Chevy 350 swap help!!!

20209 Views 23 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Rosebud83, Jun 28, 2015

tjred

Discussion Starter · Mar 10, 2015

Well its finally time for me to ask for some help. My lovely 1998 jeep tj with 4 cylinder,5 speed manual is slowly breaking down. Just noticed a knock in my engine and I have been constantly doing research on doing a chevy 350 swap now for months. This is what I have in it right now for mods. 2" body lift, 4" suspension lift (Air ride suspension), and 33" tires. Everything else is stock. I have a chevy 350 engine carb. that I just rebuilt. I can hear it now from everyone I should TBI instead but I like carb engines. The problem is I have no wiring harness that came with the engine. I used the engine for a derby motor so I never needed the wiring harness so got rid of it.

So what I need help with is, will not having the wiring harness kill me when swapping, what auto transmission should I install (been thinking about 4L60e and using the transfer case that comes with it), is doing the ford 8.8 rear axle swap difficult to do or is there an easier cheaper way or could I just change my gear ratio in my crappy 35 that I have now? Any guidance and help would be great. I have looked into this for a long time now looking at other threads and novak and still want to clear up as much as possible.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

fattirewilly

· #2 · Mar 11, 2015

What year engine and TJ?
What state inspection requirements?

These are big issues many places. Often the engine needs to be newer or equal in age, and factory type emissions present. A carbed 350 may be starting with 2 strikes against you.

You'll need to upgrade the d35

tjred

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 11, 2015

ill try and remember the year engine I have, bought it from friend a couple years back, but it will be going in my 1998 tj. The emissions inspection ive looked up and do not have to have inspected from where im from. I am all good when it comes to the law and made sure it would be okay.

88Hatchy

· #4 · Mar 11, 2015

Using a carbureted engine in a TJ is a poor choice. TBI is just as bad.

tjred

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 11, 2015

may I ask why you think it is a poor choice?

Nlburden

· #6 · Mar 11, 2015

I think it would be nice, I have a buddy with a bored out chevy 350 in his S10 pick up, the truck is awesome. Gives me goosebumps when I hear the engine rumbling. The 8.8 Isn't that hard to install, theres a good write up just above. You will need the TJ brackets and stuff, but it isn't that bad to install. Can't help you out with wiring the engine because i have no experience, but I would love to have a 350 if I had a 4 cylinder. Pretty content with the 4.0 L but the 350 would be great. Good luck with it!

88Hatchy

· #7 · Mar 11, 2015

tjred said:
may I ask why you think it is a poor choice?

Fuel economy and power output are too low for the cost involved with the swap.

tjred

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 11, 2015

88Hatchy said:
Fuel economy and power output are too low for the cost involved with the swap.

To be honest I don't care about the fuel economy since I only drive it in a small town. Power I see what you mean but I already have this engine rebuilt and set up in a way that I know it should run perfectly and anything is better than the 4 banger I have in there now for power.

tjred

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 11, 2015

I'm just looking for help with the questions that I asked, I like the decision I made with what engine type. so if anyone could help out that be great.

Reactions: 1

UnlimitedLJ04

· #10 · Mar 11, 2015

putting a carb'd 350 in your Jeep is a giant leap backwards.

I'd rather have a fuelie 2.5L 4-cyl over a carb 350...all day long and twice on sundays.

This is coming from somebody that has actually owned a Chevy truck with a carb'd 350 putting out around 350hp.

tjred said:
I'm just looking for help with the questions that I asked, I like the decision I made with what engine type. so if anyone could help out that be great.

if you want help and guidance then here you go: rebuild the 2.5L and call it a day. put your money into the 2.5L, the axles and the gearing.

88Hatchy

· #11 · Mar 11, 2015

UnlimitedLJ04 said:
putting a carb'd 350 in your Jeep is a giant leap backwards.

I'd rather have a fuelie 2.5L 4-cyl over a carb 350...all day long and twice on sundays.

if you want help and guidance then here you go: rebuild the 2.5L and call it a day. put your money into the 2.5L, the axles and the gearing.

X2

I have no problems turning 35" tires with my 2.5L; it even tows an 18' boat without much drama. Get the right gears in the right axles and you won't need more power.

fattirewilly

· #12 · Mar 11, 2015

tjred said:
The problem is I have no wiring harness that came with the engine. I used the engine for a derby motor so I never needed the wiring harness so got rid of it.

So what I need help with is, will not having the wiring harness kill me when swapping, what auto transmission should I install (been thinking about 4L60e and using the transfer case that comes with it), is doing the ford 8.8 rear axle swap difficult to do or is there an easier cheaper way or could I just change my gear ratio in my crappy 35 that I have now? Any guidance and help would be great. I have looked into this for a long time now looking at other threads and novak and still want to clear up as much as possible.

You want to retain the factory harness unless you want aftermarket gauges. Just read a thread where someone balled the whole factory harness against the firewall and left stock PCM in place. Added new harness, new computer, and used just a couple inputs needed for gauges on the old harness.

Is your 350 computer controlled? The "e" in 4l60e is for electric or computer controlled. If you have an old school 350, look at just a 4l60. Otherwise a 4l60 is a good small block trans.

8.8 is a good option but not a bolt in like a 44. The 44 probably not as cheap.

tjred

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 11, 2015

everyone is so caught up on my carb 350 when I know a few people with them and have seen several people on here with them and they love it and I know I will. so lets please moved passed that and get to the questions I really need help with lol

tjred

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 11, 2015

fattirewilly said:
You want to retain the factory harness unless you want aftermarket gauges. Just read a thread where someone balled the whole factory harness against the firewall and left stock PCM in place. Added new harness, new computer, and used just a couple inputs needed for gauges on the old harness.

Is your 350 computer controlled? The "e" in 4l60e is for electric or computer controlled. If you have an old school 350, look at just a 4l60. Otherwise a 4l60 is a good small block trans.

8.8 is a good option but not a bolt in like a 44. The 44 probably not as cheap.

thank you for keeping to what im asking instead of telling me not to even do it. but its an old school chevy 350 and I knew that 4l60e was electric controlled so I just thought maybe it would somehow work. what about a th700r4? I keep hearing those are good to swap in too. ill more than likely go with the 8.8 swap. but I am really just worried about that wiring harness. I figured I would have to change my gauges because from what I read on here people have problems with the oil pressure gauge and end up swaping out their gauges anyways.

fattirewilly

· #15 · Mar 11, 2015

Take a look at Hotwire owned by Tony Squier. He can answer all your wiring questions.

With no PCM, and if you want an electronic controlled trans, Powertrain Control Solutions makes programable transmission computers. It does add a layer of cost and complexity when a mechanical trans seems more at home with a carbed 350. Some trans mechanics still only work on non-electric transmissions....and typewriter repair used to be an occupation.

fattirewilly

· #16 · Mar 11, 2015

Take a look at Hotwire owned by Tony Squier. He can answer all your wiring questions.

With no PCM, and if you want an electronic controlled trans, Powertrain Control Solutions makes programable transmission computers. It does add a layer of cost and complexity when a mechanical trans seems more at home with a carbed 350. Some trans mechanics still only work on non-electric transmissions....and typewriter repair used to be an occupation.

T800

· #17 · Mar 11, 2015

The 350 with a 700R4 would be a sweet setup. Don't think you need any computer controls with the 700R4 or a pre '93 4L60 (same tranny). Novak has more info The GM TH700R4 & 4L60E Transmission - Novak Conversions

I'd rather have a fuelie 2.5L 4-cyl over a carb 350...all day long and twice on sundays.

Huh?

blunova71

· #18 · Mar 11, 2015

I just did a 350 swap on a yj, canned the factory gauges and put autometer gauge cluster in, all worked fine .We are running a turbo 350, bought all parts for the swap from advanced adapters, and the 8.8 brackets and e brake cables from more off road.

AOR

· #19 · Mar 12, 2015

Gut your wiring and use this.

26 Circuit Customizable Weatherproof Off Road Chassis HarnessDetails | Painless Performance

Get new guages, manual valve body 700R4, atlas 3.8, 8.8 rear, call it a day. I am sure you can call them and have them help you adapt your column to the harness. Or maybe send in your column harness and have them do that part prior to shipping the kit.

tjred

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 12, 2015

thanks for all the different wiring websites. to just make things simple for me I decided to just go to a local junkyard and found a 1994 gmc Yukon with a 5.7L with the 4l60e trans. and the transfer case that comes with that as well. ill just rebuild the engine myself and have the trans and transfer cased look at while I rebuild the engine. I figured this way will be easier since everything came together so less adaptors needed. the wiring im probably just going to have sent out to one of these website. thanks for the help!

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