Wiring new engine?

I have an 84 cj7 and Im replacing the 258 with a 360. The motor is just a very basic engine. And I would like to get rid of the masses of wires that are under the hood and install a simple basic wiring harness to the motor without getting into the lighting, gauges and accessories. Does any body have any suggestions for this? Thanks Frank

 

I guess what I mean is to wire the engine itself,, alternator, starter solonoid, temp, oil, distributor, choke, etc. ??

 

Before you pull the 6cyl, mark the wires that go to the dist, alt, starter solenoid..etc. if necessary put a volt meter on em to find the hot leads then after putting the 360 in hook it up the same way. After you get it running come back and cut all the other stuff out.
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Your question is really broad and someone could write a chapter about all the issues of re wiring an engine compartment. Your vehicle is an 84, do you expect to maintain the emission controls, are you going to keep the electronic gages ? Some things won't be different such as wiring the starter and alternator assuming things are from the same era. My jeep is a 75 and has a HEI distributor and a 12SI alternator. Both are 1 wire hookups. I have mechanical oil pressure and temp gages so not part of the electrical wiring. Solenoid is a fender mount so if the starters use the same solenoid no difference.
I agree with the previous posts, a service manual and careful mark everything as you unhook the old will serve as a good starting point.

 

If everything was working normal with original engine, I would salvage the temp and oil senders from old engine and re-use in the new.

 

If it were mine, I'd make a couple of photocopies of the factory wiring diagram (from the '84 factory manual, not the Haynes or Chiltons books) and start marking the wires I want to keep and those I want to delete.

In terms of wiring, the rest of the Jeep does not care whether there is a V8 or 6 under the hood. You'll need to carry forward engine functions like ignition, water temperature, oil pressure etc. but delete those parts that are specific to the 258, like the carburetor stepper motor wiring.

I would certainly use the Motorcraft Duraspark distributor for a V8. This will be the same type of distributor as what the '84 258 is equipped, and will just plug in once you change the wiring harness length so it will reach. You'll need to change the ignition module, since the V8 and 6 modules are different, but the mounting and plugs are the same. I believe the V8 module has one fewer plug than the 6 module, so you just delete the extra wiring associated with the extra plug. I believe there's also a carburetor control module under the dash that you'll want to eliminate with the V8.