Which Engine?

Which Engine Should I put in the Jeepster? (Its has a generic 4.3 V6 now)

  • 4.3 V6, Stroker, roller rockers and hot cam, High compression, flat top piston SCREAMER

  • Lazy 5.7 V8 Torque Monsterr

  • High tech, low mod, Run of the Mill LS,

  • Other, specify

Results are only viewable after voting.
R Q

R Q

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Location
Charlotte
I blew up my 4.3 at Windrock last week and am putting a bandaid on it to finish out the season. It made it for 15 years so I am not complaining at all about my old 4.3. But I've been considering what to do next. My rig is a '68 Jeepster Commando, 4.3, SM420, D20,60,44. I'm not afraid to beat the snot out of it.
The bigger I go with motor, the more mods I have to do to get there. Every thing on it is custom because there is no aftermarket for Jeepsters so some of them would be very hard to reverse. I could plug in a 4.3 easily. Once I go with a V8 or LS, everything changes.
(This poll is mainly for fun but I'd love to see your responces)
 
ckruzer said:
what is the budget?
Click to expand...
Bingo!

I mean, deep pockets and you could go all "Clint Patterson" (aka spiderpig/towmater) and be all "hell yeah"

clint motor.jpg
 
Build the 4.3 stroker. It's cool and uncommon(like the commando) and I would be interested in watching the buildup/parts list for future work with my 4.3. You said it yourself, everything is already set up for the 4.3 so I would stick with that so you don't have to modify anything else.
 
I'm kind of in the same boat myself. I'm seeing metal in the oil on my Fairlanes 390. I don't know whether to stroke the 390 or build a big inch small block. Probably going to go with the stroker 390 for the same reason I chose keep the 4.3. Everything will Bolt right back together, no other mods or expenses like having to change exhaust, clutch, etc. Plus it's different and I like that. If I were building a tube buggy, it's be LS all day long, but different is cool.
 
You wheel it, right?
Rhetorical question.

How many obstacles have or trails have you failed due to lack of power?
How good is it balanced currently?


BTW I'd eliminate option 2 from even consideration if it were me.
 
I've never heard of a 4.3 stroker. What is the scoop on them?

I initially voted LS, but depending on how much stuff you have to change, I would maybe go with 4.3 stroker.
 
I know I said LS swap...but we legitimately ask our customers to answer 3 questions before every build, because what they think they want and what they actually want and what they can actually afford, rarely intersect. 1) Realistic budget (we all want that $25k build, but most have a junkyard/box store reman budget) 2) Realistic power expectation/requirement (everyone knows every engine to grace the internet is 500+ hp) 3) majority of usage (weekend warrior engine isn't the same as a mud truck engine which isn't the same as a rock bouncer engine, etc etc). Until you've specifically answered those three questions, it's going to be anyone's guess

Tim C said:
I'm kind of in the same boat myself. I'm seeing metal in the oil on my Fairlanes 390. I don't know whether to stroke the 390 or build a big inch small block. Probably going to go with the stroker 390 for the same reason I chose keep the 4.3. Everything will Bolt right back together, no other mods or expenses like having to change exhaust, clutch, etc. Plus it's different and I like that. If I were building a tube buggy, it's be LS all day long, but different is cool.
Click to expand...

Bruh...you know as well as I do FE=Fawkin Expensive
 
UTfball68 said:
I know I said LS swap...but we legitimately ask our customers to answer 3 questions before every build, because what they think they want and what they actually want and what they can actually afford, rarely intersect. 1) Realistic budget (we all want that $25k build, but most have a junkyard/box store reman budget) 2) Realistic power expectation/requirement (everyone knows every engine to grace the internet is 500+ hp) 3) majority of usage (weekend warrior engine isn't the same as a mud truck engine which isn't the same as a rock bouncer engine, etc etc). Until you've specifically answered those three questions, it's going to be anyone's guess



Bruh...you know as well as I do FE=Fawkin Expensive
Click to expand...
Yea, but its just as bad to swap in my case. Bellhousing, input shaft of the 4 speed, clutch z bar, motor mounts both rubber and frameside, headers, the rest of the exhaust, accessory brackets, etc, etc. Not to mention ill have to buy heads for a small block if i go that way. Ive already got aluminum heads on my current 390 that have less than 10000 miles on them. By the time i replaced the whole car basically ican build a decent short block and swap my parts over.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
 
I say do a 4.3 stroker. 2 reasons 1) never seen one and would be cool as heck, and 2)you are already set up for it
 
if the old engine has worked for 15 years, why do anything other than rebuild or replace? What advantage is anything over what you had? Hell,just a fresh engine will have alot more horses than the old worn out one. I say go back with a good dependable build on a 4.3 and rock on. Do that and you have saved enough fo a good steak,trip to the strip joint, and a high range hooker one evenin.
 
Tim C said:
Yea, but its just as bad to swap in my case. Bellhousing, input shaft of the 4 speed, clutch z bar, motor mounts both rubber and frameside, headers, the rest of the exhaust, accessory brackets, etc, etc. Not to mention ill have to buy heads for a small block if i go that way. Ive already got aluminum heads on my current 390 that have less than 10000 miles on them. By the time i replaced the whole car basically ican build a decent short block and swap my parts over.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Go Different, > 406 or 428. You got the heads, & some other parts may swap too!
 
rodney eppes said:
Go Different, > 406 or 428. You got the heads, & some other parts may swap too!
Click to expand...
My current block is already 0.040 over, without sonic testing its rolling the dice to go bigger overbore. I can get it sleeved, but i want to find another block so i can build it up while this one still runs. Its easier to move it around if i can still crank it up, LOL. Im looking for a reasonably priced block that i can build. Basically im looking for any fe block 352 or bigger, im going to throw a scat stroker crank at it, and definitely a roller cam since im reasonably sure the cam or lifter is the source of the metal.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
 
I could swing the LS but I have to gut it and start completely over, entire drivetrain. The 4.3 is underpowered for my use but I was considering building a screamer, if it would hold up... I talked to a couple of local 4.3 builders and to my surprise, both said to go LS! My wiring harness and computer will hook up to a TBI V8. My motor mounts have to be moved about 3/4'' for the V8.
 
R Q said:
I could swing the LS but I have to gut it and start completely over, entire drivetrain. The 4.3 is underpowered for my use but I was considering building a screamer, if it would hold up... I talked to a couple of local 4.3 builders and to my surprise, both said to go LS! My wiring harness and computer will hook up to a TBI V8. My motor mounts have to be moved about 3/4'' for the V8.
Click to expand...


It will hold up. I had a buddy that built one. Bear in mind, the 4.3 is just a 350 with two cylinders lopped off. (well, not REALLY, but you get the idea). Power to weight is great on them. TBI is nice and simple. LS stuff gets nutty with the sensors and fine tuning. For trail use, I'd stick with a 4.3, but built.
 
Back
Top