Inliners International Forums General Discussion AMC/JEEP Thinking about a 258 for a my 37 Chevy p/u

I want to put a more modern six in my 37 and since the AMC six has everything on the same sides as the 235 I think it would be a interesting swap,what I need to know is what trans options are available for this motor.

Stick or automatic?

Both but also would like to know if a automatic o/d trans could be made to fit without too much hassle. I had a 72 AMX years ago and if I remember correctly had a Chrysler built 3 speed automatic tran but since it had a V8 I do not really know what the sixes came with.

Would the auto ( or stick) trans out of a 2wd jeep Cherokee with a 242 (4.0 liter) work? I am the first person to admit that I don't know a thing about what will fit, but if they do that opens up a lot of possibilitys. Jay 6155

Never had a AMC six so I know nothing about them.

A T5, 5 speed is a pretty good stick shift, as long as you don't put a blower on the 258..My experience with the "other" 5 speed that came in, say, 1990 Commanche with the 4.0 engine is not
positive... And they came with a hydraulic clutch cylinder that
is integral with the T/O bearing...(they leak after a year or so). A Chrysler torqueflite 6 came with the 232 in AMC cars.
A great trans but no O/D. Probaby a Jeep 4.0 with automatic,
out of a mid 1990's Cherokee would do the job.. They can be
converted to carburetion and stand alone electronic ignition,
fairly cheap. I am a AMC fan.. But, to me, a GM engine just
looks the best in a GM product...How about the small Buick
straight eight for different... Man, they are REALLY cool.

I had 2 AMC eagles with inline 6s. One was auto and the other a 5 speed. I don't know what size they were. Neither was impressive. I had 2 Jeeps with with 4.0s and liked them both a lot. I might still have them but my wife rolled one and we hit a horse with the other. I think if you could find a donor so the wire harness and computer were there an EFI 4.0 would be fun. I had a Datsan 810 sedan with an Inline 6 with EFI and a 5 speed. It was very impressive. Although I do lean to the GM in a GM thing.

I am so sick of seeing GM motors in everything else so its time to put something else in a GM,if I do not put another six of whatever brand it will most likely get a small block Ford.

Yeah, I'm sick of SBC in EVERYTHING myself. For something a little off the wall, I thinking of a Model B Ford 4 cylinder
for a Willys station wagon.. Hooked to a T5 with a Dana 300
transfer case.. A late 1940's wagon.. Just replace the 134
flathead 4 cyl with a 200" 4 cylinder that's hopped up a bit.

I would keep the 235 if I could get better carburation without having to go to multiple carbs or a 4 bbl intake,I have read that the 258 did come with a 2 bbl so thats what I would lke to find. I wish someone would have made a 2 bbl intake for those stovebolt sixes for one small 2 bbl carb,I am going to watch for a rusty AMC with a 258 that I could drive and get the feel for the motor before swapping it in the 37.

Would an early say 88-89 jeep Cherokee have a computer controlled auto trans? A a904 Chrysler auto wouldn't be bad either From another AMC car. You can even get lower first and second gears for them from an Aspen. Still have to stick with a AMC bellhousing pattern I would think. Jay6155

My 37 presently has a T-5 and would like to keep it if possible.

OK, I give up.... Here's a photo of the 258 I stuffed in my 1950 Willys truck. It came out of a 1983 CJ Jeep. I bought the engine
with T5 trans and Dana 300 transfer case for $1,200. The Jeep
had been wrecked.. I put on a Weber 2bbl carb and a big head GM
distributor.. I removed the EGR and plugged the water ports on
the intake manifold... It runs great! So, go get one. You'll
like it.

Oh, I forgot..No headers, stock cam. Pretty mild compared to
lots of other engine swaps... But, it is quiet and will push my
little 4WD pickup past 80 mph with ease...And, I need to keep
my speeds reasonable..I'm still running 1950 brakes.
No......power windows, AC, power steering or brakes.

Jeep looks really nice. Do you know what bell housing pattern a 258 has? It's own or sane as something else? Jay 6155

I'm not sure about the bell housing. My engine came with a T5
and transfer case attached.. I never researched what would fit.
I knew that if I bought the whole package, I'd at least have worn out samples of components if needed. My drive train came
out of a 1983 Jeep CJ.. So, when freshening up the engine, for
example, I just ordered for a 1983 Jeep. I like to keep things
simple as possible.