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

KJWildman · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:15 pm

Well, the decision has been made, the wife has given her OK. I started yanking the heads off my 3.7 thinking I was just gonna do a valve job, head gaskets and such. It has morphed into a full blown custom motor swap.

I have a 1974 Mustang II sitting in the garage that I haven't done a whole lot with in the past few years, (I've had it since 1987) It's got a 2.8L (171ci) V-6 with a 4 spd. It has .060 over pistons, shorter rods, reworked heads, big cam, aluminum intake and a Holley 650. It runs with a stand alone Mallory Hy-Fire ignition box. It was dynoed a few years ago at 385HP at the wheels.
I know it's not a V-8, but it's what I got and it's free!

^^^ Cancelled ^^^^ I'm goin' V8!!!!!

This is the motor going into the Liberty! :BANANA:

I haven't got my motor out yet, that motor out yet or any of the details worked out yet. :shock:

I plan on trying to finish this by the time ECS rolls around. We'll have to see. I'll keep taking pics and making posts as the project progresses. Lots of fab work involved here. Need to decide on some details, gut ALL wiring and start over?, just gut engine compartment and worry about the rest later? This motor is definitely on the basic side as far as wiring goes. Starter and Hy-fire ignition box is IT ! I'll have to figure out alternator wiring. Use a GM 1 wire alternator like Tommudd suggested? What auto tranny can I use? what about the xfer case? Bronco II I think came with this motor, is that xfer case any good? Does it have a low range?

Lots of questions still, but I'm goin' for it!
Details, Details, Details ! Lots to do, more posts later!!!! :BINGO:

UPDATE: June 17,2010 Now have decided to put in a Ford 302 V8 !! :pepper:

UPDATED: Jan 19,2011,
UPDATED April 17,2011
UPDATED June 1, 2011
UPDATED COSTS March 4, 2015
Costs:
Pg. 6,8,9 -Ford 302 V8 Motor +$100 ( I traded my 45RFE for the motor and $100 cash)
Pg. 8-Auto Meter #4988 - Speedo - $175 off Ebay
Pg. 5-Auto Meter #4997 - Tach -$179 -Jeg's
Pg. 4-Auto Meter #4937 - Water Temp. - $68 - Jeg's
Pg. 4-Auto Meter #4916 - Fuel Gauge w/sender - $82 - Jeg's
Pg. 7-Motor mounts - $160 - Novak Conversions
Pg. 7-Timing gear set - $170 Jeg's
Pg. 7-Gasket Kit - $47 Jeg's
Pg. 8-C4 Transmission w/manual valve body, FS Bronco bellhousing, Bronco II tailshaft housing, BW1354 Transfer Case - $500 - Private Party off Great Lakes 4x4
Pg. 8-Headers - $307 - Novak Conversions
Pg. 10-Ignition Box - MSD 6AL w/rev chips + Blaster 2 Coil - $125 - spare from friend's race car
Pg. 12-Radiator - $139 - Jeg's (appearance blem discounted)
Universal Radiator Mount - $99 - Jegs
Radiator Cap - $18 - Jegs
180 Thermostat - $13
Transmission Pan Dipstick - $60 - Jegs
Bling-Chrome 1 wire 100A alternator #10100 - $99 - Jeg's
More Bling - Aluminum Valve Covers - Ford Racing/Jeg's - $124
ARP Engine S.S. Bolt kit - Jeg's - $216
ARP Carb Studs - Jeg's - $22
Edelbrock Intake Manifold - Jeg's - $190
Jeg's OEM Chrome Starter - Jeg's - 115
MSD Distributor - Jeg's - $253
8.5mm Plug Wires - Jeg's - $87
Autometer Oil Pressure gauge - Jeg's - $90
Autometer Trans. Temp gauge - Jeg's - 75
Asst. Deutsch Electrical connectors - Jeg's - $214
More Electrical Stuff ( wire, lugs, solder, spades, some LEDS for the dash) $140
JBA steel diff -$1496
UCA's - JBA - $396
6" Front coilovers w/CRD springs - JBA - $1589
Rear 4 link truss for 8.25 - JBA - $142
Cash to shop for asst. Parts - $2000

Budget: $3000
Running Total @ $9290
(Well ... There went the budget !!!!! )
Still need exhaust and mufflers, driveshafts, hoses, fluids, water pump, PS pump and ..... ? !!

WOOHOO!

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:49 pm

Been trying to go back and get my brain to open the files from when I was a full fledged Ford mechanic :ROTFL:

If I remember right Bronco IIs and Rangers had a BW 1350 transfer case with drivers side drop
or at least for a few years, some were electric and some mechanical back then.
low range would of been 2.48:1 again if my brains working right today
I think some of them had the 2.8
Some of the things I remember are sort of fuzzy from back then :shock:

No smog checks so throw in what you want, of course you know, different fuel requirements, if not using a fuel pump on the engine then electric, should be able to work out something for the fuel tank ( or build a custom one with enough room to move the rear axle back two inches later on) :BANANA:

GeekyJeep · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:00 pm

out of ignorance..

if the jeep engine is higher displacement.. why dont you put all that effort and money into hopping up the jeep engine instead?

KJWildman · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:58 pm

Cause I already have the motor, the 3.7 can't (inexpensively) be built to this level, no electronic computer crap to run it and .... it'll be cool, custom and unique!!!!!!!

oh ...... and cause I'm KJWildman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

Also, I will soon have a 45RFE, 231 Xfer Case, and other parts for sale.

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 2:06 pm

so whens the sfa comin :lol:

67Customs · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 2:23 pm

Subscribed to watch the Wildman work.

JustinP · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 5:34 pm

I love to see people try new stuff.

I do have to ask though, do they have emission checks in Ohio?? Id hate to have a trail only KJ. Im in PA, emission inspection here would laugh me right out the door. haha.

Take lots of pics through the process, and post that old stuff for sale. :mrgreen:

STINGN · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:08 pm

this could get ugly...

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:24 pm

STINGN wrote:

this could get ugly...

Yes, but it could be great too.

Terry

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:15 pm

No emissions to check here :wink:

We do what we want
when we want
with what we got

I have told Larry everyway I know possible to tear up his rig! :ROTFL:

Neatus · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:22 pm

bad stupid

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:26 pm

So you going with no electronics? or completely re-wiring the KJ? The wiring is going to be fun,before you go to far unplug the PCM and TCM then hook the battery back up and see what still works like the power windows and such.What doesn't work will have to be hard wired to work,along with new gauges since the OEM cluster will no longer work either.

Say bye-bye to the fuel pump.You will need a CRD pickup which is the pump without the actual pump then redo the fuel lines for a low psi electric or mechanical fuel pump to work.

What trans? Plan on keeping overdrive? The 231 will not bolt to a Ford trans so a new one of those and new F/R driveshafts.

Have fun it's going to be alot of work and take your time and do it right,I have pages and pages already in the "To do list" for my V8 swap if I go with a 347 V8,looking at 6-9 months to do the swap.

KJWildman · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 8:00 pm

TJKJ, you've got a PM :lol:

Chino78 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 8:57 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

I have pages and pages already in the "To do list" for my V8 swap if I go with a 347 V8,looking at 6-9 months to do the swap.

How bad if you go with the powertech 4.7 lts?? :POPCORN:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:03 pm

Chino78 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

I have pages and pages already in the "To do list" for my V8 swap if I go with a 347 V8,looking at 6-9 months to do the swap.

How bad if you go with the powertech 4.7 lts?? :POPCORN:

How good are you with wiring? and how good are you in with Chrysler to get the custom programming?

otherwise if you have the 45RFE auto trans it's pretty much a drop in,not so much with any other trans offered in the KJ.

TAHOE · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:35 pm

tommudd wrote:

I have told Larry everyway I know possible to tear up his rig! :ROTFL:

Like he needs anyone's help Tom.... :dizzy:

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:06 pm

this is gettin good :POPCORN:

Neatus · **Posted:** Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:32 pm

Neatus wrote:

bad stupid

so the censoring on here changed a word I wrote to stupid. It was supposed to say "Bad @zz" stupid piece of doo doo :lol:

and I didn't say "doo doo" either!

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:42 pm

Started a new spiral wound notebook today for this one! Took the wife to Detroit Metro Airport and dropped her off for her 4WEEK vacation in San Diego ( Lakeside/ East County ). Came home and got a new notebook out and with the house to myself for the first day, I turned on the A/C, sat in the recliner, turned on the tube, and did nothing but watch Speed Channel and make notes! :BANANA:

Boy is there a lot to do! I'm going tomorrow with BugginKJ to talk to a "Ford" Hot Rod guy (that might want my Mustang body) about a transmission. :wink:

Maybe we can make a deal! Once I'm sure of the trans. I can start working on which Xfer case I need. Then just install, measure for drive shafts and all that's left is the wiring right? Piece 'O Cake. YA RIGHT!!!
I've started checking into Painless wiring harnesses. I think I can do it with 10 Ckts but might get 15 anyway. They're not cheap, but will save me some time, which is a consideration this time. I know I'm not thinking of all the circuits the first time thru so better plan for extras now.
My garage looks like a storage unit with stuff packed in all around the 'Stang so I need to attack that the first couple days next week. Then I can yank that motor and move the car out so we can get the Jeep up where it's easier to work on.
Not much more news tonight,
I'll keep postin!

You keep Jeepin :JEEPIN:

The future #1 KJ in Ohio ! (If Tom don't keep up! :ROTFL:

)
Larry

1996xj · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:09 pm

Larry, unless you have been involved in diag. and repair / programing and know how serial data of PCM, BCM, and module's, work you are involved in a major undertaking !! This will require Mopar wiring diagram's and some major modification not only wiring wise but, drive shaft's, crossmember, exhaust, front spring's, bracket's, pump's etc. This will = MAJOR $$$$$$ !! :roll:

I don't want to crash your party, but I have installed LS1's in 60's Impala's, camaro's , and rewired frame off restomod's and it's a major undertaking for somone with year's under there belt and a Lot of extra money !!! Be shure you can and want to take this on !!

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

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