360 swap

Ok, so I snagged a 360 from a dude locally...Finally. It was apparently a NAPA crate motor, came out of a 79 waggy that was rolled. My question is this; Other than a flywheel for a manual trans are there any other mods I need to be worried about in terms of fitment?

 

nope, just be sure to use the cj driver side exhaust manifold.

 

What about the pilot bushing and the harmonic balancer?

 

The AMC V8 engines are externally balanced by the flywheel and harmonic balancer. So you use a 304 balancer and flywheel with a 304 and a 360 balancer and flywheel with a 360. Understand?

A 360 uses the same crank as a 304, so the pilot bushing will not change.

You do understand that the 304 and 360 are basically the same engine except for the displacement?

Sorry if this seems like dead horse but I wonder if you understand the relationship between the two engines.

Good luck with your swap!

 

DrDanteIII wrote:

Damn!
I'm about to swap a 360 into a CJ and no one has told me that.
I know about the engine mounts, but I can fabricate them anyway.
So I can't use the LH manifold or the SJ "Y" pipe I've got?
That probably explains why everone I've seen so far has useded tube headers.
I think the chances of finding a used LH manifold off a CJ-304 are going to be zero (I'm in England)

 

J&W would probably send you one: http://www.jwjeep.com/

My CJ-6 with factory 304:

I expect that you'll collide with the steering with the SJ manifold - or maybe the clutch linkage.

 

Hmmm...... You got a point there.
My CJ5 is LHD drive, but I've got all the parts to convert it to RHD (I assume I could rework the firewall)
Clutch linkage is hydraulic on CJ7s so I'd use that.
Insuance would be cheaper too, they load the premiums for LHD vehicles over here.

Question; If I convert to RHD will the RH exhaust foul the steering instead?

 

My 360 came out of a wagoneer. I used the 304 flywheel and it works fine.

 

The 304 and the 360 use the same crank and rods, but the pistons are different (same stroke, different bore). Ideally, you're supposed to use the 304 parts with the 304 etc. Just thinking about it, you'd think that the balance should be pretty close between the two engines.

I've asked about this on other forums, but nobody has been willing to say you can mix the parts between the two displacements. If it works for you, great, but the conventional wisdom says you should use the parts that are intended to be with that engine. Certainly, if you were going to rebuild the 360, the shop can balance the 360 with the 304 flywheel and you'd be all set.

 

Asking me? I have no idea. <looking at parts book>

From the parts book, it seems that all the V8s through 1979 use the same exhaust manifolds, left and right. There is no distinction between V8 displacements, and no reference to RHD. In 1980, when the Wagoneers went to driver's side drop (front driveshaft on the LH side), the 360 LH manifold changes.

So, manifolds from a PSD Wagon or J-truck '79 or earlier should be the same as the CJ manifolds. The issue seems to be interference with the LH driveshaft on the '80-on SJs - and this manifold causes an interference problem in a CJ.

 

The balance difference between the 304 and 360 is significant. I've had both flywheels side by side and can tell you that from experience. You definitely want to use the correct flywheel and balancer if you wish to avoid problems. Have had customers with vibration issues that mixed and matched these parts. Put the correct parts in and the vibrations disappeared. Nickmil

 

Make sure to get a good flywheel, factory if possible. The China flywheels sold at the parts stores and ebay have proven to be very far out of balance. If you have the flexplate from the 360, you can have the 304 or china flywheel matched balaced to it for pretty cheap.

 

My LH manifold came from a wagoneer 360. Don't know what year though. Was looking at my son's 72 exhaust casting number and realized that it had the same number as the 360 sitting in my shop. Worked great!!