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What's it take to put a small v8 in 47 Willys Jeep

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by rambunctious, Jul 20, 2005.

  1. Jul 20, 2005
    rambunctious

    rambunctious New Member

    Holland, Michigan
    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2005
    Messages:
    7
    I have an original 47 willys jeep ( miltary jeep, don't even know the code, i'm so new at this :shock:)

    I want to put a small v8 in it, flomaster exhause, a little bump to the cam, a 4 or 6 point roll cage, lift, and 35" tires for the two tracks around my house and the sand dune in west michigan.

    i was told the buick 215 is a small v8 that might fit easily.
    i was told that the chevy small blocks need cross member mods on the jeep to make fit.

    what is my easiest solution
    where can i find adapter plates, and other parts/ info for the swap
    can i keep the drive train if i don't trash it?
    what is a neccessary drive train replacement if needed?

    sorry, no v6 solutions. they're just not cool enough :shock:) I want the v8 sound.....


    thanks for any input

    Ramb
     
  2. Jul 20, 2005
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    :shock:


    Howdy neighbor!
     
  3. Jul 20, 2005
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Welcome from South Florida.

    I think the Buick 198 would work or even a flathead
     
  4. Jul 20, 2005
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Geeze......Holland is taking over :shock:
     
  5. Jul 20, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221

    Welcome from KS!

    A small V8 would work. In an ideal world a 215 is great, but hard to find and hard to get parts for.

    I'd lean toward a Buick V6. I know I'm biased. But that's plenty to get you around the dunes. BTDT. :D
     
  6. Jul 20, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Mar 30, 2004
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    Welcome. V6 buick is the best bet or V6 chevy you can tear up enough of the drivtrain easily enough with these. But there's enough info out there if your set on a V8. Try www.novak-adapt.com or www.advanceadapters.com for information. They can give you a pretty good idea of whats involved.
     
  7. Jul 20, 2005
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    5,349
    Then you need a Dauntless v6, no other v6 has the rumble they do. Nobody ever believes my jeep has a v6 in it until they see it, its rather loud but it rumbles nicely.

    Welcome from Alabama!!!
     
  8. Jul 20, 2005
    michigan_pinstripes

    michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

    Clarkston MI...
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2003
    Messages:
    605
    Welcome from the SE side!

    I have always felt that a V-8 is too heavy in a Jeep and a shoe-horn job (but do-able). The V-6 is actually lighter than the stock flathead L-134. The Buick has a front distributor which cures alot of fit issues. Most people modify the firewall for the chevy V-8.

    One of our members has an Buick SFI V6 turbo in a CJ5 which sounds like a V-8. I'm putting a carb'd version in my '70 CJ5 for the dunes and street.
     
  9. Jul 20, 2005
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
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    4,418
    Hello from the southeast, central,middle michigan...
    My dauntless impressed 2 of the guys I work with last weekend at the dunes. This coming from someone who has a F250 with 11" lift, 42" super swampers, and 5.4L. :twisted:

    Buuuuttttt...
    If your interested, I have the beginings of a 215 v8 with almost everything you need. Engine(in pieces, 4brl intake), bellhouse, adapter to T90... If your interested let me know and I'll fill you in on the details.
     
  10. Jul 20, 2005
    rambunctious

    rambunctious New Member

    Holland, Michigan
    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2005
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    thanks for all the quick responses.

    hi boyink ( I have "ink" in my last name too, another fellow dutchman....)

    i knew you guys would ignore the "No V6" options....... :rofl: :shock:)

    term..... I would like to learn more about the 215. would it package without moving frame members, or just as difficult a project as a small block chev.

    please email me and we can discuss more about your motor.....

    keep the comments coming.

    thanks

    Ramb
     
  11. Jul 20, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Whadya expect from the Early CJ-5 and Dauntless V6 page? :D

    :v6:
     
  12. Jul 20, 2005
    rambunctious

    rambunctious New Member

    Holland, Michigan
    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2005
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    7
    mich pinstripe !!!!

    this is it, your jeep, even down to the inboard horizontal tubes on the roll cage.......
    maybe buckets with 5 points is the only exception

    what lift did you do. is the drivetrain stock or replaced......
    Ramb
     
  13. Jul 20, 2005
    rambunctious

    rambunctious New Member

    Holland, Michigan
    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2005
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    hey, said in jest I assume :shock:)

    this is the flat fender section right ???? :shock:)
     
  14. Jul 20, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    Of course.

    Sorry, I forgot the ;)

    Yes, this is a flat fender section. We just happen to have quite a few flattie owners around so I opened up this section.
     
  15. Jul 20, 2005
    ljspop

    ljspop Lurking Bronco Dude

    San Diego, CA
    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2003
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    394
    And some of us have :v6: that are pretty cool. ;)
     
  16. Jul 20, 2005
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    the sbc is very do-able.
    the tube front xmember most likely needs to go away; replace with a small rectangular
    tube xmember, and move it forward for radiator depth/clearance.
    The factory "wings" on the grille most likely will have to be cut away for engine/radiator clearance; most move the radiator forward up against the grille opening; sometimes the h/light buckets get whacked; and the firewall might need some tweaking for dist clearance as mentioned above.
    That's the easy stuff !
    steering box issues (saginaw recommended)
    clutch/brake pedal issues (most go with dual swinging pedals)
    upgrade brakes to disc or 11" ??
    hydraulic clutch issues ???
    transmission ??? adapters for trans and t/case ??? auto trans ????
    exhaust ??? headers ????
    it's very do-able IMO
    rear axle should be upgraded to D44 IMO; D18, use the 1-1/4" shaft version; D25 front will hold up with a powerloc installed (getting harder to find)
    what did I leave out ????
    oh, time and money !!!
     
  17. Jul 20, 2005
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    here's a pair with built 400SBC, T350 autos, D18, D25, D44
    dunes only, no rocks for these flatties
     
  18. Jul 20, 2005
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    23,596
    The 215 is really light, but doesn't have the torque the 225 V6 has.

    So, a lightweight V8 swap with a lot of torque... the Chevy 283 was very popular in its day. Maybe a Buick 300/340/350? The Buick engines all have the distributor on the front AFAIK, just like the 225/231 V6. I think you can buy a SBC with an aluminum block as a crate engine - that would work well, if you can handle the cost.

    The L4 is pretty heavy for a 4-cylinder, so I don't think you need to worry too much about the weight of a late-model V8 engine (the early V8s are really heavy). Here's a list of weights to think about: http://www.241computers.com/ford/ContentExpress20-30-38.html
     
  19. Jul 20, 2005
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Wait till you see whats under That hood..... :p


    Chevy 265 would be gud also........if you found one
     
  20. Jul 20, 2005
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
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    4,418

    Jon's Jeep(mich pinstripes) can crawl over just about anything with that stock L-head. 8)

    Problem is it didn't make it up test hill last time I saw. ;) few more ponies for that...
     
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