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Buick 215 Aluminum V8 in 1960 CJ5

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by linckeil, Aug 19, 2004.

  1. Sep 22, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

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    I didn't notice this was a 17 year old post, but the new member is asking for current help.
     
  2. Sep 22, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    He is looking for a Buick 198 v6/215 v8/Rover v8 bell housing. 225 bell housings will not work with the earlier bell housing bolt patterns.
     
  3. Sep 22, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

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    I did not realize the 198 V6 and 215 V8 were a different bell housing from the 225.
     
  4. Sep 22, 2021
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes 198 is the old Buick " nailhead" round pattern
     
  5. Sep 24, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    The 198/215/Rover pattern has the "Mickey Mouse " ears; two distinct tabs about 10:00 and 2:00.
    I've been playing with these since I put a 215 in my Tux back in '76 after breaking the crank in my F134.
    I've never seen this thread! Been there, done that. My Jeep weighed under 2,000 lbs.
    -Donny
     
  6. Sep 24, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

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    I had a 56 Buick Century with one of the first generation nailhead engines, which was an iron block engine, and later briefly had a mid sixties Buick Special with the smaller aluminum block engine, but I never had the engine out in either car.

    The aluminum engine might be very interesting in a Jeep, depending on what the intended purpose is for the Jeep.
     
  7. Sep 24, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    I just read the old thread, and I can't believe how inaccurate many of the responses back in 2004 were. Many of the replies were based on heresay rather than actual knowlege or experience.
    Buick, Olds, and Pontiac used variations of this engine from '61 through '63, including a 215 hp turbocharged Olds version. There are many versions of the "215" which is a 3.5 liter, as purchased by Rover around 1968. This engine was further developed/improved by Rover up to 4.6 liters, and a 5 liter version developed by TVR, producing well over 300 hp.
    As far as swapping into a CJ, there is a factory Buick 198/215 bellhousing that allows a short shaft T90 to bolt directly to these Buick engines, or aftermarket bellhousings and adapters to use the long shaft T90J, or about any other popular transmission. Though the 215 isn't known to make gobs of torque, with a mild cam, it easily equals that of a 225 Dauntless, with far more horsepower. My Tux with a near stock (mild cam) 4300 series 215 would go from idling in high range 1st gear to 25' rooster tails off all 4 wheels with just a jab of the throttle in the sand. It also easily wound the speedo needle to the fuel gauge on the road, in my younger days. In over 20 years of using and abusing that Jeep, about the only thing that ever broke was the clutch cable. Its an excellent engine, especially if you try to build a light weight, capable CJ.
    The Rovers (Land Rover/Range Rover) used this engine in the Stage 1 starting in 1979, through 2002 in later models, so there are literally 10's of 1000s of them out there, so they're far from rare.
    They were also used by Rover, Triumph, MG, TVR, Marcos, and Morgan over in England in cars. I still have my Triumph TR8 with the alloy V8, and I quite a fan of these engines.
    Any questions?
    -Donny
     
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