I am a student at Mississippi
State University. About 3 years ago a local doctor and friend sold a 1981 CJ-7
to my brother and I for $1. It had been sitting at his deer camp rotting away
and I couldn't wait to take it off his hands. Anyhow, this model jeep had the
GM "Iron Duke" 151 that had not been run in years. After several shipments of
parts (gas tanks, fuel line, etc....), I got a response from it. Several local
friends and family members who listened in didnt think the motor sounded right.
When we took it apart one of the push rods was broken. $800 later after having
the head reworked the motor was running again. This did not last long. The jeep
locked up on me bout a year and a half ago and has not run since. Luckily my
brother is a smooth talker and talked to a buddy of his who had just swapped
out a 258 for a Chevy small block. The 258 had come out of a 1987 Jeep
Wrangler, daily driver, and only had 50,000 original miles. This kind fella
gave us the motor with most of the parts to go with it. I had a huge surge of
energy as I yanked the old motor (bear in mind 19 yrs. old with no auto
mechanics experience) and gathered parts for the new addition to my deer camp
jeep.
   I guess with the story aside, my question to you is this. This Jeep has the
SR-4 transmission, the motor is a AMC 258, I have the correct bell housing for
the 258, I have a brand new clutch kit and pilot bearing(bushing), and I lack
1/2" from flushing the motor to the transmission. Could this possibly be the
case of the wrong pilot bushing from the auto parts store, or could it be that
the shaft off the transmission is not the right length? I was also wondering
what other problems I might run into swapping these motors(wiring,vacuum lines,
starter, distributor)Thanks alot and I look forward to your response