Engine: 4.0 Swap

[Clint]

Has anyone installed, or attempted to install, a 4.0 straight 6 Jeep engine and auto trans in a 170ci standard shift Lark? I've been pondering this for a while. I'm not worried about little things like the driveshaft length or mounts. I can make those. That's easy stuff. I'm more interested in the clearance of the Jeeps rear sump oil pan. It's rather a much larger straight 6 than my Stude. I'd love to have that extra power without doing a V8 conversion plus getting the Jeep auto's overdrive. If the torque is a concern I'd just swap the rears. I even think the lug patterns the same. Curious conversions of other types would be considered if you have info on someone actually doing one successfully. No V8 stuff please.

[swvalcon]

You know that old saying. With a torch and a welder you can make anything fit. I've seen other things fit so I guess just how much work do you want to put into it is the limit.

[Alan]

Clint, I put a 300 CI. Ford straight 6 in a 63 T-Cab that is similar to the Lark. The main problems with engine swaps are usually at the bell housing. Some times you have to get a BFBPH and dimple the cab in spots, since the Stude is fairly small in that area.

[jwitt]

I haven't tried the 4.0 swap into a stude yet but thought that would be a good one to do. I have had several 4.0 jeeps and if you really want v8 power out of a 6cyl Stroke the 4.0 with a 4.2 crank and rods with 4.0 pistons. I did one 10 years ago and after boring it .060 it was a 4.7L 6cyl. In my 2dr Cherokee it would fly!! My wife had an eclipse spyder at the time I would walk off and leave her any time she tried to race me.

Like was said earlier if there is a torch handy anything will fit. I put a Cummins 4bt into a wrangler with a cutting torch and welder.

[RadioRoy]

Is that the engine with an overhead cam? The Jeep bell housings and transmissions were similar to Studebaker. Putting Champion six engines into Jeeps has been done for many years. Going the other way might be feasible.

Hood clearance would be something to look at if the Jeep engine is taller.

What are the relative weights of the two engine/transmission combinations? Will you upgrade the brakes also?

[JoeHall]

I believe a Jeep/AMC 258 CID six would be a very interesting swap into a Stude. They came with AC and PS in some AMCs, so those mount brackets are likely still available too.

[PackardV8]

Your swap, your money, your decision, but at least entertain a modest proposal - since motor mounts and all the miscellanea already exist to install the Chevy I6 into Larks, why re-invent a swap which offers no particular advantage? The later 250" Chevy 6-cyls are still plentiful, dirt cheap and at least as strong as the AMC and bolt right in.

jack vines

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

Radiator placement would be a concern when attempting to install a relatively long inline six cylinder engine in a Lark engine compartment. The '65 - '66 Six cylinder cars had a unique radiator support that placed the radiator forward about two inches. There was room for this on the '65 -'66 front sheet metal, and or course a '64 could be readily fitted with the required mounting to space the radiator forward.
However, if you were to try to mount the radiator more forward in any '59 - '63 Lark, you would run out of available space rather quickly, particularly in '59 - '60 models.

[52-fan]

Radiator placement would be a concern when attempting to install a relatively long inline six cylinder engine in a Lark engine compartment. The '65 - '66 Six cylinder cars had a unique radiator support that placed the radiator forward about two inches. There was room for this on the '65 -'66 front sheet metal, and or course a '64 could be readily fitted with the required mounting to space the radiator forward.
However, if you were to try to mount the radiator more forward in any '59 - '63 Lark, you would run out of available space rather quickly, particularly in '59 - '60 models.

That was my first thought too. The Studebaker six is shorter than most newer sixes. I suspect that is why this type of swap did not catch on years ago.

[kxet]

Drive a Cherokee with a 6 and you will change your mind about chev 6, He is using the auto so its fuel injected probably. pretty quick.(and a cool header

[wittsend]

It all starts with a tape measure. From everything I've read the AMC I-6 engine is considered the best inline six built in America. One of the assets of the AMC 4.0 is that the balancer pulley/water pump are very tight to the engine and don't project forward much. Rated at 180 HP doesn't hurt either. I have a '63 Rambler American that I intend to put one of the AMC 4.0's into. Primarily because others say it can't be done. But, I have played with the tape measure and by getting a 1/2" here and a 1/2" there it seems doable.

The American engine (196) mentioned above only has 3-1/8" bores they are about 1/2" smaller than normal. That times 6 make the engine about 3" short than normal. The Lark engine compartment by comparison seems rather generous. Beyond the oil pan clearance you are concerned about, consider the exhaust and steering linkage. Also the intake manifold might interfere with the master cylinder. The 4.0 has a later "horseshoe" intake that rounds off more in the outer corners and might provide needed clearance. The earlier log intake has a long, squared off corner in the back that might get in the way. If you proceed post the build as I'd love to see the progress.