engine conversion

I am Wondering if anyone here has herd of putting a 258 inline 6 in a earlier cj-5? I have a 55 cj-5 with the stock f-head and I want to repower for a little more horsepower I would like to do a buick v6 converswion but i am finding the v6 is not easily found especialy because I would like to have the whole donnor vehichle insted of just buying an engine. the reason I am wondering about the 258 is I have a junk cj-7 with a good running motor, is this sumthing that has been done? can i still use the same tranny? are the bellhousings compatable?


Thanks for your time
Norton

1955 cj-5 134 f-head

 

Seems that I have heard of this but not quite sure. I recall that there are some issues with block length. Some of the postal jeeps had a factory extended grill to accomodate the 258 ci, IIRC.

Check Tech Library-

Mark

 

Yeah, if you had a bubble grille from a postal Jeep, you could fit it in. Inline 6s have been put in the 71 and earlier CJ-5, but (without the uh, goofy looking grille) you must move the firewall back. You'd probably have driveshaft length problems too with anything but a T-90 behind it.

I've seen the Chevy 230/250 swapped, and the 170/200 Ford inline 6s. The Ford looks neat because (I think) you can use the same shallow bell as the Pinto uses for the swap, thus using the short T-90 input shaft, and the Ford is comparatively short and really lightweight. Still requires the firewall to be moved back though.

Studebaker inline 6s were a popular swap in the 50s, but again, overall length is the problem.

Today, the inline 6 swaps are extinct because you have the Buick and Chevy V6s that fit sooo much better, and both use the same adapter. Look for a 4.3L V6 from an Astro van if you can't find a Buick. You could probably use a Dodge V6 too, mated to a Dodge T-18 or NP435... though I've never seen it done.

 

While it may be a little pricier to come by a Buick V6 you'll save in the long run I think. You'd have to do so much work to get your jeep working right with a long inline engine that you'd end spending more.