350 chev installation requirements

[DARREN LILLY]

Hi I installed a sniper fi on the 360 but broke down 15 minutes after getting it back from the mechanic, I want to now remove the 360 & put a 350 chev in to replace it. What do I need to fit the 350 in a 79 chief it has a th400 gearbox, will it need engine mounts, exhuast, wiring, radiator, conversion plates or anything else. Looking at a 395hp vortec ready to go anyone suggest something better. Thanks

[tgreese]

Have you searched? It's been covered a lot here and on IFSJA. Plenty of step-by-step accounts. You are asking strangers to write an instruction book for you.

[Stuka]

Well, my first question is, why did it break down? Fixing a break down is going to be a whole lot easier, and cheaper than an engine swap. Even if the AMC engine threw a rod, it will be cheaper to fix than swapping to something else.

To swap in a Vortec, you are going to need at a minimum...

1. Engine Mounts
2. Transmission adapter from AMC to Vortec, provided you want to keep the TH400/QT. And note a QT may not live long behind a 400hp engine.
A. Otherwise both a transmission and a passenger drop t-case.
B. if above is true, then add in front and rear drive shafts.
3. Exhaust
4. Wiring
5. Possibly a radiator depending on what you have now
6. Custom tuned ECU
7. Fuel system, unless the one for your sniper can be made to work
8. A ton of little nickel and dime items.

And this is just what comes to mind off the top of my head. In short, a lot of work. If you are having a shop do this, its going to be expensive.

[DARREN LILLY]

Thanks stuka, amc's arent common here & hard to get parts for & usually have to order them in so usually around a week or more for delivery. Chev most parts can be bought off the shelf here & are much cheaper. I know of a similiar jeep that had a chev conversion that has driven all over the country for more than 30,000ks & hasnt missed a beat & hes still travelling now so cant ask him what the process was, thats what I want. I dont mind spending the money as long as it gets the result I want that is a good reliable engine. Spent $30,000 on this jeep so far but alls Ive got is a very nice car to look at but doesnt go good. I will use the 360 in my cj10 as it needs a new engine so not wasted & it doesnt travell too far from home so reliability not as critical. Complete crate engine cost I looked at is $9000 starting prices are around $5,000. Couple of items you mention that I didnt think of so glad I asked as I went through a heap of links that were highlighted for me to have a look at & also the novak site write up. Why it broke down I dont know but to find out will cost more money to be thrown in the pit.

[81waggy]

put a 350 TBI/4l60e in mine. PITA. I like it...but won't do it again. if your doing it yourself look at a 5.3 you can go to just about any LKQ junkyard and pull the whole drivetrain for under 1000. another 500 for the wiring harness rework, electric fan, 200 for bolt in motor mounts from novak, maybe 500 for exhaust and ~500 for new drive shafts and a couple hundred for a tune. I kept my stock radiator. needed to get a little creative with the hoses, but it stays @ 195f.

You get all the benefits of modern fuel injection.

Cheaper than brand new and still a ton of aftermarket stuff to keep it running right.