198 Fireball V6

Who knows much about the "Fireball" Buick 198 V6 offered in Buick cars prior to Jeeps 225 Buick V6..
I know it is also a odd fire engine! and shares similar parts!

Thanks

 

only a few parts are shared. 198 parts are harder to find than 225 or 231 parts. Not highly regarded by most. I had one in the 65 when I bought it. Gasket set was hard to come by but I found one.

 

As far as I have found so far! the bell housing bolt pattern is the same??? Yes/No
And it looks like motor mounts are the same?

 

Different I believe. pics below at link

http://www.earlycj5.com/technical/engines/common-bellhousings-identification-guide/

motor mounts may be the same. I don't remember about that

 

Thanks,
I had searched and came up with blanks on this engine!
This one has a T86 and a Spicer 18 behind it!
SO I would just need a 225/231 bell housing to change the motor!

 

I think so. If the motor mounts are in a different place on the 198 block you may need to change the location of the mounts on the frame as well.

If you do a search, the 198 has been discussed here some. May save you some heartache or research time if you do.

 

Hi, I ran a 198 back in the 70's in my MB.
Yep, the BH is the same as the 215 V8. I think that the motor mounts are the same, cam is the same, flywheel and crank shaft are different and I think that the exhaust manifolds will interchange but the 198's are a bit smaller Dia IIRC.
The guy that helped me with mine said that the 198 is more responsive to performance upgrades than the 225.
If you want to race it, you can do the upgrades in compression, cam, balance,etc., it can develop more HP than the 225 with the same upgrades but won't have the torque where you want it.
It was a fun motor, considerably better on the road than the L134 and did quite well off road.
They really do rev up quite nicely, didn't seem to mind 6 grand at all.
Then again, the parts are harder to find, I think I would stick with the 225 and go from there.

 

Today, it's an oddball. Not a bad motor, but an oddball.

If you find a Jeep with a 198 that runs well, you might buy it. If someone gave you the whole shebang from front to back, it might be worthwhile. It will be expensive to repair or rebuild though. But I certainly would not seek out the 198 or consider a 198 from a Buick donor for a swap.

 

I would pass on the 198 and find a 225/231 and make your life easier...I
Have a customer with a 198 and some parts are difficult/impossible to find. He says the only reason he used it was because back
In the day it was the best running engine in the junkyard he could find

 

Thanks for the input! I just picked one up from a Cj2A with a T90 and S18 complete fan to output including t-case shifters, cross member and all.. a couple hundred bucks in running condition. I am putting it into my CJ2A setting on a CJ5 frame.
I like oddballs.. I am finding parts are not as hard as some say to find. I did a little research on some hot rodders forums and find guys that really like these and say these can produce gobbs more HP than any other Buick V6 when built right! Summit racing has quite a bit of parts listed and I am finding common stuff that is interchangeable with the 225 V6 or from the 215 V8.. I am going to use it.. especially now that people tell me I should not! Thats motivation for me!
Thanks
Dave

 

Dave,
To each their own and I wish you luck...I learned long ago while being oddball is cool it's alot harder on the wallet

 

Just for some info!
The motor mounts are the same on my 63' 198 as a 225. I just measured and called Novak!
Hi performance clutches are available from Summit racing!

 

Just found out I too have a 198...parts are hard to find but it runs good now.

 

I've been playing with the BOP 215 V8s (a real close cousin to the 198 Fireball) for close to 40 years now. These two engines share most of the same architecture as they were designed in tandem. They have the same two "ear" bellhosing as well as the front cover and oil pump. This basic 215 was in production up through around 1999 as a Rover engine, only with displacement increases and improvements. There are still parts that interchange with your 198 V6 from at least '95 Discos, including the bellhousing pattern.
I ran a '63 Buick 215 in my '65 Tux when I was in high school and college. It was great. I put a 198 in a friends M38 back in that same era, and it pulled quite well, especially compared to the tired flathead 134 that came out.
-Donny

 

Was at the pull and pay last weekend there was `59 cj5 with what at first looked like a 225.
The starter mounted upside down and the bell housing was not BOP. It had a 2gc (automatic choke).

 

does anyone know if the power steering pump/bracket is the same as a 215 or other motor? A struggle to find...

 

I have a willys cj5 with a 198 fireball v6 mated to a t98 transmission, and I emailed Novak and asking them what all I'd need to swap in a 225 v6. Long story short they told me that the 198 bellhousing would work with the 225 and that I'd need the 225 flywheel. I emailed them again explaining that I've read into and researched info on parts compatability between the 198 and 225 that gave me the impression that the 198 bellhousing was non compatible with the 225, they said it would definitely work...

 

225 and 198 bellhousings are not the same. They do share a lot of parts in the motors