Difficult Swap?

Hello all,
I came across a clean low mileage 1979 buick 231 v6 even fire motor and would like to swap out my current stock F-134 out of my 1959 CJ5. Currently T-90/Dana 18. Assuming Advance Adapter parts will be needed. So would the 79 V6 work and if so how challenging of a swap would this be? I have pretty good/basic mechanical skills. Not sure I would use it but it comes with a newly rebuilt TH-350 Transmission.
As always, thanks in advance.
Todd

 

Ayuh,..... Amen to that,.....

I bought a '63 CJ 5 last Jan. which I thought was Great,.....
The guy that swapped on a glass body, also swapped in a dauntlas V6, gm T-350, adaptered to the oem transfer case,....
The motor is mounted 4" to far forward, 'n 4" to high,....
If he'd have just shortened the rear drive shaft, 'n lengthened the front drive shaft, everything woulda fit sooo much nicer,.....

As it is,.... It works, but the compromises are barely worth the hassle,....
No room for the radiator, electric fan stuffed into to small a spot,...
The headers rattle against the bottom of the body, under hard throttle,....

Since I brought this thing home, I've been amazed at what I'm findin,......
Like the front brake shoes mounted backwards,....
The trans dip stick, has it's tube support bolted to the body, rather than the bellhousin' bolt, which causes flexin' of the tube,....
'n I just found the fuse box, bolted on top of the brake pedal assembly,..... If it'd blown a fuse, the dash woulda had to come out to change it,....
Whata mess,.....

I am havin' "Fun" makin' it "Mine" though,....

 

I think your 1st decision will be AT or MT, that will dictate much of the rest of the swap.
A 231 is a good engine for an early CJ!

 

I would think . location of engine with a TH350 . been there
should be forward of stock V6 mounts . just to help with floor . that thing is huge compared to the T 90

 

Thank you all. I believe I’ll start with the V6 swap with the stock T-90 and possibly add an overdrive.

Quick question. Does it make a difference whether the V6 engine came from a automatic transmission going into a manual transmission set up?

 

231 even fire is something like 110 HP
225 odd fire is about 160
4.3 Chevy is up to 190 with FI.

I went 4.3 for a reason and I am very happy with it. They are cheap, available everywhere running for 500 bucks or less and parts are easy to obtain. They require no aftermarket FI or other issues to run well. I even kept the catalytic converter on mine.

I honestly do not think the even fire 231 is an upgrade from the F134 from the standpoint of how much work it takes to make the swap.

I would go with the most modern, cheapest , most readily available engine to replace the FHead.

 

When comparing those Buick numbers, I think you cross the gross versus net horsepower rating change so it's an apples to oranges comparison. I do think the 4.3 is a better choice but if I had a nice usable 231, it would get used. The 231 would be a very slightly easier install using the stock V6 engine mounts.

Welp James beat me too it----

 

To add data to this, I have an odd-fire 231 in one Jeep and a 225 in another. Both engines are stock with no modifications. The Jeep with the 225 feels peppier than the 231 equipped Jeep in the same gear but not hugely peppier. Both have plenty of power to go down the highway at 60mph.

It sounds like the primary reason the 231s have a little less power is a compression ratio drop from 9.0:1 on the 225s to 8.0:1 on the 231.

You will need to find an even fire 231 flywheel or find a 225 Jeep flywheel and get it re-balanced for the 231. You'll also need a Buick bellhousing, an adapter to the T-90, a clutch assembly, pilot bearing, the proper length throw-out bearing, and a clutch fork.

Novak has adapters and information here:

• https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/adapters/engine-to-transmission/gm/kits-cx/
  
• https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/engines/about/buick/buick-90-v6/

 

I’m not even sure given the modern engines out there that the 4.3 is the best choice.

I do know that to make the even fire engine worth running you’re going to want to Install aftermarket FI. That costs more money than a running 4.3. As stated above its not entirely plug and play either.

I loved my odd fire 225. The reality is it’s an antique engine and unless you have one native to your jeep, not an excellent choice for your money.

Its not 1985 anymore and there are many other options for re-power more available, lighter, cheaper and with more HP than this old stuff. It also doesn’t require more work all the time and sometimes less to make happen.

I also don’t think there is a single thing wrong with an FHead for normal everyday stuff.

 

I agree with this.
Both Steve and I had the same axle ratios and, tire size.
The jeeps were very close power wise with the 225 in my jeep only slightly better in 3500 rpm and below range. Steve would beat me on the top end, only because he was willing to ring his even fire up to 5k rpm.

 

thank you. What would you suggest as a modern day option engine swap?
I guess a OD might be my first stop to try. The steel hardtop definitely adds weight.

 

Weight with a very high center of gravity. My Meyer's top that came dealer installed on my CJ5 lasted about 6 months. What a difference the Whitco made in handling. I'm sure getting rid of that increased the acceleration too but I really didn't notice that much with the 225.

As for modern engine swaps, there is indeed a lot of stuff out there that would work well---------if you are an electrical engineer. Again, if I had a 231 that needed no work, I would be using it.

 

LS swaps are popular with the Commando crowd, but I don't know of anyone who has one in a CJ.
The 231 is an archaic engine by modern standards, but it's a whole generation newer that the design of the CJ.
Hell, GM used the Buick V6 design up into the early 2000's. I think a 231 with a Qjet & HEI would be a great CJ engine, and you're not re-inventing the wheel. This swap has been done 1,587,431 times before.

 

Nearly any Japanese pickup/SUV engine, transmission, & transfer case would be a good choice. OD is built right into the 5-speed transmission. Toyota would be my pick, but to each his own.
Yes, I know, say goodbye to the PTO option.

 

thank you. That’s what I want to hear. Time, money and outcome.

 

I don't know this for a fact, but my suspicion is that the Toyota (or other Japanese) 5 speed would be too long for a CJ.
Also, there would be the issue of electronics...you'd probably have to have a whole truck to part out & cobble together a wiring harness, as I doubt anyone makes stand alone harnesses.

 

volvo well it's not japanese

 

Hmmm, maybe so. I tend to look at issues from a CJ6 point of view.