Intro/Difference between AMC 304 and 360

Greetings. I've been browsing the group but this is my first post.
I've been a CJ owner since around 1990; I'm on my second one right now.
Had a break in ownership while I was stationed overseas.

Here's my question. I recently did a swap from a 258 to a 304 in the
Jeep. I rebuilt the 304 mostly on my own and as this was my first
attempt, it is now broken. (I'm overseas again and my wife said the
guy at the shop said, it was a piston skirt).

Anyway, if I need to rebuild this thing (again) I thought I might as
well "upgrade" to a 360. Is this possible? What are the differences
and what would I have to change? Just the crank, rods and heads?

I've googled the heck out of this and can;t find anything.

Thanks in advance for any help and have a cold one on me while you
think about it.

The difference is 56.




"83 CJ" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Greetings. I've been browsing the group but this is my first post.
> I've been a CJ owner since around 1990; I'm on my second one right now.
> Had a break in ownership while I was stationed overseas.
>
> Here's my question. I recently did a swap from a 258 to a 304 in the
> Jeep. I rebuilt the 304 mostly on my own and as this was my first
> attempt, it is now broken. (I'm overseas again and my wife said the
> guy at the shop said, it was a piston skirt).
>
> Anyway, if I need to rebuild this thing (again) I thought I might as
> well "upgrade" to a 360. Is this possible? What are the differences
> and what would I have to change? Just the crank, rods and heads?
>
> I've googled the heck out of this and can;t find anything.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help and have a cold one on me while you
> think about it.
>

Here is another angle for you to think about. How about a 4.2 crank in a
4.0 block using the factory fuel injection? Good emssions, decent mileage
and the reliabililty of modern fuel injection. Join the Strokers Group and
spend some time poking around. This is the way that I am going when the time
comes. 275 ponies and over 300 lbs/feet of torque, those are V-8 numbers,
without the addded weight of a V-8 up front. I have included a couple of
more very good sites with lots of great information. Dino Savva has done a
tremendous job with the second website.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/strokers
http://www.jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/stroker.html
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/


"83 CJ" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Greetings. I've been browsing the group but this is my first post.
> I've been a CJ owner since around 1990; I'm on my second one right now.
> Had a break in ownership while I was stationed overseas.
>
> Here's my question. I recently did a swap from a 258 to a 304 in the
> Jeep. I rebuilt the 304 mostly on my own and as this was my first
> attempt, it is now broken. (I'm overseas again and my wife said the
> guy at the shop said, it was a piston skirt).
>
> Anyway, if I need to rebuild this thing (again) I thought I might as
> well "upgrade" to a 360. Is this possible? What are the differences
> and what would I have to change? Just the crank, rods and heads?
>
> I've googled the heck out of this and can;t find anything.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help and have a cold one on me while you
> think about it.
>

The 360", 390", and 401"s will bolt straight in, no surprises such
as externally balanced flywheels found with other engine manufactures:
The only way you may tell them apart is by their cast cubic inch number
found under the driver's side engine mount:
http://www.planethoustonamx.com/part...lockdsside.jpg
An AMC site may be helpful: http://www.amcrc.com/tech/tech.html
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

83 CJ wrote:
>
> Greetings. I've been browsing the group but this is my first post.
> I've been a CJ owner since around 1990; I'm on my second one right now.
> Had a break in ownership while I was stationed overseas.
>
> Here's my question. I recently did a swap from a 258 to a 304 in the
> Jeep. I rebuilt the 304 mostly on my own and as this was my first
> attempt, it is now broken. (I'm overseas again and my wife said the
> guy at the shop said, it was a piston skirt).
>
> Anyway, if I need to rebuild this thing (again) I thought I might as
> well "upgrade" to a 360. Is this possible? What are the differences
> and what would I have to change? Just the crank, rods and heads?
>
> I've googled the heck out of this and can;t find anything.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help and have a cold one on me while you
> think about it.

The AMC 304" V8 weighs in at 540 pounds:
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/hemi5.html that's less than your six.
And why settle for 275 horse when you could find a stock AMC with
340: http://www.billhughes.com/amchpchart.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Jeff White wrote:
>
> Here is another angle for you to think about. How about a 4.2 crank in a
> 4.0 block using the factory fuel injection? Good emssions, decent mileage
> and the reliabililty of modern fuel injection. Join the Strokers Group and
> spend some time poking around. This is the way that I am going when the time
> comes. 275 ponies and over 300 lbs/feet of torque, those are V-8 numbers,
> without the addded weight of a V-8 up front. I have included a couple of
> more very good sites with lots of great information. Dino Savva has done a
> tremendous job with the second website.
>
> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/strokers
> http://www.jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/stroker.html
> http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/

83 CJ wrote:
>
> Anyway, if I need to rebuild this thing (again) I thought I might as
> well "upgrade" to a 360. Is this possible? What are the differences
> and what would I have to change? Just the crank, rods and heads?

Try <www.froadin.com> Go to the tech forum. There's a lot of
information on there about the 360 & 304, including parts
interchangeability, and some experience and how-to stories.
TrailMarker.

Externally, they're the same!

Jerry

wrote:
> 83 CJ wrote:
>
>>Anyway, if I need to rebuild this thing (again) I thought I might as
>>well "upgrade" to a 360. Is this possible? What are the differences
>>and what would I have to change? Just the crank, rods and heads?
>
>
> Try <www.froadin.com> Go to the tech forum. There's a lot of
> information on there about the 360 & 304, including parts
> interchangeability, and some experience and how-to stories.
> TrailMarker.
>

--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

Bill
Where did you come up with the weight for the 258? The heaviest weight I
could find was 525 lbs; less that what you produced for the V-8.
Also, pre-1972 horsepower figures were gross, not net. No emissions
equipment, no alternator, no power steering pump. Not exactly real world.
That accounts for the most of the large difference in horsepower numbers
between the two pages.
Yes, there is nothing like the sound of a V-8. But the reality, for most
of us in this country, is that emission testing is becoming mandatory and
fuel prices are becoming an issue.
The stroked 4.0 offers decent mileage(around 20mpg), the ability to pass
emission standards that a 1970's V-8 can't and the reliabilty and economy of
modern fuel-injection. With at least 275 lb/ft of torque at 1500 rpm and
over 300 lb/ft from 2000-4500 rpm, even a person that only offroads his CJ
could be happy.
If the 0-60 and quarter/mile times that Dino posted on his website for
his XJ are accurate; then a 4.0 stroker in something as light as a CJ could
be running about dead even with the new GTOs and Mustangs.



"L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> The AMC 304" V8 weighs in at 540 pounds:
> http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/hemi5.html that's less than your six.
> And why settle for 275 horse when you could find a stock AMC with
> 340: http://www.billhughes.com/amchpchart.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>
>
> Jeff White wrote:
>>
>> Here is another angle for you to think about. How about a 4.2 crank in
>> a
>> 4.0 block using the factory fuel injection? Good emssions, decent mileage
>> and the reliabililty of modern fuel injection. Join the Strokers Group
>> and
>> spend some time poking around. This is the way that I am going when the
>> time
>> comes. 275 ponies and over 300 lbs/feet of torque, those are V-8 numbers,
>> without the addded weight of a V-8 up front. I have included a couple of
>> more very good sites with lots of great information. Dino Savva has done
>> a
>> tremendous job with the second website.
>>
>> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/strokers
>> http://www.jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/stroker.html
>> http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/

There's no substitute for cubic inches.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Jeff White wrote:
>
> Bill
> Where did you come up with the weight for the 258? The heaviest weight I
> could find was 525 lbs; less that what you produced for the V-8.
> Also, pre-1972 horsepower figures were gross, not net. No emissions
> equipment, no alternator, no power steering pump. Not exactly real world.
> That accounts for the most of the large difference in horsepower numbers
> between the two pages.
> Yes, there is nothing like the sound of a V-8. But the reality, for most
> of us in this country, is that emission testing is becoming mandatory and
> fuel prices are becoming an issue.
> The stroked 4.0 offers decent mileage(around 20mpg), the ability to pass
> emission standards that a 1970's V-8 can't and the reliabilty and economy of
> modern fuel-injection. With at least 275 lb/ft of torque at 1500 rpm and
> over 300 lb/ft from 2000-4500 rpm, even a person that only offroads his CJ
> could be happy.
> If the 0-60 and quarter/mile times that Dino posted on his website for
> his XJ are accurate; then a 4.0 stroker in something as light as a CJ could
> be running about dead even with the new GTOs and Mustangs.

Thanks for all the input and help. I've checked them out and think
they will help.