After hunting for a while, I finally managed to get my hands on a eagle wagon. My parents sold theirs when I was two, and I wanted one ever since.
Anyway, Currently, it does not run well. Immediate projects include rebuilding the carb, changing oil,etc... basically a good tune up, or at least good enough to cart it about the yard while I deal with more immediate problems.
The goal though, is to have it as a winter daily driver (summer DD is going to be my '63 spitfire) so I've been exploring options as far as engine mods go. Head swap, EFI, etc...
I started thinking that probably the most straight forward thing to do would be to buy a totalled Jeep grand cherokee or something with the 4.0 High Output. I can usually find these at the local insurance auctions for <$500 in good mechanical order. I can salvage what I want/need and sell the rest.
I'm still not sure exactly what mod/swap I want to do yet, but I imagine that a straight engine swap would probably be the most straight forward?
or a cylinder head swap...could I use the whole FI system from the jeep?
The transmission?, the automagic in mine is rubbish and I want to swap in a manual.
I don't plan on tackling this till next spring, so I have until then to make up my mind.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or opinions.
You would be better off retaining the 4.2 engine/carburetion system and adding the 4.0 head to the 4.2. You will have the opportunity to clean up 99% of the vacuum lines and wiring and swapping out to a complete manual carburetion setup.
If you are capable of installing the TBI setup/computer/etc go for it, but a simple and inexpensive way is keeping the carb. The 4.0 head on the 4.2 block is roughly a 40hp addition. Ad a solid ignition system such as the TFI or HEI and a better carburetor and you are set.
Currently (though that may change) I am rather keen on going Fuel injection.
Rather than swapping the whole block, I guess it would be more practical to transplant the cylinder head,FI, and whatever else to the existing block.
If I were to do a head swap, efi conversion, how much of what I need could be pulled from a newer jeep and what would I need to get new? From what i've managed to find out, I can reuse the majority of the parts
I am rather keen on just getting a parts jeep since Id really rather not have to do frequent runs to the junkyard and I get the impression buying all the parts on their own would quickly run up the cost, likely surpassing what it would cost to buy a whole car.