What to do now?!?

I am in a conundrum and looking for suggestions. I was planning on a frame up rebuild of a rust bucket 1969 CJ5. Once I got it apart I found out it had an even fire 231, a T15 connected to a spicer 20 connected to an amc 20 rear axle and a dana 27 front axle. I trashed the body, gots 10 cents a pound for it. As this is my first rebuild attempt I have the all the parts out getting a look over, slash rebuild if necessary. So far the transfer case is fine with new seals as the only parts needed, the transmission had a bad first gear, but the rest was fine, and the 4wd guy says he is optimistic the diffs and axles are good. I just found out my 231 block is cracked.

I have the frame primed and sitting in my garage, the other parts are coming to me in the next few weeks. What would be some engine options that will allow me to keep the rest of the running gear? I want the outside to look stock, but am now pondering a v8, but not sure the old t15 can handle it. I would love to put a 225 dauntless back in it, the VIN says it rolled off the line with one, but how easy are they to find?

Thanks for your help!

 

A T-15 is strong, and will be just fine behind a V8. It was the standard transmission from '70 through '79 in 258/304/360 Wagoneers and J-trucks, as well as with the 304 in CJs 72-75. No problem.

Billy makes a good point ... maybe you want to find another one and combine the best pieces from each. Sounds like a rather large fraction of this Jeep is unusable or missing.

 

When I tore the engine down it looked okay so I already have too much into the Jeep to start fresh. I am leaning towards the 304 I just needed the reinsurance that my transmission would hold up. Thanks for the inputs. Hopefully I will have some rebuild pics to post soon.

 

JMHO, but the 225 is a better engine than the 304. And it should bolt right up to your tranny. Or how about a fuel injected
4.3L? I'll bet there is a story behind why you have an AMC 20 rear axle. You might want to confirm that the gear ratios are the same front and rear.

 

I have a D-225 Block if you are interested. Jon@qualitycontracting.us

 

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If I had a T-15 that's already been adapted to the 225/231 Buick Pattern, then I would not go to an AMC 304. Nothing wrong with the 304, but there are more desirable Buick V8s that will easily replace the 225. And if the T-15 is adapted, you can switch to a Chevy bell and run any of the small-block-based Chevys, like the 4.3L V6 or any of the V8s.

If the T-15 had not been adapted to the V6, then the 304 would make some sense. But the V6s are easier to swap in, due to the short engine compartment of the early CJ. The V8s can be put in there, but you have to be more careful of placement and change more stuff.

Are you sure this is a T-15? The T-15 was never offered with the V6, so it would have to have been swapped in. The T-15 will not bolt up to the V6 without an aftermarket adapter or possibly some machining.

You don't have to think of getting another Jeep as starting over - instead it's more like buying a parts car to supplement what you have. Trying to put together a Jeep that's incomplete can turn into a money pit, and buying another complete Jeep as a parts car will be less expensive than finding what you need piecemeal.

 

BTW this is like a $300 Jeep in my opinion - $1500 is a fantasy. Maybe I'd pay $500 if it had some desirable parts.

If you're interested, go and look at it and make a reasonable offer. Even if they turn it down at the time, it's very unlikely to sell at that price... they might get back to you.

 

:iagree:

 

13-07-055-901. It was bolted to my even fire 231 v6 but I don't know if it ever ran.