[tjred]

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.

 

[tjred]

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.

 

[tjred]

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

 

[tjred]

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]

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.

 

[tjred]

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]

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.

 

[tjred]

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!