Pope's 1949 CJ3A - 4.3L, SM465, Dana 18 Swap

Having been down the tbi path, my opinion is it’s antiquated technology and I think you’ll be leaving a lot on the table going back to the 1980s. The newer system is far better and won’t be any more work than trying to cobble together disparate aftermarket parts. If you stick with an all GM system you’ll have a lot less head scratching later. Get a factory wiring harness so you can diagnose problems using the GM system; without that you’ll be throwing darts in the dark. 

The goal here is corrosion protection and structural integrity, not historical replication.

Next came the power steering pump / steering box / manifold / steering shaft issues that a 4.3 swap involves.  This was the largest stumbling block in this project as it required lots of looking at the Jeep and drinking beer, staring a bit more, and drinking beer.

Edited by Pope891 - 05 Dec. 2023 at 1:07pm

By creating this custom bracket, I am clocking the power steering pump counter clockwise about 45 degrees.

Well heck...I filled the transmission and transfer case yesterday and found a few leaks.  I'll tighten up some nuts before I tear anything apart.  In the meantime, I'm working on the fuel lines and wiring so I can do a test fire soon.  After nine months of wrenching, I'd love to hear it roar.  Still gotta wait on some parts...

Ha, truer words have never been said my friend.

Did some welding this weekend.  Boy was it hot.  I find that I MUST set deadlines for myself.  I don't want to "stall out".  I've been doing a lot of family stuff recently, so the momentum for the project slowed a bit in June.  Time to get stuff done!

I’m surprised you had so much trouble at Napa with the PS hose. Our local store made them for me. Our store is more farm oriented though so IDK.

I didn’t see if you finalized you clutch setup or not. What I learned on mine is that there were a couple complications. First GM. never mounted a 4.3 to an SM465. One throw out bearing offered was too short, the other a hair too long. I ended up getting the adjustable one from Novak. I have had to replace it once in 4 years. I’m not sure if Fuzz and Brian had an issue with the T18. I used a slave cylinder from an S10 but I had problems finding a good master. The YJ master worked but it barely had enough volume. I tried one for a full size GM truck but it had too much volume. Eventually the one that worked the best was a late model CJ7. I’m not sure what the years are on round fenders but it’s the last year for CJ.

Edited by jpet - 21 July 2020 at 1:10pm

jpet wrote: I’m surprised you had so much trouble at Napa with the PS hose. Our local store made them for me. Our store is more farm oriented though so IDK. I didn’t see if you finalized you clutch setup or not. What I learned on mine is that there were a couple complications. First GM. never mounted a 4.3 to an SM465. One throw out bearing offered was too short, the other a hair too long. I ended up getting the adjustable one from Novak. I have had to replace it once in 4 years. I’m not sure if Fuzz and Brian had an issue with the T18. I used a slave cylinder from an S10 but I had problems finding a good master. The YJ master worked but it barely had enough volume. I tried one for a full size GM truck but it had too much volume. Eventually the one that worked the best was a late model CJ7. I’m not sure what the years are on round fenders but it’s the last year for CJ.