It looks like it's going to fit really well. I'm probably going to clearance the firewall just a hair to set it back some more but it would fit without it. Even clears the vacuum brake booster. And the trans clears the tunnel no problem.

I keep struggling with the turbo thing, I keep having to tell myself "no". It's so much fun on the other Jeep but I think I would be more than happy with 450ish whp on this one. Things start to get expensive and that's what I'm trying to avoid.

I do that all the time (in a straight line) with my Wagoneer. Looks all stock and I haven't finished painting it so it looks like a beater even though it's a frame off build. But it's got a little over 1000 hp and hooks up on small street tires. That one weighs 4300 lbs with me in it. Hoping that this one is 1000 lbs lighter.

Yeah, this one took a bit of a search to find. Wagoneers are difficult to find in good shape but Cherokees are nearly impossible, especially wide tracs. This one seems to have lived an interesting life, having been a Department of Defense vehicle in Italy before making it's way to Florida and changing hands a bunch of times before I bought it out of Wisconsin with no title. Got a great deal on it, $650 as I recall. And I got the frame for $200. Everything on there is a deal.

Trial fit of the engine. Everything fit pretty nicely, just had to clearance the frame in one spot for the alternator. Got started on engine mounts, hopefully finish them up tonight. They're almost the exact mounting locations for the AMC v8 so not much work needed.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psc8bacb84.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps6daf95af.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps0cf54472.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps54dc96c2.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psffcd64ca.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psa79268d2.jpg

Did a little more fitting work, got the motor dropped down another inch or so. The oil pan is even with the bottom of the crossmember so that's as far as I want to go.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps983027f6.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psd8693d49.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps7cad1607.jpg



Then got to work on a transmission mount. Came out pretty good I think.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps22708bfc.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps2cbef58a.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps89ea32f3.jpg

Yanked the front springs out so that I could measure for wheels/tires. These pictures show rough ride height but clearly the wrong tires. The fronts will stick out about as far as shown but the rears will come out another 2" or so. The rear wheels being sunk so far in makes it look like the rear isn't centered but it is. Going 275/40r17 front and 315/35r17 rear on 17x9.5 and 17x11 ZR1 replicas.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps6a61df50.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps342b3833.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psfe6aaf51.jpg

Pretty neat!

I'm just finishing up on an LY5/4L60E swap in an '89 Grand Wagoneer. Mine stayed 4wd though.

I've been following yours, nice work!

The tires showed up today. I ordered them yesterday at 5:00 pm and they were here today at 11:00 am. Wow. Still waiting on wheels and ordered adapters today.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps9d3cf7e5.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps8aefb87a.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psdfcc8b73.jpg

Just goofing around with the tires tonight.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps32f6c72e.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psd98398a2.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps7bb34c80.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps30d0780e.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps453299e6.jpg

I've been beat by an International Scout before, so why not? :poke:



Cool project ghinmi...

What's the story on the Monte Carlo in the background of some of your pics?

I have a front cross member that is cut to fit a mustang rack and tubular control arms for that frame if you want them? I have the rack, the modified 2" drop knuckles (disk brake) and all that.

It wasn't low enough for me, so I went with Porterbuilt.

Would certainly free up some weight on the front end and probably give you better steering. It's pretty much been sitting in my shed for 3 years.

That Scout is SWEET! I'll need to look that up and check out his set up.

The Monte is my old '86. I bought it in 2005, just sold it this summer with 98k miles. Just a nice stock driver. I just had too many cars and didn't hardly drive it anymore. I've followed your build throughout the years here and montecarloss.com, I probably should've gone that route instead of the Jeep but I'm just warped in the head. :poke:


I would be real interested in that front end. I'll shoot you a PM shortly.