Project "Thunderstruck" - KJWildman's never-ending V8 swap

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Toyojake wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Toyojake wrote:

Any updates on this? Looking forward to the end results. Wanting to drop my chevy 305 into my KJ after I finish my Z28.

Junk the 305 and go SBF
I'd say you'd have problems fitting a SBC in with the distributor and all, not that much wiggle room. SBF fits in pretty good :wink:

Going to have to wait for a while I'd say as Larry is working lots of hours and no time for anything but work/sleep/work/sleep and eating every third day! :ROTFL:

Fair enough, is dizzy clearance at the firewall, the only fitment issue or is there more. I know its a little 305... but I already own the complete motor and trans and would like to use them if possible.

Good luck with the rest of the build guys goin great!

Tom is very right that the sbf is a simpler install, however you could use the sbc but would have to modify the firewall to allow for the distributor, which wouldn't be that hard to do if ya have the skills/tools. I am a Chevy fan so I know what I would do if I ever decided to drop in a 8 but then again staying true to Chrysler products and the vehicle just one word comes to mind...........HEMI :twisted:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:28 am

Little boys and their Bowties
it's always so cute
:lol:

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:02 pm

Again, like Tom and Hart said, you can use whatever you want but I would recommend a SBF for you. If you use a Chebbie engine you need to set it forward enough for the dizzy to fit and then you will have problems with radiator fitment. I will only have about 4 - 6 inches for my electric fan and my engine will be back as far as I could reasonably get it and still have access to bellhousing bolts and plugs/wires and all.

Working a lot right now and don't have much time to get out there to the garage. I'm working about 100 miles from home right now and trying to commute every day! Leaving the house at 5 AM to get to work by 7, working 10 hours then another 2 hours home gets me home by 7. Going to 7 days of 12s on Monday with every 3rd weekend off, so going to have even less time. :roll:

I'm making bank tho', so once I get time ...... no excuses!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:46 pm

Not to clutter your thread there Wildman..................

But why on earth would anyone want to mess with a 305 Chevy? About the most worthless V8 they ever made,I'd go straight to a 383 stroker with a 4 bolt main block made in Mexico(seasoned for 5 years) and Vortec heads.Still can't believe it took GM 50 years to make a head that doesn't randomly crack.

Oh Buggin I'd let you in on a little secret but would spoil my plans :wink:

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

tjkj2002 wrote:

Not to clutter your thread there Wildman..................

But why on earth would anyone want to mess with a 305 Chevy? About the most worthless V8 they ever made,I'd go straight to a 383 stroker with a 4 bolt main block made in Mexico(seasoned for 5 years) and Vortec heads.Still can't believe it took GM 50 years to make a head that doesn't randomly crack.

Oh Buggin I'd let you in on a little secret but would spoil my plans :wink:

After following your comments and plans over the years I am pretty sure I have a good idea what ya got cookin in the kitchen. It'll be nice to see it when your done :JEEPIN:

edit: Wildman could care less about clutter, in fact clutter is what makes up his DNA :ROTFL:

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:24 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Not to clutter your thread there Wildman..................

But why on earth would anyone want to mess with a 305 Chevy? About the most worthless V8 they ever made,I'd go straight to a 383 stroker with a 4 bolt main block made in Mexico(seasoned for 5 years) and Vortec heads.Still can't believe it took GM 50 years to make a head that doesn't randomly crack.

Oh Buggin I'd let you in on a little secret but would spoil my plans :wink:

I Know something you don't know!!!!!!! :jester:

And everyone knows injin' Joe is ticklish :dizzy:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:19 pm

305 heads aren't bad - you just need to put them on a 350 block..
great compression - but porting is a problem - they'll never flow really well - but low range is great.

KJWildman · **Posted:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:47 pm

Hey .... can I post here? :ROTFL:

Well, it's been a while, and since I can't get the torque converter yet due to funds I went out and worked on the wiring for the dash yesterday! :BANANA:

Made the under dash harness/pigtail for my dash cluster. Got the wires all crimped into the female Deutsch connectors (the cluster itself is done) and just left 6' of wire so it can reach wherever I need to go to hook up under there. I'm going to rip out the old dash here in a few days and I can start trying to decipher the wiring diagrams and locate the proper wires for all the dash lights, turn signal indicators, high beam indicators and make a terminal strip for the gauges to wire to. ...... I know .... :roll:

.... not much ...... but a bunch of small steps all add up! :seuss:

Still workin' on it!

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:52 pm

Go with the Ford "Boss 302" if you want a 302ci. = 444HP.

Terry

JeepBumm68 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:37 pm

Done Yet!! lol

OldSkull · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:08 am

(He just need more Ka-Ching Ba-Bling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI&ob=av3e)

plumabob · **Joined:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:19 pm **Posts:** 6

Any progress????? or too cold now??????? :-)r

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:23 pm

I got a bored and stroked 383 all aluminium from a dirt track car sitting on the engine stand in the shop. It makes about 800+ when it was removed :shock:

. Humm if i only didnt love my little itailan tractor motor but I would have no issue junking a gas KJ motor. Humm 800hp KJ on 37 with Rockwells yeah that is right lets just overkill the whole project. :-)r

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:12 pm

Unfortunately this project has had to take a back burner! :evil:

unemployment, wife has become disabled and no insurance ($1200/mo on prescriptions at this point!! ) and the gubment turned down SSDI ( yes, I've got the lawyers on it!!!! ), losing my house, had to move. Thought I had a decent job for the last couple months but they let me go for being 1 minute! late!!!! Things can't get much worse right now so I just have to have the outlook that they've GOTTA get better from here! Not complaining, everybody goes thru stages in their life where things just don't seem to go right and eventually it turns around. I'm not getting rid of the KJ, still going to do what I can, when I can. I'll post up when something breaks!!

Thanks for your support and still being interested.

Larry - aka - KJWildman

Kasmir Jones · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:21 pm

Good luck my friend. I hope things get better for you and your wife.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:32 pm

Bummer about the job and after effects! It sounds like that company doesn't really care that much about their employees. They also know that getting someone to replace you won't be hard. Too many people looking for work. Good luck and stay in touch!

Terry

OldSkull · **Posted:** Thu Nov 24, 2011 9:26 pm

It's just a project! You take care of your family and do what ever he take to feed them. We will sit and wait expecting the best for you. After 23 pages can we say WELL DONE?

The first V8 KJ may not be ready for 2011 but there no other challenger arround to claim the title so your the king of the hill by a big margin... :wink:

Wish your luck came back...

Happy thanks giving Larry.

plumabob · **Joined:** Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:19 pm **Posts:** 6

Wow you are getting clobbered. Hang in there Larry. Best thoughts and wishes are out to you.

Bob

daltonamorph · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:57 pm

I sold my KJ almost a year ago and I still come back to LOST every now and then for updates on this thread and one other. Keep up the good work man, youre getting close to the end

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:58 pm

Finally just read through the entire thread, Sorry to hear about your recent misfortunes I hope everything works out well for you and your Family. I noticed people saying a 350 (305) won't work because of the Distributor at the back that part made me laugh until I almost pee'd my pants, if you are already into the build that balls deep clearancing the firewall should just be another day in the office. The 302 does appear to fit very well tho, Maybe one day I'll get my big turbo 4BT in there best of luck getting it finished.

Project "Thunderstruck" - KJWildman's never-ending V8 swap

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