(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

jeep engine

I

IH10020

Member
Son bought a Jeep Wrangler pickup today, 81 model with in line 6 engine. Who made these engines & is there anything to look for in the way of problems. Thanks in advance.
 

Most "Injected" in-line Jeep six's are 4.0 Liter..about 2.44 Cu In..
If the rings are good and they don't smoke..they should run for years and give no trouble..
They are not all that "fuel efficient" (16 mpg, maybe)..
In older Postal Mail jeeps, they would run for YEARS, after they showed NO oil pressure on the gauge and the Rocker arm pivots were worn away, so they rattled awful..and kept on delivering the routes..
I'd say, they are heck of an engine..
The Fuel Injected engine is a good runner...
Ron..
 
We have an '81 in the barn,built by American Motors,plastic valve cover on the inline six,any AMC parts from in line six are interchangeable. I was lucky enough to find an auto yard with some old AMC's still in a row,got valve cover and carb. Jeep was built by AMC for many years until Jeep was sold to Chrysler
 
Like everyone else said it's the AMC straight six, a very durable engine with quite a reputation for running forever with minimal care. The same basic engine was built until a few years ago last used in the Jeep Wrangler billed a 4.0 six cylinder. AMC had a weak reputation in many areas but in some areas, like engines they found it cheaper to overbuild the component than to do the extensive testing (cost in both time and money) and engineering to ascertain what the absolute minimum need was. Some of their V-8s used forged rods, cranks and pistons, folks that drag raced them used the stock components because they were as strong as any aftermarket racing component.
 
When IH made their last pickups, they used the AMC engine. Never was around enough of them to form very many opinions, but I will say they used a 7 main bearing crankshaft and that was impressive for that size engine.
 

I would hope it is the 232 engine...the 258 always seemed to be a gas hog...

May be worth while to put a 4.0 injected engine in there..they are like a healthy small-block Chevy engine, the way they respond to the throttle..
Typically last over 200,000 Mi..

Ron..
 
just do the usual checks you would on any used engine, those old amc 6's were pretty reliable, and well made, several of them still running around in this county 30 years later without being overhauled yet that i know of
 
Never heard anything really bad about the 6 cylinder engines. There are quite a few good WEB sites devoted to jeeps. One you could try would be Jeepforum.com. I have 2 newer Jeeps a 2000 Cherokee and a 2002 Grand Cherokee that I bought used both with the 4.0 engines. One now has 187000+ miles, the other 156000+. Not unheard of to get at least 300000 miles with normal maintenance.
 
I would second the 4.0 if you ever go that route... mine"s still going at 275,000. Wrist pin"s been knocking for a while now, maybe 75000 miles, but so far so good. Another vehicle needs repair first before I get to that...
 
(quoted from post at 13:46:25 05/06/12) I am thinking your Jeep is a CJ8 Scrambler , if so it would have the AMC 258 . Good engine!
Click to expand...

If it is a Scrambler they fetch big $$$$$$ in the right place like Texas...
 
1981 it wouldn't be a wrangler. It would be a CJ5 or CJ7 or CJ8. The way to tell them apart is the CJ5 has a more rounded door opening where the CJ7 had a bigger more square door opening. The CJ8 had a longer bed almost looking like part Jeep part pickup truck. The inline six would be a 232 cu in. or 258 cu in made by American Motors.

I can't really tell the difference between the 232 and the 258 engine. I bought a 1975 CJ5 that had the 232 in it and I had a problem with low oil pressure so I replaced the engine with a 258. The problem with the oil pressure seem to be with the oil rather than the engine. I was running straight 30W oil in it and when I changed to multi-weight oil the problem went away. Other than that I've had no problems with the engine.
 
That engine is a 7 main bearing model originally
from American Motors, but traces it's heritage
back to Nash. International bought them from
American Motors and used them in Scout II's at
the end. They were in American Motors Hornets
and Concords also. Good parts availability!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

3
Hauling diesel
2 3
Replies
42
Views
3K
DoubleO7
DoubleO7
M
JD 404 serial numbers
Replies
4
Views
308
Mcrafty1
M
T
LS Finish Mower?
Replies
1
Views
392
J Hamilton
J Hamilton
T
FNH TS 100 fuel line
Replies
2
Views
245
tomturkey
T
3
DMV vehicle check ahead
Replies
16
Views
531
Skyhighballoon(MO)
Skyhighballoon(MO)
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top