1986 Jeep CJ7 AMC 304 V8 Dual Exhaust

This is video of my 1986 CJ7 Jeep. I just pulled out the 258 6cyl and installed an AMC 304 that I rebuilt. This was a very easy upgrade.

Engine:
1973 AMC 304
-GM Style HEI Ignition with 8mm wires. 0.050 spark plug gap
-Comp Cams XE256H cam with matching springs and lifters
-0.030 bored over cylinders
-Dual exhaust with stock manifolds and flow-master 40's. 2" exhaust. I had this custom built by local exhaust guy.
-Holley 600CFM 1850-2 Carb with vacuum secondaries.
-Edelbrock Performer AMC aluminum intake
Stock Oil pump but did add the bulltear steel resurface plate
-3 core copper radiator with 7 blade AMC fan
-195° Thermostat
-Oil Pressure at idle - 27psi, 1,500+ rpm - 60psi
-Vacuum reading at idle - 23"
-Idle is around 850 rpm. Cant get it any lower without it running rough.
-Gas Mileage - 9-11MPG.

HP -? don't know. Maybe 200 if I am lucky? It will smoke all 4 tires in 4 wheel drive and will throw you back in your seat. I am very happy with the performance. It is much better than my old 258 I had in there. I can aggressively accelerate going up hill in the wind in 4th gear. I used to have to drop to 3rd gear with my old 258.

This jeep is a pieced together beast. Frame and drive train is from a 1986 CJ7. The Tub is off a 1988 Wrangler. The engine is out of a 1973 CJ5. I have a upgraded plastic gas tank. It runs great and I drive it all the time. I love how it sounds on the road. The engine really wakes up when you stomp on it. I get comments all the time on how nice it sounds. Its not the obnoxious loud with cherry bombs. It sounds like a nice throaty V8 like the classic muscle cars. The idle is strong and only slighly lopey. (what I wanted) If you like that crazy low idle lope this cam is not for you. I can get it to lope more around 650 rpm idle but it idles too rough for me and wants to stall. This CAM is a lower RPM strong idle perfect for off roading in a jeep.

I also upgraded the steering box. I installed the J20 power steering box which is an awesome upgrade. Steering is tight and less turns. I highly recommend.

This jeep has zero oil leaks. People tell me all the time its impossible to fix all the oil leaks......lol that's the lazy guy talking. I fixed all the seals everywhere. I rebuilt the T4 trans and dana 300 and put new seals in everything. No leaks. Felpro rubber oil gasket on the oil pan is great. They will not leak.

Items I still need to get or upgrade:
Need new front seats
I want to convert the dash back to a CJ7 flat style.

[SuperDirtyred]

I had that same HEI in my 360 it was all in the fan belts and Power Steering Unit . I bought the smaller HEI from Summit. Much better fit for the 360

[jamesprice]

Can't wait till I graduate then I get my dad's 78 cj5 it needs completely put back together but it has a 304 and a three speed stick (which I'll learn how to drive stick in) it'll need alot of work but it means the world to me and my dad so it'll be well worth the effort to see his smile when we're done plus he gets the honors of being the first to drive it when it's done

[jimjohnston]

Great job with the motor, I wish my 304 looked that good.

[minitrucks]

I just bought a yj with that 304 and it sounds really good. I just want to make it a little more daily friendly.

[mpetersen]

The 304 has a maximum overbore of .125". Although I've head of people going bigger. The reason the block caen be bored out that much is to bring the displacement of the 290 up to 305 CID for Trans Am raging in 68 and 69 it needed to be punched out to 3.847 vs the stock 3.75. The 304 is the same basic block just with a 3.44" stroke vs the 290s 3.28" and a slightly taller block. The reason for the longer stroke was emissions. If you take the bore out to 3.890" it gets you 327 CID. Put Chevy 327 badges on and really get people scratching their heads. But taking the bore out to 3.875 puts you into Chevy 283 piston diameters.

[NFTPrintCo]

Nice. How is the pcv system connected? Isn't there supposed to be a nipple on the side of the oil filler cap with a hose going to the air cleaner to suck fresh air down the oil filler tube? Do you only have 1 hose connected to the pcv valve going to the carburetor?

[aaronhatfield]

i put a edelbrock 2132 performer plus cam in my 304. It goes well with the intake which i have the same one as you. sounds a little more lopey than this one.

[jasonsmith]

I have a similar rig. What brake booster are you using i need to get one that fits. Nice work!

[bobbygeorge]

Where did you get the air cleaner sticker

[justinclontz]

Nice Jeep. I hope you have invested in a fan shroud.

[North]

Nice installation !! what did you use for engine and frame mounts ? did the trans stay in its original location?

[arthurc]

I love your jeep. I have a 1994 yj with a 2.5, I just found a 304 and want to do a swap...where did you get your engine mounts? What about the intake and HEI dizzy?

[GMSpada]

Where did you get the AMC 304 sticker!!! OMG 😳

[williamthompson]

I been wondering if that 304 is an easy swap in place of the 2.5

[jeremybyrd]

What did you do when installing the rear main seal?

[gadsdenviper]

What brand distributor did you use and did you have to change the gear?

[ConfiKey]

Hey! How did you get Ford 1-50 wheels to fit?

[chicken_whisperer]

What electronic ignition system did you use?

[anthonypugliese]

Sorry, it doesn’t make it a CJ just because you have the CJ grill. That is an insult to owners of CJ’s

[superdaddyninja]

I'll put my my 75 CJ-5 304...yours is nice though