chevy swap? jeep body swap?

registration45

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Im trying to decide if i want to swap the 350 into the YJ, or shorten the frame on the '84 chevy shortbed and put the jeep body on it? any suggestions are welcome!!
 
plus the GM 1/2 ton frame's are prone to cracking around the steering box and motor mounts and rotting out in the rear.

Lastly, a jeep body on a chevy frame looks like a 1/2 arse POS IMHO

put the 350 into the yj frame, the frame is plenty strong enough.
 
I've been weighting the options here. i really think putting the jeep body on the chevy frame is the most cost effective way to go. im still up in the air with it tho, if anyone has any pictures of it i would love to see them.
 

if your going ta put it on a chevy frame u might as well just set it on a full size blazer frame the 350 swap into the yj is fairly simple and the frames hold up very well to a 350 with no problems
 
I've been weighting the options here. i really think putting the jeep body on the chevy frame is the most cost effective way to go. im still up in the air with it tho, if anyone has any pictures of it i would love to see them.

how is this more cost effective
first off swapping a motor and trans is cheaper and easier than all the modifying it will take to get jeep body to fit chevy frame and more time consuming
I installed a 4.3 ,sm465 , into a 3b in about 8 hrs and I was by myself doing it .cost me under $1000. and that includes the donor truck and all parts motor mounts ,adapter for transfer case and all the other odds and end parts I used and when I finished I made another $300.scraping the donor
I had a cj on a blazer frame when I was younger it looked and drove like crap
but to each is own like my granddad always said:shades:
 
i personaly woundnt put the jeep on the chevy frame !!!!! do the motor swap u will like it so so much better and it will perform awesome here is a pic with a 383 stroker sbc in a cj
 

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another 350 swap... yawn.
yeah i don't care about your opinion..... anyway i guess im going with the 350 into my frame. I got this truck from a buddy, it's a worked over 350 punched.040 over rebuild 2 years ago. its a 1/2 ton body on a 3/4 ton frame and axles. i don't care how far the axles stick out, i'm runnin' it. I can make sick wide fender flares, I would still like to see pics if anyone has them of this swap!
 
Not really sure which way you decided to go. You've only said "putting the 350 on my frame"... hopefully this means you're using the jeep frame. The chevy frames, as stated earlier, are VERY weak, and unreliable around the steering box mount. I have cracked three separate frames in that very spot not even doing anything all that serious as far as wheeling goes. If you're looking for cost effective, you'd be much better off using the jeep frame in the long run, but if you insist on using the chevy frame, they do make a weld-on plate for that area for the very reason that it cracks so easily. But really, that only goes to show you that its a major and well known problem .... just my .02... take it for whatever its worth to you. Good luck. Let us know how it all turns out.
 

Here's a 91 TPI motor from a corvette ZR1 in a YJ:
 

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I did a 283 chevy small block and a turbo 350 in my 92 yj and it was simple enough.....
 

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Ooooooooo that's purrdy.......... maybe I can see it out on a trail some time......

Originally Posted by 56cj5
That is effffing sick!!! Great rig!!

Thanx fellas....I'm building it for a buddy of mine...he wanted a "hotrod Jeep" lol....he may do a few small trails....but i seriously doubt he'll topple anything larger than a coke can lol.
 
I did a 283 chevy small block and a turbo 350 in my 92 yj and it was simple enough.....


what kind of mileage do you see with your motor/transmission swap?

i figure that my 79 step side with a stock 350 and turbo 350 got 14mpg with the ac on, in that body and frame. a jeep wrangler has to be lighter then a 79 chevy truck so i would hope that gas mileage increases a bit from the stock 4.2 (for me). i am happy when i get 14 with no ac in my wrangler.
 

superj said:
what kind of mileage do you see with your motor/transmission swap?

i figure that my 79 step side with a stock 350 and turbo 350 got 14mpg with the ac on, in that body and frame. a jeep wrangler has to be lighter then a 79 chevy truck so i would hope that gas mileage increases a bit from the stock 4.2 (for me). i am happy when i get 14 with no ac in my wrangler.

if I keep my foot out of it "wich is hard to do at times" im around 13-14 but its not a stock 283....... And if 4wd is in it goes down.. Thats why I bought a 97 xj with a 3 inch lift and 31s to drive daily
 
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