Turbo vs engine swap

[Wildman]

5.3 iron blocks engines are REALLY inexpensive. Like I see them quite a bit for 500 bucks. Sure, it might have 180-200 thousand miles on it, but for low buck, its REALLY tough to beat that.

The prices have come down where you're at then but out here in WA they are still $1500+. Granted you can't buy a used Durango or Ram or Dakota or GC for under $1K anymore either but wiring wise IMO the magnum for a cheap V-8 is still the better option. But if your goal is to make 400+ HP then yes a LS or Hemi is the way to go.

 

[Gollywomper]

The prices have come down where you're at then but out here in WA they are still $1500+. Granted you can't buy a used Durango or Ram or Dakota or GC for under $1K anymore either but wiring wise IMO the magnum for a cheap V-8 is still the better option. But if your goal is to make 400+ HP then yes a LS or Hemi is the way to go.

The magnum is by far the easiest. None of it makes much sense. Big tires and horsepower to go climb a rock….. or hill……or cruise the mall.
Where does it end? A V8 will end up destroying my TJ lockers and possibly shafts. So then you’re looking at axles as well. All that to run 35s?
A turbo on a 2.5 makes the least amount of practical sense. But I’m leaning that way if I can find someone to help in the parts selection portion of the build. It is a ways off yet. But never too early to start gathering parts perhaps.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

… None of it makes much sense. Big tires and horsepower to go climb a rock….. or hill……or cruise the mall.….

Yeah, but I rule the local malls….

 

[Apparition]

Yeah, but I rule the local malls….

It’s all about the on ramps.

 

[williambmac]

Last thing I wanna smell all day is a diesel. They stink. Lol

I hate the smell of diesel. I hated working on them. One drop on your clothes and you smell it all day.

 

[RINC]

So mush freedom. Twin turbo BBC.

 

[Rickyd]

I hate the smell of diesel. I hated working on them. One drop on your clothes and you smell it all day.

The smell of freedom!

 

[Rickyd]

A V8 will end up destroying my TJ lockers and possibly shafts. So then you’re looking at axles as well. All that to run 35s?

that is my concern as well with my stroker. arb's are in my future

 

[Gollywomper]

that is my concern as well with my stroker. arb's are in my future

That’s why mine was for sale for a short time. By the time I do all that I may as well start over with a fresh rig/build.
After more thought I realized I like everything about my Jeep other than under powered on the high way.
So where to go from here………

 

[Wildman]

That’s why mine was for sale for a short time. By the time I do all that I may as well start over with a fresh rig/build.
After more thought I realized I like everything about my Jeep other than under powered on the high way.
So where to go from here………

Just for the record CJ's were offered with 304 CI engine & either Dana 44 or Model 20 rear axles and Dana 30 front axles. I've known many to run up to 36" tires on those axles without any major issues.
As far as your concerns with the Dana 35 & Dana 30's that came stock in the Jeep Forum thread I've linked before with the magnum swaps more than one person ran their stock 4 cyl axles for more than a year after doing the V-8 swap. So whichever engine you might happen to decide on your axles could be OK for a while.
Your D300 was also used behind the V-8. The ONE issue is that you'd have to swap out from the 21 spline to a 23 spline input.

Honestly since you like the way your rigs setup already even if it isn't the cheapest option I still think your idea of doing the turbo on your 4 cyl might be the best option.

 

[Rickyd]

That’s why mine was for sale for a short time. By the time I do all that I may as well start over with a fresh rig/build.
After more thought I realized I like everything about my Jeep other than under powered on the high way.
So where to go from here………

lots of possibilities.upgrades and motor work/swap?

Buy a 6 cyl jeep,park it next to yours and swap all the cool stuff over.then sell a complete 4cyl jeep to recoupe some costs?(kinda sounds like the cheapest way to "start over" and keep your mods at the same time)

My brother started with a fire breathing 4 cyl auto tj. We upgraded it til it had a v8 and 36's.

I don't know that a couple lockers and a v8 swap means you need to start over though.taken one step at a time its manageable. Won't be cheap though

 

[Rickyd]

Just for the record CJ's were offered with 304 CI engine & either Dana 44 or Model 20 rear axles and Dana 30 front axles. I've known many to run up to 36" tires on those axles without any major issues.
As far as your concerns with the Dana 35 & Dana 30's that came stock in the Jeep Forum thread I've linked before with the magnum swaps more than one person ran their stock 4 cyl axles for more than a year after doing the V-8 swap. So whichever engine you might happen to decide on your axles could be OK for a while.
Your D300 was also used behind the V-8. The ONE issue is that you'd have to swap out from the 21 spline to a 23 spline input.

Honestly since you like the way your rigs setup already even if it isn't the cheapest option I still think your idea of doing the turbo on your 4 cyl might be the best option.

he has rubicon axles. The lockers don't like any abuse

 

[Wildman]

Won't be cheap though

Never is

 

[Wildman]

he has rubicon axles. The lockers don't like any abuse

OK & yes they don't.

 

[Gollywomper]

Just for the record CJ's were offered with 304 CI engine & either Dana 44 or Model 20 rear axles and Dana 30 front axles. I've known many to run up to 36" tires on those axles without any major issues.
As far as your concerns with the Dana 35 & Dana 30's that came stock in the Jeep Forum thread I've linked before with the magnum swaps more than one person ran their stock 4 cyl axles for more than a year after doing the V-8 swap. So whichever engine you might happen to decide on your axles could be OK for a while.
Your D300 was also used behind the V-8. The ONE issue is that you'd have to swap out from the 21 spline to a 23 spline input.

Honestly since you like the way your rigs setup already even if it isn't the cheapest option I still think your idea of doing the turbo on your 4 cyl might be the best option.

A mild turbo would check the needed boxes. It will come with a possible tranny upgrade shortly after due to added stress on the 4cyl trans. It all has a ripple effect of some sort.

 

[Wildman]

A mild turbo would check the needed boxes. It will come with a possible tranny upgrade shortly after due to added stress on the 4cyl trans. It all has a ripple effect of some sort.

Yes I don't think the AX5 would live long. I'd started off wanting to do a AX15 swap because I was going to supercharge my 2.5 and had called Backwoods Off-Road looking for the bellhousing when I convinced me to do the V-8 swap instead.

 

[Rickyd]

Yes I don't think the AX5 would live long. I'd started off wanting to do a AX15 swap because I was going to supercharge my 2.5 and had called Backwoods Off-Road looking for the bellhousing when I convinced me to do the V-8 swap instead.

Those guys were in roseburg?

I wish the site was still up. There was a lot of good info there

 

[Gollywomper]

lots of possibilities.upgrades and motor work/swap?

Buy a 6 cyl jeep,park it next to yours and swap all the cool stuff over.then sell a complete 4cyl jeep to recoupe some costs?(kinda sounds like the cheapest way to "start over" and keep your mods at the same time)

My brother started with a fire breathing 4 cyl auto tj. We upgraded it til it had a v8 and 36's.

I don't know that a couple lockers and a v8 swap means you need to start over though.taken one step at a time its manageable. Won't be cheap though

The 6 cylinder rig swap is definitely a possibility too. If the right rig came along. Maybe the right salvaged rig. Who knows. That is a realistic option.

 

[Wildman]

Those guys were in roseburg?

I wish the site was still up. There was a lot of good info there

Grants Pass. I had issues with the swap he did but he's not in business anymore. And I wasn't the only one that I've come across after the fact that has said the something.

 

[Rickyd]

Grants Pass. I had issues with the swap he did but he's not in business anymore. And I wasn't the only one that I've come across after the fact that has said the something.

By the time we did my brothers 5.2l/44re from a wrecked gc evan was getting sick and his son or somebody was doing a lot of the work. It took a non skim(1500) ecm and a little wire work to get the backwoods harness sorted if i remember right