overview of Full Size Jeep engine offerings:
SJ motors 1963 - 1991 ========================== 230 1963 - 1965 I-6 232 1965 - 1971 I-6 327 1965 - 1968 V-8 350 1969 - 1970 V-8 304 1971 - 1972 V-8 258 1971 - 1986 I-6 360 1971 - 1992 V-8 401 1974 - 1978 V-8official designations of engines
230 - Tornado - Willys 232 - High Torque - Kaiser 258 - no name - AMC 304 - no name - AMC 327 - Vigilante - Nash/Rambler/American Motors (see details below) 350 - Dauntless - Buick 360 - no name - AMC 401 - no name - AMC ------------------------------------------------The engines, the years
cu in (liters) ENGINES YEAR std eng opt. eng opt. eng -------------------------------------------------------------- 1963 230 (3.77) none none 1964 230 (3.77) locompr 230 none 1965 230 phased out 232 (3.8) 327 (5.36) 1966 232 (3.8) 327 (5.36) none 1967 232 (3.8) 327 (5.36) none 1968 232 (3.8) 327 (5.36) none ------------------------------------------------------------ 1969 232 (3.8) Buick 350 (5.7) none 1970 232 (3.8) Buick 350 (5.7) none ------------------------------------------------------------ 1971 232 phased out 258 (4.2) 304 360 1972 258 (4.2) 304 360 ------------------------------------------------------------ 1973 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v 360 (5.9) 4v ------------------------------------------------------------ 1974 360 (5.9) 2v 360 (5.9) 4v 401 4v 1975 360 (5.9) 2v 360 (5.9) 4v 401 4v 1976 360 (5.9) 2v 360 (5.9) 4v 401 4v 1977 360 (5.9) 2v 360 (5.9) 4v 401 4v 1978 360 (5.9) 2v 360 (5.9) 4v 401 4v ------------------------------------------------------------ 1979 360 (5.9) 2v none none 1980 360 (5.9) 2v none none ------------------------------------------------------------ 1981 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v none 1982 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v none 1983 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v none 1984 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v none 1985 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v none 1986 258 (4.2) 360 (5.9) 2v none ------------------------------------------------------------ 1987 360 (5.9) 2v none none 1988 360 (5.9) 2v none none 1989 360 (5.9) 2v none none 1990 360 (5.9) 2v none none 1991 360 (5.9) 2v none none ------------------------------------------------------------The first engine - the 230 Tornado
230 1963 - 1965 I-6 The first engine used in the "new" Wagoneers and Gladiators was the Tornado. An I-6 engine with 230 cubic inches. Concerning the care of the original SJ engines: reading from the SM-1019-R2, page 29, Section C-1,An engine tune-up should be performed for all J-Series Vehicles each 6000 miles (9,600km), or at the end of each 250 hours of off-the-road operation, to insure best possible performance at all times.
the next engine - the 232 High Torque
232 1965 - 1971 I-6 The second engine used in the J-trucks was the 232 High Torque. It was introduced in 1965. The problems encountered with the 230 also led to a low compression version of that engine. I believe the troubles experienced with the 230 related to it's use of an overhead camshaft. Lubrication technology was not very advanced in the early 1960s and the motor oil was not formulated well enough to maintain proper lubrication. It should be noted that the military versions of the SJs continued using the 230 long after the civilian units quit. I have a 232 in a 1967 J-100 Panel and it still runs well in 2001.
the Vigilante the 327 V8
327 1965 - 1968 V-8 In addition to introducing the new I-6 engine, Jeep also offered the 327 V8. They acquired the Vigilante engine from Nash. One thing must be clearly and openly stated. This is NOT a Chevrolet 327. It is a Nash, Rambler, American Motors or Kaiser 327. Pick the name you wish to use, so long as it's not Chevy. If you own one you will be saying that almost as often as you visit a parts counter. I've owned two of these engines. They provide a lot of torque and power, but are not very economical. They are a very heavy engines. What follows are some excerpts from various books that discuss this engine.Information from page 217, standard catalog of American Motors 1902-1987:
isbn 0-87341-232-x "The Ambassador was AMC's full-sized car, continuing a model begun in 1932 by Nash. The Ambassador used the 327 cid V-8 formerly used in top of the line Nashes, not to be confused with the unrelated Chevrolet 327 cid engine."Information from page 191, JEEP the 50 year history, Robert C. Ackerson,
isbn 0-85429-533-x "In April, 1965 the Wagoneer became the first Jeep vehicle to be offered with a V-8 engine when American Motors' 327 cubic inch V-8 became available as an option. This move was announced by James Beattie, Kaiser Jeep Corporation's vice-president-marketing who explained that rather than wait for the new model year to begin, Kaiser's policy was to announce product improvements as they became available. The overhead cam six was still the standard engine, but this "Vigilante" V-8 was, at $190.83, an attractive alternative. With a 2-barrel carburetor the V-8 developed 250 horsepower at 4700 rpm and 340 lb.ft. of torque at 2600 rpm. This engine was originally introduced in 1956 for the Nash Ambassador Special line. At that time it displaced 250 cubic inches with a bore and stroke of 3.50 x 3.25 inches. Peak horsepower was 190 at 4900 rpm with a 8.0:1 compression ratio and singel 2-barrel Carter carburetor. Most engine analysts regarded it as a straightforward design that, if lacking in exciting features, was reliable and up-to-date. Four main bearings were used and with all accessories, but minus its flywheel and clutch this V-8 weighted 601 pounds. Thinwall construction was used for all iron castings and with good-sized valves (1.79 inch intake and 1.41 inch exhaust) plus a 4.75 inch bore center-to-bore center measurement it was easily expanded to 327 cubic inches with a 4 inch bore and 3.25 inch stroke in 1957. At that point its maximum horsepower was 255 at 4700 rpm with a 4-barrel Carter carburetor and 9.0:1 compression ratio. In December, 1956 American Motors announced that this engine would power its entry in the then popular limited production high-performance field, the Rambler Rebel. The 255 horsepower version would be standard. The V-8 was available with an optional Bendix electronic fuel injection system. Due to production problems no Rebels were sold with fuel injection but the next year a more powerful V-8 with 270 horsepower at 4700 rpm and a higher 9.7:1 compression ratio was offered. In conjunction with the use of the V-8 Kaiser Jeep also made available General Motors' Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed torque converter automatic transmission for both 2- and 4-wheel drive models. This engine-transmission did not replace any of the J-series' existing standard or optional engine-transmission choices."more excerpts:
... Motor Trend, September, 1965, tested a Wagoneer with a complement of options... the Wagoneer... curb weight 4,200lbs, 3.31 axle, accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 14.5 seconds. Popular Mechanics, October, 1965, tested... 0 to 60mph in 13.1 seconds... Motor Trend... standing start 1/4 mile in 19.6 seconds at 68mph, top speed was 89mph... base price of $3633, tested price $5330.80... a Chevy Impala wagon 9-passenger was $3181, Ford Country Squire $3283.Information from pg 115, The story of Jeep, Patrick R. Foster:
isbn 0-87341-564-7 "The Wagoneer and Gladiator lines were improved again, this time by the mid-year addition of V-8 power to the option list. Jeep, not wanting to spend the huge sum of money it would cost to develop its own engine, chose to instead purchase from a dependable supplier, the American Motors Corporation. The engine was AMC's largest, a cast-iron 327-cid, 250-horsepower unit with 2 barrel carburetor, from it's Rambler Ambassador. Jeep called its new engine offering the "Vigilante," ..." see also more background on engine at http://www.wagoneers.com/FSJ/tech/Engines/327-V8/327-history.html
the Dauntless, the Buick 350 V8
350 1969 - 1970 V-8 This engine replaced the 327 and is a desireable unit. When AMC acquired Jeep in 1970 they chose to use their own engines.
the AMC 258
258 1971 - 1986 I-6 The 258 I-6 is one of the finest engines ever put into a Jeep. There were a number of problems with blow-by on these engines, but they are one of the most economical engines found in a Full Size Jeep. The incredible 4.0L engine was developed for the XJ model and introduced in 1987, but it's heritage can clearly be found in the 258. The 4.0L is probably the best engine that Jeep has ever developed and used.
the AMC V8s - 304, 360 and 401
304 1971 - 1972 V-8 360 1971 - 1992 V-8 401 1974 - 1978 V-8 The 304, 360 and 401 were all of similar configuration. They are interchangeable and it is not unusual to find the "wrong" engine in an FSJ. The 304 was only used for a couple of years. The 401 was only offered in the 4v* configuration from 1974-1978. The 360 was offered in both the 2v and 4v configurations from 1973 until 1978. After 1978 the 360 was only offered in the 2v configuration. The 360 V8 was the only engine offered in the SJ after 1986. * - (4v - indicates 4 venturi's, or a 4 barrel carburetor) According to the 1977 Technical Service Manual the V-8 specs are approximately: Bore 304 - 3.75 inches 360 - 4.08 inches 401 - 4.165 inches Stroke 304 - 3.44 inches 360 - 3.44 inches 401 - 3.68 inches Compression Ratio 304 - 8.4:1 360 - 8.25:1 401 - 8.25:1 Torque 304 - 220@2000 rpm 360 - 251@1600 rpm 304 - 320@2800 rpm (note, no distinction was made in the general specifications between the 2v and 4v 360) ---------------------------------------------- Engine Build Date Code Explanation (circa 1976) ---------------------------------------------- H - 304 - 2v - 8.4:1 N - 360 - 2v - 8.25:1 P - 360 - 4v - 8.25:1 Z - 401 - 4v - 8.25:1 ---------------------------------------------- Build Date code on V8, on valve cover, ---------------------------------------------- 1st character = year, 8 -1975, 9 - 1976 2nd and 3rd character - months - 01 - 12 4th Character engine type, see above, H, N, P or Z 5th and 6th characters - day - 01 - 31 ----------------------------------------------AMC 360 - 1975 and up firing order:
driver's side cylinders are back to front: 7 5 3 1 passenger's side cylinders, back to front: 8 6 4 2 #1 is closest to the front of the motor. rotates in a clockwise direction... FIRING ORDER IS: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Additional information will be found in the book on Full Size Jeeps in work by John Meister. copyright 2001 © john meister http://wagoneers.com
