Trade me your 304 for my 258???

Rogers123 · 11-04-2011, 02:53 PM

I have a 1980 CJ-7 with a 258 and t-176 tranny. I want to keep the tranny but want 304 power. I just had compression test on my 90k mile 258...all cylinders at 155+. I live in central MO....any takers??

**Matt1981CJ7** · 11-04-2011, 03:04 PM

LOL!! Seriously?

Matt

nsargeant · 11-04-2011, 03:27 PM

304 power huh.

well in 1980 the 304 had a whopping 125hp and 220lb ft of torque, compared to the 258 in 1980 112hp with 210lb ft of torque. Simple 4.0 liter head swap on the 258 and you will be well ahead of the 125hp of the 304.

nathan

Rogers123 · 11-04-2011, 04:02 PM

Nathan....give me more info on this please....also Matt...the lol is for not holding onto the 258 or the difficulty I will have with this offer? Nathan...is this new head thru Summit or where?

Foundrydude · 11-04-2011, 04:13 PM

If any of you guys have an extra $20 laying around I've got a crisp new ten dollar bill to trade.

nsargeant · 11-04-2011, 04:21 PM

roger,

its off of a newer 4.0 HO jeep engine. Do a search here on the forums. You will find about 5 days worth of reading. Supposed to give like 30 hp

nathan

**Matt1981CJ7** · 11-04-2011, 04:22 PM

Rogers,

Foundry's post sums it up, for me.

Despite the relatively minor performance differences, good 304s are hard to come by in my neck of the woods. 258s are common.

I've had both engines in previous CJs. While the 258 will climb a tree, if the bark doesn't slip, I preferred the 304, especially on the highway.

Matt

Rogers123 · 11-04-2011, 04:49 PM

Matt...I had a 77 golden eagle...30yrs ago...and after listening to some threads thought the 258 was the s--t....till I drove one! I just got off the phone with an engine builder...looks like a 360 will have the bottom end torque I really want. The 258 seems to have the torque either in 4 low or on the highway. I want a good push-you-back torque in 1st, 2nd and some 3rd. The 258 never got me any of these...looks like I'll be graigs listing the 258.
Thanks

**Matt1981CJ7** · 11-04-2011, 05:14 PM

Roger,

I'm quickly learning that another consideration is gear ratio. The appropriate ratio for the size tires you run is key to how "spunky" your CJ feels.

Matt

79indcj7 · 11-04-2011, 08:28 PM

Nothing against the 360 and 304 but if your gonna upgrade go 360 if you wanna keep in the AMC family. If you want a cheaper engine build buy a 350 and an novak adapter. You will spend 40% more money on any AMC build (304/360). 350's are so easy to mod they are a dime a dozen.

**John Strenk** · 11-05-2011, 03:27 AM

As long as we are asking,
Anyone got a running 360 they want to trade me for my 258 AND T-176/D300? I might even throw in a set of axles with 3.54 gears.

Rogers123 · 11-05-2011, 07:22 AM

Ok....thanks for all opinions...I have decided to keep the Jeep legend alive...This Jeep is a 1980 Golden Hawk and will stay that way. I have totally replaced the undercarraige with stock equipment. New leafs, drums, cylinders, rotors,shoes, bushings shocks steering shaft ect. I will probably flip this later. For now I will be looking for a 79 Golden Eagle with a v-8. Originally I was wanting to turn this Hawk into a Eagle but after all this its just better to keep it all original...

mashunitjeep · 11-05-2011, 07:26 AM

i think the 258 design is a little more durable to i mean the 304/360 have known oil pressure issues and besides it same power less weight in the motor bay and better on gas i mean my 304 get 17 mpg mixed city/hwy carbed but then again my 304 is 1972

KMD · 11-05-2011, 01:31 PM

I would trade my fresh 360 for a 4.0 or an lt1

roadhog304 · 11-05-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r08ert209cali

I would trade my fresh 360 for a 4.0 or an lt1

why!!!!!