350 tbi motor rebuild and install in a cj.... tbi to carb swap?

building a 350 4 bolt main to swap into my 81 cj( amc 360 is really tired!!)... motor is fom 90 truck and was tbi... which is better to buy the intake or replace the heads to an older version and change intake that way? thought about changing heads to 305 heads with 202 valves, then i could use a variety of intakes and carb set ups... anybody been there and done that have some advice or tips? thanks for looking    

You cannot "fit" 2.02 valve in a 305 head as chamber is not big enough. Besides, 2.02 valves with hurt not help low and mid range torque. Shame you are not rebuilding 360 as it nice torquey motor at lower RPMs. Also, TBI motors have 9.1 to 1 CR and use active spark knock control to limit detonation on 87 octane. If you go carb route, plan on running 89 or better fuel otherwise you will have to compromise timing which will effect peak performance and MPG. The old 360 had lower compression and tolerated 87 octane much better.  

thanks for the correction on valves... and i see your point on the compression verses gas... i coulld still build the 360, u never know... i'm still going to build the motor, i could always drop it in my old truck.. i will research that further, just getting started and u brought up good points  

I have a 79 J20 that I have owned for over 22 years now and it has a 360. While it has very little top end to speak of it has more low RPM grunt than any 350 I have ever had and I have owned 5 of them. (I towed a lot a trailer with it in its younger days and some were pretty heavy too). Of the 350's, two were pre emission carbed engine, one a emission carbed engine, a TBI and a Vortec. Still own the TBI and VorTec. The TBI motor comes closest to matching low RPM torque of 360. Myself I would never dream of replacing a 360 with a 350. Not that 350 is a bad engine, I just like to keep a jeep a jeep.  

U SHOULD PUT DIFFERENT HEADS ON IT, CHEVY TBI HEADS A VERY POOR FLOWING HEADS, IF YOUR LOOKING FOR GOOD CHEAP HEADS GET A SET OF VORTEC HEADS OF A 96 AND NEWER 350.  

Yeah, if you want to get away from the TBI on the engine, then go with a set of Vortec heads and get an intake manifold to match from Edelbrock or GM Performance Parts.  Those heads are probably the best bang for your buck when it comes to small block chevy heads.  I think Summit racing even sells their own house brand Vortec heads and they may be cheaper than buying them from a dealership.