390 in a wrangler?

[olivesta500]

alright, i have a buddy who has a 390 out of a 76 ford f250 2wd camper special. im contemplating buying it for cheap. it ran fine when he pulled it out, he drove the truck to the shop and took it out and its at the shop. it had a auto transmission on the back of it, so obviously i would need to get a flywheel. im planning on later buying a NV4500 and adapter to put it on the 390.

ive heard all about how engine swaps take forever and cost tons of money, but i wouldnt be swapping in it right away, id be keeping the engine until i get the transmission and transfer case (probably next summer). ive seen a carbureated engine swap first hand so i know or can get advice on what needs to be done.

my major question is would this big block 390 fit in my jeep? would the engine mounts be a problem? should i worry about the weight of the engine? is the 390 an engine worth putting in a jeep? anything im forgetting? what are your guys opinions on this? the engine and transmission would be a cool project to work on and im in no rush to get it in my jeep. but if i do get it in there the stock 400ft/lbs torque would be nice ;) thanks guys

[kwrangln]

You couldn't pay me to give up a fuel injected 4 banger (let alone a 6) for a caruberated v-8 no matter what size it was or how much power it had sitting on flat ground. I've idled past too many caruberated rigs while they were belching smoke and trying to burn up starters when the going got steep.

My $.02

[cesario]

We`re finishing a carb`GM350 motor swap on a 4banger TJ. The 4 cyl motor was fuel injected full electronics and it doesnt have power regardless the super duper fuel injection system.

By the other side, this carburated old fashioned motor its still a GM350 V8 and it doubles the injected crap in power.

I had run this carb`motor for 2 years on my Suburban b4 I totalled it, and it never ever had troubles starting it (last gen. carb. motor) and it never had any issues off roading at step angles or so. just my 2 cents-

Re:390 in a Wrangler?
Well I think it should kick ass in everyway.

[wissemeier05]

BILL!!! who the hell are u gettin this from?

...i wil donate the garage space,engion hoist and such when the day comes ...bring it on!!!!

i got a bud at CAS that can help us rebuild it if we wana bring it back to stock...(really not that expensive and then we know its good for a while)....
and do not hold me to it but i think he has a few dead full size trucks in his yard and 2 of them might be fuel injected...soooo.....we might be able to make a really kick ass fule injected 390...remind me to give him a call

[olivesta500]

dan, i could tell you who im getting it from but then id have to kill you... unless youre able to get me hooked up with fuel injection, then ill tell you.

alright kw has got me thinking... ive driven a carbureated vehicle before, but never offroad. and from the first 2 responses my understanding is still the same as before. it seems some people hate carbs for offroad and some people couldnt care if they have FI or carb.

never having driven a carbureated vehicle offroad, are they really that bad? i might buy the engine and C6 tranny for super cheap and then sell them again if the engine doesnt end up in my jeep.

anyway, still looking for opinions on the 390, im not sure if its 2v or 4v but for now im gonna assume its 2v. anyone have any experiance with them? anyone ever heard of fitting a big block in a yj? about the carb or not issue, would it be worth it to put on a new better suited for offroad carb (seeing as how this might be a while before its in my jeep im in no hurry)?

[wissemeier05]

-bill once i get mine back togther you can take it for a spin offroad ;) then u know what carburated feels like..

-john boy can hook u up w/a dammm good carb if the FI falls through...he has like 3 for his 360 just laying around....

[kwrangln]

Problem is carb's rely on a fuel bowl with a float to meter how much fuel is in the bowl. Tilt this bowl and it will open the needle reguardless of the fact that the bowl is open adn flood the engine. Some carbs are better than others. Quadrajet is one that comes to mind as being close to the best when mounted backwards. Holly makes an off road carb as well that has longer vent tubes that are I believe crossconnected and uses side mounted float. Best bet would be ditch the carb and go propane, poor mans injection. Since the pane is a gas under pressure, it doesn't care what angle its at.

Seen too many carbs flood and stall when they stand on their tailgates.

Something else to think about is emissions testing, if they dont have it where you are now, they may in the future. Most states require the engine to be from the same class of vehicle (no car engines in trucks or vice versa), and the same year as the vehicle or newer with full emmissions in tact.

[olivesta500]

Originally posted by kwrangln:
Something else to think about is emissions testing, if they dont have it where you are now, they may in the future. Most states require the engine to be from the same class of vehicle (no car engines in trucks or vice versa), and the same year as the vehicle or newer with full emmissions in tact. somebody correct me if im wrong, but i think in our area they did away with e-check as of yesterday, but the last time i heard anything about that was a few months ago. and i had my jeep e-checked in february of this year so the next time i would have to get it checked is february 2007 and by then im almost positive there wont be any e-checks. as for the engine being from the same class of vehicle, im not to sure on the local laws for that. id have to do some research. dan, you would know more about this kinda stuff than i would. what was the deal you went through with emissions and stuff?

[wissemeier05]

bill...its gone...as of, well, yesterday.. that is why i was allowed to swap my motor smile.gif
e-chek is forever gone..they are trying to enstate something else but it is never gonna make it into law..


but i do have the easy way out for me at least..i do have a good freind of mine w/a white 4cylinder jeep....

just as long as you donot run strait pipes,drive like an ass, or get pulled over by a cheiviot cop your good...

[edudley]

The 390 is a pretty old motor. I don't remember when Ford quit making it but its been quite a while. It was a pretty good motor but it is also very heavy. I have no problem with carburated engines if they are done right. I will put mine on just about any hill a Jeep can climb. I have done it for years. I covered just about every hill at Tellico never had a carb problem. Its all in knowing how to set them up. I like mine because I can carry any potential repair parts I may need for my Motorcraft and my HEI distrubutor in a small tool box. I even carry a TPS for my electronic buddies when they get in a little too much water. I do like fuel injection especially in my truck and my wifes car. I just believe in Keep It Simple Stupid out on the trail.

Back to the original question. if it were me I would give Ford a thought but I think I would pick the venerable 289 or 302 for power in the Jeep.

[olivesta500]

Originally posted by edudley:
It was a pretty good motor but it is also very heavy... Back to the original question. if it were me I would give Ford a thought but I think I would pick the venerable 289 or 302 for power in the Jeep. that is one thing im worried about is the weight. i havent found anything on how much heavier a 390 is than say the 302. are we talking like i would have to add 3 leaves to the front suspension to level it out or is it heavy but not so heavy that it is a problem?
what are your reasons for picking the 289 or 302 over the 390? for the weight and size? thanks for all the input guys

[OhioYJ]

The weight depends on the 390 blocks, many of the 390 blocks are identical to 427 blocks, they just have a smaller bore. However not all 390 blocks are like that, some are thin wall some are thicker. The truck 390 block my dad is using in the Cougar was bored mildly (maybe thats an understatment), .110 over then stroked.

Most 302s weigh in somewhere between 410-450 lbs. A stock 89 GT 5.0 intakes and all (no fluids) weighs 411 lbs. Most of the FE motors weighed 650-670 lbs. Aluminum heads for the FE blocks make a pretty big difference though, as I can tell you from expierence, a set of 428 Cobra Jet heads weigh a ton, Edelbrock's Alumminum heads feel pop cans after picking up a set of the cast iron heads off an FE.

Have you taken any rough measurements, FE blocks are fairly wide, and kind of tall, compared to a 302.

390s have a good amount of torque everywhere, but even with a pretty radical cam, they won't be a high revving motor, they just don't seem to like high RPMs.

Anyways, have you priced big block Ford parts, they are kind of high, using a complete 5.0 Mustang motor, I honestly think would be a better idea. The 5.0 could make the same amount of power, get 20 MPG, and still have more low end torque than you probably need.

Any other questions, shoot, I can always ask my Dad he's really knowledgeable in big block Fords, and small block Fords for that matter. Hes built plenty of both.

[olivesta500]

ehh, i did some research and im starting to want to keep my 4.0 for a little bit. the weight and size were the 2 things i was most concerned about.
i still probably will buy the motor and trans and sell them again, hell 200$ for a (was) running 390 and C6 tranny in descent shape cant be too bad for the prices im seeing on ebay. and yeah i guess parts for them are a little on the expensive side.

as for the 5.0, im not really urgent to get a new motor, this just seems like a good opportunity to get a big motor relatively cheap. and i trust the guy im getting it from.

mike, i do have one question. whats the difference in the 2v and 4v 390s? is that 2 valve and 4 valve? im a little confused on that one. thanks

[wissemeier05]

bill lets get a bender and make one beast of a mud buggy :D hahaha that would be fun

-i have 1 slightly (hahaha) twisted frame we can build off

[zachv]

My question is when has anyone really needed more power off road? Unless you are pushing 44s through mud bogs power does nothing but break parts. Most trail riding is about being graceful and going slow enough to pick the best line. A little wheel speed can help at times, but with decent gearing the 4.0 should be able to spin just about whatever you put on for tires if the gearing is right.

[hard core XJ offroader]

yea i'm keeping the 4.0 i got. if it's not enough power then re-gear it or put some engine mods on it. i dunno if the 390 would fit but i have a 390 in a 1969 ford ranch wagon. that motor is a great motor. i would deffinatly have a holley truck avenger carb on it though.

[Tumbleweed]

2v=2venturi carb=2 barrel
4v=4 venturi carb=4 barrel

[olivesta500]

ahh, i get it now. lot looks like this 390 is a 2v. anyway, with you guys help ive decided against putting the 390 in my jeep. i was just overcome for a little bit by the guy gene that wants more power. oh well, i know where i can get a 390 and c6 for cheap if anyone wants it. ;) thanks guys

[Idiot Magnet]

Think about the edelbrock performer RPM intake to lighten the load and it's a great performing intake. Check to see if the exhaust from the truck (vertical 8 bolt pattern will work) in your vehicle or you can retap 6 extra holes and mount the exhaust manifolds from a 67-69 Mustang.
They are a heavy and a wide engine for that engine compartment. The truck 390's are generally a much lower compression engine as well. Do some mild porting and polishing and let those heads breath and you'll get plenty of torque and HP. You'll need lots of upgrades to handle all that torque.
I'm running a 390 w/ 428Cj heads, edelbrock intake, holley carb, 4spd and 3.50 gears in my 69 mach 1. It's going through a complete restoration right now and it will be even nicer when I'm done.

[RoCKSToRM]

how can i find out if my area has emissions testing and such like that??

[OhioYJ]

You would know if you had emmisions testing in your area, we did have to get our vehicles tested when we re-newed our tags.

[CJ7nvrstk]

Originally posted by olivesta500:
ahh, i get it now. lot looks like this 390 is a 2v. anyway, with you guys help ive decided against putting the 390 in my jeep. i was just overcome for a little bit by the guy gene that wants more power. oh well, i know where i can get a 390 and c6 for cheap if anyone wants it. ;) thanks guys DAMN. I wish you were closer. I would love to have that motor.. I'm currently running a built 360 but still have people that can beat me at the sand drags. :mad: Oh well.