After spending a week of trying to get things lined up for the swap...parts, pieces, and last minute question... I would have the whole three day weekend to prep, pray disassemble, clean, pray again, and assemble. As you may have figured out this is the most extensive work I have done on the CJ-8. I have done the "new to CJ hazing"(rear main seal and one-piece axles)but never really had the engine that far apart. Well as always seems to happen with project that I think I will prepared to do I wasn't. I was to have an exhaust manifold ready to pick-up Sat. morning at a yard an hour away. My own fault I did not bring my tool set with me and gave the guy until 12pm till I arrived. well of course they did not have it pulled. Oh and I could pick it up hmmm maybe Wed.. Not what he told me when he took the deposit. Well I made arrangements to go pull it myself but no tools.... ok off to home depot 1hr, 2hr, 3hr... Ok Sun. I decided to start because Sat was shot (I wish had a garage with lights). Part by part came off till I was at the head. All pretty easy until...One of the head bolts was stripped. Well now I need a tap that wasnt in my set mmmmm. Well luckily a hardware shop was open on Mon. ... after 12pm. But after those hurdles my fears were put to rest the assembly was just as easy as the disassembly minus the extra field trip.
Ok my opinion on the swap with a carbed system, good not fantastic but a solid good. It fufilled my expectations. It runs smoother through the power band. Honing the cylinder walls and new valve seals have taken care of my little blow-by. I have little more power low end and the engine doesn't seem to strain as much at higher RPMs. Worth it? If you have to do a valve job, definitely.
My thanks go out to Jaffer and Stooby for helping me with last minute questions.


Matt
84 CJ-8 revived 258


Once again "This board ROCK!"