Blown engine??

Hi there, great site!! I purchased my jeep after the P/O let it have a massive heart attack (thrown connecting rod through the drivers side of the 225 block). I'm assuming that gapping hole on the side of the block aswell as the inner carnage makes it unuseable. So the question being, whats my best option to getting a buick V6 back in my jeep? Do I go 225 or 231, with an interchangeablity of parts combination? Any suggestion would be great.
Thanks J

 

A 231 will be the easiest to find. Get a complete engine if you can. I don't know how much interchange there is between the 225 and the 231.

 

Thanks for the reply, I guess it's off to the wreckers or the junk papers for and old 231 v6. Funny I was looking at a new 4-cylinder Mitsubishi diesel that powered a genny I was wirrring up today and couldn't help thinking it sure look like it would fit nicely into old red.
J

 

Chevy has a new 5 cylinder that look interesting too.
but really your best bet is a..... just my .02 cents here...
I dont have a motor in yet and have thought about this for 2 years.

Buick odd fire would be good, 231 easier to find in a donor..

Vortec v6 with TBI is a really smart choice.
There easy to find and shorter and lighter and twice the power of the original.. plus fuel injection is really safer in a 4x4.
I have both too chose from and cant make up my mind.

I do think diesel is too much effort for what it would bring to the table.
And a V8 is just 2 heavy when a v6 would give you plenty of torque for a jeep.

I have a 383 SBC sitting but I wont put it in.

 

Hey, your right a little stock 1/4 ton jeep doesn't need a v8, but as for the desel 4 banger it looked light, everything was pretty much self-contained as it was mounted to the engine, the bell housing even looked like it could be easily delt with.

But whats the deal with the GM 4.3 v6? I'm not really into the fuelly thing, though I did a 5.0 liter fuelly into a '67 mustang (dads car). I like the KISS theory less to go wrong the better you know. So is there a stock GM part intake for the block that will convert to Carb? Will the block bolt up to the T-14 without a visit to AA or Novak..
Any suggestion would be helpful thanks.
J

 

I'd go with EFI on a 4.3 if at all possible. Easiest way is probably either buying a wrecked rig and getting everything you need, or maybe getting it from a junkyard. It looks like Edelbrock makes a carb manifold for the 4.3 FI http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/manifolds/chevy_v6_perf.shtml

 

If I had the $$ I would go with the 4.3. It takes all 350 parts internal just 2 less well all most. if you are afraid of the wiring ck out a painless harness the make it easy. the TIP injection is verry reliable and time tested. To get a good running 4.3 and put in in probly wont cost much more than bying a 231 or 225 and rebuilding it. I would realy look in to it. A
Deisal is noisy and smells the extra torque is not worth it I dont think that comming from a deisal tec. working on them for 15+ years.
but that is just my 2 cents worth.
The morst important thing is what you will be happy with good luck with your project stick with it and have fun.

 

Yes you can get carbs for the older 4.3s they are the same as the 3.8L 90deg chevy v-6s( not buick) Boyink has one so do I but I plan on swapping in FI ASAP once I get chia on the road.

 

225's are out there, I have had no issues getting parts. I would think swaping a fresh 225 would be the simplest and cheapest. It would bolt right in!
My.02

 

For a 4.3L you'll have to change the frame mounts and maybe dent the firewall to clear the distributor. The Jeep/Buick V6s have a front-mounted distributor, and the rear mounted distributor on the 4.3L could get in the way. That is, if you don't move the drivetrain around.

The 4.3L can be had with MPI or TBI, but you can convert the 225/231 to TBI pretty easily, even the oddfire engines.

I'd say look around and find a good deal on a 225/231, unless you really want the 4.3L. Owners like the exhaust note of the 225 (or OF 231) - it's distinctive. Plus the oddfire flywheel is really heavy, which likely helps the reputation for great chug-factor that these engines have.

 

The p/o of my '59 had left the heads off of the 231 oddfire for the last 12-15 years...so needless to say it is stuck. The bellhousing that was on there (231-t-90) bolted right up to the 4.3 chevy from an '85 astro van I found at the junkyard. It is carburated so the only real changes that will have to be made are with the wiring and possibly the fuel. The mounts were broken anyway so not a big concern having to move them around as well. The 4.3 is also very close to the same length so there won't be much need to change drivetrain lengths either. Go with the 4.3 unless you want to keep this an original...or close to.

 

After posting I realized that I mis-spoke. The CHEVY bellhousing bolted right up to the adapter that was on the t-90 from the 231 bellhousing. Clear as mud???

 

Going to the EFI engine probably is a big improvement, but For me personally, I would run the 231. or 225 if I could find one.

 

R) From way out in left field, how about the 3.7 litre dodge dakota engine?

That's about 225 ci, according to my owners manual.