360 to 258 Pros and Cons

So I have the chance to buy a 258 out of an 84 cj. It is a complete motor, ps, alt, dist, radiator/shroud. It has a new howell tbi installed, DUI Hei distributor, borla header, alum valve cover, water pump, all new seals/gaskets, ready to drop in, and it passes az emissions. Has 100k on it, no ticks, and he's asking $1100. My 360 runs great, has 75k or so on it, gets ok gas mileage, and has more power than I will ever need. I think I could sell it complete and recover some of the money for the 258. So does anyone have any pros or cons that you could share. I am 50/50 on doing it at this point. This would go into my 73.

Thanks
John

 

Seems like alot of work for no gain. I would put the money elsewhere. Besides, its better to have the power and not need it, then need it and not have it.

 

As much as I like the 258, I don't think you're going to gain much by swapping engines. 360s are pretty common - there were a lot of Wagoneers sold and almost all of them had the 360. A swap will cost a few hundred bucks at least, aside from the cost of the engine ... new frame towers, new radiator ... economy isn't going to be that much better, and it will take a long time to make back the costs of the swap.

 

Cons: Going from a good 360 to a good 258 and kissing over 100 cubic inches good by.

Pros:.............uh.......um...........yaa..........sorry, I got nothing for this one........

 

Your 360 has 75,000 miles
The 258 has over 100,000 miles
IF the 258 was NEW 0 miles, ahhh, maybe, if you were bored and wanted to spend $$ and time.
Your not gonna pick up THAT much MPG, plus you gotta do exhaust, clutch, etc (the little stuff that always adds up quick when doing a swap, that drains your bank account).
I'd take the $$ and do some work to your 360 to make it "happier" of you want to spend it on your jeep.
Joe
I was never a big fan of the 360,I always liked the 304 better, (well short of the almn rocker caps). But that's jsut me a old guy a few years away from wearing fannel shirts button up to the top in the middle of summer!

 

Put a junkyard Q-Jet on your 360, close your eyes when you open the hood, and just pretend you're running injection. Cost ya $15 for the carb and $25 for a rebuild kit with new gaskets if it even needs it.

This was done with a Q-Jet on my 318. That sucker never stumbled or flooded out at any angle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC3ncSQJVB0

 

Yeah I guess you all are right, not a lot of gain for a lot of $. I guess I was blinded by fuel injection and a bunch of other goodies and didn't take into account all the nick nacks that will nickle and dime me. Well thanks for the feedback.

John