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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
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    I'll just come and get Wimpy.........Will you dig him up for me......... :( :hurrican:
     
  2. Jul 20, 2005
    michigan_pinstripes

    michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

    Clarkston MI...
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    Aug 20, 2003
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    605
    yup, 62 hp stocker. Modifications: 2.5" Superlift springs, 1/2" Conferr shackles, 33x12.5 Swamper TSL's on 10" wide steel modulars. 11" postal Jeep drum brakes on front. I wouldn't want to go any taller IMO --hard to get in as it is! Well mannered on the road too! On board arc welder.

    Pretty sluggy in the sand but gets there (can't get any speed). Idles over rocks on the trails.

    Not bad roll cage, needs rear hoop.
     
  3. Jul 20, 2005
    Southtowns27

    Southtowns27 Custom Title

    The Backhills of...
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    [​IMG]
    Here's a Chevy 283 in my '55 CJ5. It fits nice, but it took a LOT of planning and organization to make it work right. I have an SM465 tranny, D18 t-case, Powrlocked Dana 44 rear and a Dana 27 front. I retained the original Ross steering, but I had to relocate the oil filter, you can see it mounted to the firewall. I also had to cut out the radiator ducting and move the rad. very far forward. I had a custom radiator built and I need both mechanical and electric fans to keep it cool. I had to move the tranny crossmember back about 4 inches. It's not a big job, I only had to drill 4 new holes. I built an entire new mechanical clutch linkage out of steel rod and heim ends. I also had to have the rear driveshaft shortened and the front lengthened. If you're very mechanically adept, I say go for the V8. If your mechanical skills/abilities are a bit shaky, go with a V6...it's TONS simpler.
     
  4. Jul 20, 2005
    Spicolli

    Spicolli jeep geek

    So. Cal.
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    Dec 23, 2004
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    188
    I had a ford 289 in my cj2a and its a tight fit. if you go v8 you have to update your Rear Axle to min. D44 and the tapered axle wont do for long (to weak) also you need to mod the frame! if you know what your doing you can make it look fine. Then you need to update steering, cooling, ect.
    I ran my 289 for some time then broke a axle (i know it was a matter of time)
    Good points of v8 are low rpm with higher tourk
    Bad are cooling, size, to much tourk for stock drive train.
    I have since installed a 231 buick (just right and good fit for flattie) If you can get a 225 or OF 231 you'll get cool sound and lots of good usable power to your flattie! (and less total cost for swap) !!
    :beer: ;) :beer:
     
  5. Jul 20, 2005
    67cj5

    67cj5 Member

    Oregon
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    Oct 15, 2004
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    347
    My friend up here on oregon has an AMC 304 in his. He put an after market hood on it and it and extended the front end. Looks sharp
     
  6. Jul 20, 2005
    rambunctious

    rambunctious New Member

    Holland, Michigan
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    Jul 20, 2005
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    I am a mechanical engineer, for what that's worth :oops:
    I can wrench to keep my offshore boat on the water with twin bigblocks, but don't know a thing about dana axles or transfer case model numbers.... :?

    i have a couple jeep'n buddies that do know and this forum will be awesome.

    i wanted a low torque v8 so that maybe the drivetrain could be used, but still have a v8. and that's when my buddy told me about the 215.

    so, keep the advice coming, and someone give me the secret adapter part number that bolts that 215 right inplace :shock:)

    thanks

    Ramb
     
  7. Jul 21, 2005
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Jun 15, 2003
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    IMO the best V-8 to use if so inclined would be a short deck Ford.. 240/260/289/302. The last being the cheapest and easiest to get parts for and they are very compact and light for a V-8. I have an article from a 1965 hotrod mag where they swap a 289 into an early 5.. I am sure that may help, if you want I can e mail the article to you, or better yet **** Sparky*** hows about I e mail it to you and we add it to the tech area?? It is a pretty detailed (4 pages) article.. As with the rest of the crew here though i'd opt for the Dauntless (biased opinion) but it will easily run with or outrun V-8's with little or no mods and has a cool sound all it's own. I love a V-8 with flowmasters too but every time I hear a dauntless the rest just sound "common"

    BUBBA
     
  8. Jul 21, 2005
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Local Jeep guys? Sounds like a meet and greet might be in order... Haven't bumped into too many older Jeep owners locally.
     
  9. Jul 21, 2005
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

    Living the Good...
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    There's a 350 in my jeep. ALL of the push jeeps have v8's in them. There is no cheap way to do it. You will be buying adapters, moving crossmembers....Well worth it though ;)
     
  10. Jul 21, 2005
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    Hey Bubba I'd like to see/read that V8 Ferd swap. ;)
     
  11. Jul 21, 2005
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    My understanding is that the SBF is longer than the SBC and has the pan sump forward instead of back. The Chevy is narrow and short, although the distributor is at the back IIRC. That's why I mentioned the Buicks; plus the Buick engines have a longer stroke thus more torque.

    Before the Jeep/Buick V6 was widely available, the choice swap for flatties was the SBC, typically a 283 or 327, although the 265 that Billy mentions is externally the same but kinda scarce. Ramb, if you haven't looked at the Novak site, you should. http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/cj2a_swap.htm

    Isn't the 215 bell the same as the 198 (early Buick) V6 bell? Somebody on here knows about these, and had some parts for sale. Search the archives. There's a standard GM adapter to the T-90 transmission (stock 3-speed) that replaces the input shaft with a longer one from a Jeep truck, along with a plate adapter. I don't recall that this will bolt up to the 198/215 bell, but you should be able to use the same approach to adapt the Buick.
     
  12. Jul 21, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    198/215 are the same BH Pattern.

    http://www.earlycj5.com/tech/engines/225/bellhousingGuide.shtml
     
  13. Jul 21, 2005
    sasquatch

    sasquatch I'm big in Japan.

    Kadena AB,...
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    Count me in on that.

    Welcome from Grand Rapids! A Mech Eng in training here. Go to Michigan Tech, working an internship at Smiths Aerospace right now.
     
  14. Jul 21, 2005
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    Isn't this the same bolt pattern as the current Rover engines? I thought that was unchanged when Rover bought the 215 from Buick, I know alot of the Buick and Rover parts between the v8 and the v6 are interchangeable depending on the years.
     
  15. Jul 21, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Believe your right Mike IIRC I've seen bellhousings for sale listed that they fit either.
     
  16. Jul 21, 2005
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    I think the older rovers are the same. If I read correctly, the newer engines are a little different.
    For what its worth... the 215 I've been collecting parts for has a buick block, olds heads, and a rover crank. Everything dry fits together ok to me. Only problem I think I may have is I need to find a rover crank pulley because the buick pulley won't fit and vice-versa...

    As far as the adapter, I'm not sure right now if its just a 198/215 specific adapter, or if it will fit the other gm engines.
     
  17. Jul 21, 2005
    Southtowns27

    Southtowns27 Custom Title

    The Backhills of...
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    The 215 has the same bolt pattern as a 198, but that doesn't mean the 215 is going to just bolt right in. Even with the 215 you'll still be moving crossmembers, figuring out cooling, changing driveshafts, etc etc etc. IMO, if you're going to go through all that work anyway, go with a smallblock Chevy. There are TONS left out there and parts are the cheapest by far. Go drag a 283 out of a junkyard, rebuild it and stick it in there. Just my .02
     
  18. Jul 21, 2005
    coby61

    coby61 Stupidiotic Member

    Prunedale CA
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    SBF is longer than a SBC except when you add the water pump from a 94-95 Mustang and then they are the same length. the SBF is also not as wide as the SBC. If I was going to go back to a V8 in my 3b I would go with 5.0 Ford roller motor with a mild cam and headers. The biggest issue you will have in 2a or M38 is hood clearence for the carb or fuel injection so I let that be your guide.
     
  19. Jul 22, 2005
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    I sent it to sparky so it should show up soon but I'll e mail it to ya, I don't have your addy on this machine so drop an e mail to scott.liechti@ge.com and I'll send it to ya..

    BUBBA
     
  20. Jul 22, 2005
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    You have mail Dutch boy intern. :D
     
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