Quick question about engine

Hi all

Maybe a little late on this, because i'm going to see this engine in about 45 minutes, but is a 1983 inline 6 the exact same as a 1977 ?

I have an oportunity to buy a 1983 complete engine with carb for 400$, and I was going to embark on an open heart surgery on my current engine. My idea is to get this engine, put my brand-new carter 1bbl carb on it, and re-install

Is my intake manifold going to bolt on ?


Bob

 

As far as I know it should be the same, especially where the intake is concerned.

 

They are mostly the same. The later 258 is a bolt-in replacement for the earlier one. There are some internal structural and accessory differences though.

In 1981, Jeep lightened the engine by 80-100 lbs (according to unconfirmed sources). These changes included the terrible plastic valve cover, fewer crankshaft counterweights, lighter block casting (improved casting technology) and lighter intake and exhaust manifolds (aluminum intake, lighter and smoother exhaust). Various other related things changed, such as the choke became 100% electric, all engines were 2V (the 232 was gone in civi production), the 2V Carter BBD was now stock, the carb pre-heater is now electric (operating from a relay), head bolt size decreased to 7/16", probably others.

JMO - $400 is pretty high for a 258 sold private party. Check your local 4x4 and Jeep bulletin boards; post WTB. Likely you'll come up with a runner.

 

Thanks for the input. Actually I went there after work, and I bought the engine. The guy who sold it to me is a mechanic referred by a friend of my dad.
My dad called this guy to have a better idea of what we were getting ourselves in regarding my engine, and the guy had one in his garage. It come from a CJ owner who absolutely wanted a 304 three years ago, they changed the engine, and kept the 258.

It have the plastic valve cover, is my metal one a direct bolt-on ?

And for the price, up here in Province of Quebec, 400 is about the price for an engine.

Look out next Monday for a write-up of my winter mechanical adventure !!

Bob in Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec

 

Wow Bob, that's a big difference to here in Ontario. Two buddies of mine each have one of these engine in their possession and can't give them away. I just sent one to the scrap yard 6 months ago. It would have paid me to load all three of them up and bring them over to you to sell.

Enjoy your new found power.

 

Nope. Aftermarket aluminum is your only option AFAIK.

<edit> There's another option - Victor makes (made?) a special gasket for that cover called "sponge-lam" that's reported to work better. Main downside is that the gasket costed $40 or $50 US, so you may as well spend the money for the aftermarket cover.

 

TWICE I have given 258 engines away. Only way to get rid of them around here.