's hard NOT to play and hear the exhaust note and popping the wheels at a light... oooohhh soooo hard. It would be hardher in a CJ5... for me anyway.

383's are very fun... but like said above it is more for bragging rights I think.

 

I know a guy that rides with my bunch from time to time that has a 383 stroker in his CJ5, but he is also running Rockwells and all that other good stuff to go along with it.

 

You mean like who can buy the most parts?

I will have to admit bragging rights would be part of wanting to do it.

 

there is a 70 year old woman in our local club that has a 78 cj7 with the 383 stroker, fuel injected, 36 inch tires, rock ram, and ive heard that her axle setups run over $5,000.00 a piece. ive never seen a more powerful jeep. but yes you need everything to be able to handle the power. i have a 55-m38a1 with a 350 and think thats a bit much. id like a v6 and have always figured that was the perfect engine for the older jeeps, good rpm band and plenty of torque.

 

That is an impressive setup. I do agree the V6 is the perfect engine for a Jeep but I can't help but think what a 383 would look and sound like as well as perform like if your Jeep was properly built. This is just another one of those cool ideas which will never happen.....maybe...lol

 

Just remember that a 383 is a 350 with a 400 crank and if the wrong cam or heads are put on it its just another 250-300hp motor.