Big Shout Out to my pal Harry LaClair for coming over and helping stuff the 304, TF999, and Dana300 into the Jeep! Couldn’t have done it without you! Now the real fun can begin (rebuilding the steering column, installing the fuel injection, headers, exhaust, radiator, power brakes, rebuilding the wiring harness, etc., etc., etc.). Don’t look too closely at the top of the engine… all that old junk is getting replaced with new go-fast goodies.
Just got the engine off the stand, and loaded up the flex plate and cover… torqued to 100 ft lbs.After about an hour more than I’d anticipated of transmission jack gymnastics, and remembering that the skid plate mounted up further back, the transmission & transfer case are in.Here’s a nice view of the firewall, with the heat shield that came with 258 I-6 Jeeps. That would prove to be a minor PITA and have us scratching our heads for another 45 minutes before whipping out the body saw and cutting it loose. After than, the engine slipped right into position.BOOM! It’s in! Just had to crank down a few bolts to keep it in-place. I’ll worry about the rest of them next time.
Looks a little dinky in there compared to the extra long and tall 258 I-6, but this is a hefty hunk o’ junk in its own right. It’s a bit deceiving with the grille missing and the fenders opened up… it’s about to get a lot more crowded.Thank You SO much, Harry LaClair. Had a blast shootin’ the sh!t just as much as getting it all done. The Beatles were right: we really do get by with a little help from our friends.All the old stuff will be coming out in favor of a bunch of new go-gast goodies. I’ve got some new chrome Edelbrock Signature Series valve covers to replace these and keep the bling alive along with the ceramic coated stainless headers and Edelbrock Pro-Flow multi-port fuel injection. Also a set of Accel cut-to-fit wires for a little splash of yellow, too. I can’t wait!With the fenders closed up and the grille up in there, it’s already starting to look a little more normal.
