is there any v8 that is the best or easiest conversion to the jeep cherokee and can any of them mate up to an ax-15 or do you require a new tranny? cause i know the ax-15 will take quite a beating, so i am hoping to keep if for ease of install and budget reasons. any and all input is appreciated.

 

You can get a adapter kit from Advance Adapters for putting either motor in it attached to a AX15..

 

so which one is the best to do. should i use a chevy 350 or a jeep 318/360

 

The 350, as you already know, is a GM engine with a GM bellhousing pattern. The 318/360 is not a Jeep engine per se, they're actually Chrysler/Dodge LA-block engines (with the LA-block bellhousing pattern, shared by the 273, 238ci V6, and 488/515?ci V10.)

If you get a bellhousing from a V6 Dakota with an AX-15, you'll have the LA-block pattern and can do the 318/360 (although I'd suggest taking a 318 over a 360 for that application. The AX-15 can take some rough treatment, but the 360 would constitute simple abuse.)

The V8 used in Jeep, with the exception of the Buick 350 used in the late 1960's-early 1970's, was actually Gen-II/Gen-III AMC, with yet another bellhousing pattern (shared by the later 258ci and all 242ci I6.)

Any V8 into an XJ chassis is going to require a fair amount of work to fit. Not impossible - just know that you're going to be getting into a fairly difficult job...

 

found this great article. might be useful in your deciding factor. good luck.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/4bbl.html

 

I'm currently going down the road of doing either a V10 or a 360 install in a 2 door XJ...

But I'm also starting with a XJ that has zero drive line and I'll be buying a donor rig for wiring and driveline..

 

I put a 360 in mine and it wasnt all that hard. I used the transmission that came with the 360 out of a waggy and built my own motor mounts and a trans mount but if you get an adapter for the trans and keep your own trans its just a set of motor mounts. The only problem I have with mine is I havnt found room for the radiator yet but Im sure a solution will come to me

 

OK there are a lot of factors that should go into this decision. The Ax 15 while a good trans I think you will be taxing it especaily in an offroad situation. It also depends on where and what you can get for a donor. Lots of times it is easier to find a wrecked chev with a v-8 and just swap the whole drivetrain.

Then there is the lack of oil pressure in older amc V8's, Not always a problem in older Chevs. I also think You are forgeting the vulnerable ford. Lots of them to be found. Heck you can find a nice crown vic with a 5.0. Do lots of research. Make sure you put your rig on the ATKINS diet..NO CARBS.

 

i thought about the 5.0 moter, cause i can pick one up for like 300-400 with a blown head gasket, put some afr heads on it with fel pro head gaskets (850 for the pair of heads) and i got a motor that is small and produces about 360 hp. but i havent seen a write up about it yet

 

everyone says a AX-15 can hold the power of a mild v8... but nobody in there right mind would do a v8 swap and it be like a 327 or something smaller... whats the point... even if they did they wouldn leave it stock... and beef it up to the power of 350... should have done a stock 350 in the first place... but then who puts a 350 in there jeep and doesnt at least somewhat built it... aka larger carb or heads or whatever... then... you kill the tranny after spending the money on all the adapters... and go buy the tranny that was behind the motor in the first place... bottom line you would have to have ALOT of self control not to want more power after ANY v8 swap... with the ending result being another tranny... JMO

 

nothing wrong with a Ford explorer 5.0 and a 4r70W...great running combo...

 

Can you do a swap like this in California where you live with Smog Laws?

 

AMC 401, ftw!

...that is all

 

may as well gut the fenders out and drop in a caddy motor... i wonder whats the biggest motor thatll fit in between the frame rails... and under the hood... with a custom cowl induction hood that seems to be popular... hhhmmm...

 

i was also thinking about the 4.6L stroker strait 6....looks nice.