304/360 interchange

rmclague · 09-05-2002, 01:11 PM

Are the Amc 304 and the Amc 360 completely interchangeable?
will parts such as intake and exhaust from the 304 work on the 360?
Are there any advantages to using the 360 over the 304?
Any help you have is appreciated.

Rob

CSP · 09-05-2002, 02:13 PM

Externally they are exactly the same, so yes intakes and exhaust will swap from one to the other. Reasons for a 360 over a 304? There's no substitute for cubic inches!

What else would you wonder about?

OldJeepguy · 09-05-2002, 03:03 PM

I just finished this swap about 4 months ago - the 360 is a direct bolt-in and has huge HP & torque gains over the 304.

Happypappy · 09-05-2002, 05:53 PM

Another nice thing about that particular swap is that the 304 you are removing will bring you pretty good bucks and make a guy doing a 258/304 swap verrrrrry happy as well !!

Bulletproofcj7 · 09-05-2002, 08:22 PM

You will need to use a 360 fly wheel and not reuse the 304 fly wheel as these are externally balanced engines, and if i remember correctly the older amc v-8 heads had an oval exhaust port and the newer motors had the dog-leg exhaust ports. which ever you have, the port needs to match the manifold or header.

OldJeepguy · 09-05-2002, 09:31 PM

Might as well install another pilot bushing in the crank - this is absolutely necessary if installing a 360 that was in front of an automatic. As bulletproof said, the flywheels are not even close to the same balancewise - I mistakenly sent my 304 flywheel to the machine shop to be balanced to the crank and it would have required 400 grams removed to do it! I sent them the 360 one and it was close (about 80 grams).

I had an RV2 cam grind done by a local shop - I wanted awesome bottom end and that's what I got - not really as streetable as I would like since it's all done by about 3500 rpm. Would be fine if I had an auto though...

boredstiff · 09-09-2002, 10:37 AM

If you haven't finished yet... I just did the same swap last year. Yes, I agree with the porting and the flywheel. You need to get a 360 harmonic balancer too. These are a bit different from the 304 to the 360, and in the case of the flywheel. Other than that... your ready to rock and roll!

rmclague · 10-01-2002, 03:26 PM

I know that you guys say that I would need a new flywheel , but I am running an automatic.
Will the flexplate interchange or are they different as well?

Thanks
Rob

CSP · 10-01-2002, 09:07 PM

Yep the flexplates are different also. I have 304, 360, and 401 flexplates and none of them are even close when you look at the weight on the engine side of it.

09-05-2002, 08:22 PM	#5
Bulletproofcj7 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 286 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You will need to use a 360 fly wheel and not reuse the 304 fly wheel as these are externally balanced engines, and if i remember correctly the older amc v-8 heads had an oval exhaust port and the newer motors had the dog-leg exhaust ports. which ever you have, the port needs to match the manifold or header. __________________ 1982 cj7. Frame off. shell valley kevlar body, stainless hinges, Bestop seats and supertop, KC titanium lights, Homemade swing out tire carrier with spare front wheel bearings/hub, Built 304,DUI,Edelbrock shorty headers with dual stainless 21/2 tubes into incynerator cans 21/4 dumped out the back,Edelbrock 600cfm, performer intake and cam, Borgeson lower column, Centerforce clutch, NV-4500, Dana 300 w/custom built twin stick, Homade 1/4" steel skid plate, 2.5 soft ride w/ 1" shackle lift, 33x12.5 mtr's. Stainless fuel and brake lines, Braided hoses. more...

09-09-2002, 10:37 AM	#7
boredstiff Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fenton, MI Posts: 48 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	balancer too If you haven't finished yet... I just did the same swap last year. Yes, I agree with the porting and the flywheel. You need to get a 360 harmonic balancer too. These are a bit different from the 304 to the 360, and in the case of the flywheel. Other than that... your ready to rock and roll!

09-05-2002, 02:13 PM	#2
CSP Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,323 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Externally they are exactly the same, so yes intakes and exhaust will swap from one to the other. Reasons for a 360 over a 304? There's no substitute for cubic inches! What else would you wonder about?

10-01-2002, 03:26 PM	#8
rmclague Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I know that you guys say that I would need a new flywheel , but I am running an automatic. Will the flexplate interchange or are they different as well? Thanks Rob

10-01-2002, 09:07 PM	#9
CSP Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,323 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Yep the flexplates are different also. I have 304, 360, and 401 flexplates and none of them are even close when you look at the weight on the engine side of it.