51 willys v8 swap

So here we go, My step dad has this 51 willy that i rolled about 8 years ago, and im just getting started on fixing it. So far in the garage i have the frame and some mounts welded in for the v8. I have an adapter to the transmission, and thats pretty much it. I guess the plan is to make it as custom as possible. We plan on powder coating the frame and looks like we will have to make a x member.

That is a lil history and where im at right now with it. My question is has anyone here done this and if so would they have done anything different? Right now with the mounts welded in the v8 is level, but we are wondering if maybe it should have a slope?

Like i said any if would be nice. I will post pics asap.

Thank you

 

Welcome from Boston!

Yes, the engine should slope back. Which V8? Have you read the article on the Novak site? http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/early_cj_gm_engine_conversion.htm

 

My Pop put the SBC 327 in my GPW in 1965. It now has a TPI 350. No doubt the best thing he did back in 65 was cut the firewall where the distributor is and move it back about 6 inches. You can't get it out with the motor in the Jeep but the added clearance was vital to getting the Tuned Port Injection in the small engine bay. He must have had a Nostradomus moment when he did it because it looked like it had been customized for the TPI plenum and distributor. It is a very cool set up now that it is finished but if I had it to do over I would have went with a Ford V8 or pretty much anything with the distributor in the front of the motor. The biggest challenge was building all the brackets to use a modern alternator and power steering pump with a short water pump. Being an MB/GPW with the headlights behind the grill the whole head lights/ radiator/water pump/cooling fan/mass airflow sensor/radiator hoses/turn signals and belts was a true hair pulling, tool throwing experience. This might sound weird coming from a guy with a V8 flattie but, isn't there a nice V6 you would like to try? Also, what other drive train parts do you plan to upgrade? Depending on your choice of V8's and driving style you may want to consider this. Stock Flattie parts were no engineered for much torque. Other than the Dana 18 X-fer case not much will live long under any hard use. Dang, sorry to be a buzz kill but this can lead to a long frustrating project.If you would like some good pictures of mine drop me a line. Just to end this post on a positive note, there is nothing quite like the sound of all that Detroit muscle coming from a classic Jeep.

 

I am working on a V8 flatty as well. There were several people trying to talk me out of a V8 swap as well but I am determined to do it anyway. I just have to have the V8 power and sound. I am sure it is going to create some headaches in my buildup but nothing that I can't handle. Here is my buildup thread http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60125 I don't have a lot of good advice for you yet as I am only early in the buildup as well. I am hoping to have my drivetrain mocked up over my Christmas break. What engine are you using? Are you planning on using other beefed up drivetrain parts along with your engine? I am using a new 4.8L gm vortec engine from a 2000 Silverado along with a SM465, Dana 18, Dana 44 rear with Full Floating axle kit and 82 Dana 30 front with disk brakes. I have also fully boxed the frame and building new crosmembers and engine mounts to make it all work. Good luck with it, I will follow your buildup here. You can keep an eye on mine and hopefully get some info on it as well.
Greg

 

If you are going the V-8 route, get everything picked out before you weld it in. Get the radiatot and fan chosen. Get the motor as far foward as possible. Get a very short transmissin / transfer case combination. Do what ever you can to get that rear drive shaft longer especially if you plan any kind of lift.
You can choose a Dana 18, 20 or 300 case for it they are all strong enough. (the 18 being the weakest and offset). If it is going off road, then you probably want a granny four speed. You want to try and make your engine/ tranny/ tcase combination to not have any adapters that lengthen it. Again, keep it short, but it cannot be weak.
A little slope is not necessary for your engine to run properly, but you will want to slope it to help your rear driveshaft angles.
I would stop right where you are at and get everything planned exactly as you want it before welding anything else in. Decide everything, including lift and tires.
How do you intend to use the Jeep?

 

Just keep in mind EVERYBODY!!!!! The more you slope the V8 the more your front driveshaft yoke on the t case will point upward!!! Pinion angle is very important. Been there done that.Battled that gremiln and kicked its ***.

 

That's true, but in a flatty or CJ-5, the rear driveshaft has much worse driveshaft angularity problems than the longer front driveshaft. The right approach IMO is to tack the mounts in place, install the engine, trans and transfer case, install the driveshafts, and measure your driveshaft angles before you commit to an engine placement. This should need at least a few different tries to get it right. It would also be very helpful for the OP to list as many specifics about the project as possible - right now, all we know is that it's a '51, it's some type of V8, and that it's probably a flatty since it's in this forum. Not much to go on ...

The only reason I said tilt-back is because that's the way it's usually done. There may be good reasons to change the angle of the engine one way or the other - but that would depend on the specifics of the installation.

 

WOW Thanks for all of your input, i knew there would be some responses but i didnt know i would be able to get this much info. So here is a lil more input,We have an older v8 350, adapted to the t901a. with some 2.25 inch shackels on some after market leaf springs and rancho shocks. Were in the beginning stages, have only been working on it for maybe 2 weeks. I have included some pics to see where im at. thakns again.

 

Jim, be very careful welding a bunch of stuff to the frame before you test fit everything with the body on. On a flattie with a V8 a few inches here or there will make make or break the whole project. You are going to need the engine as close to the firewall as possible because you will need every available bit of clearance in front of the motor for the cooling system. And you may have to drop the motor a little in the chassis depending on what induction set up you run. V8's in flat fender Jeeps has been done thousands of times so it's not like your trying the impossible. Just test fit everything twice and weld once. Good luck!

 

X2 You must have the tub at least sitting on the frame, where it goes, before you can setup you engine mounts and crossmember.

 

The carb. base on the manifold should be level at rest. If you don't, if you don't you'll have mixture problems.

 

Ok so here some more info. We have 4 inch lift leaf springs and 2.25 in lift shackels. And on the front axle i have took of the mount plates and fitted the axle to sit under the leaf springs, so now the plate which holds the bottom shock mount is on top of the leafs. This was my dads idea and it has given it a lil bit more lift. So i want to do it to the rear as well. Does this seem ok? I cut out the engine mounts and am going to re set everything. So has anyone ever done this with the axles or do you think i might have a harder time getting the drive lines to set up right. Sorry if I dont know this. Im am new to working on jeep.Any info back would help. Thanks

 

sounds like u did a spring over... with that much lift (around 9") your going to have issues... problems with steering, caster,camber, pinion angle in the frt.

get yourself some diff axles.

check out jason's rig
http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40352

.02

edit: make that 10 plus inches.... forgot the shackles

 

ok so what i was thnking next was to get some axles from a new jeep along with the axles. Does anyone know if they are close to the same size as the ones that are on the 51 willys.and what about the way i did the spring over will there still be a problem with the camber. even if there is still this problem what can i do to fix it. will i have to have some custom axles built?

 

well havent been on here in a while and have done some work. have boxed the frame, tacked in the motor mounts, cut out rear x memeber and made a new one with 3 inch lift. also cut out the old side mounts made up a new ones. idk how to post pics but i put them in my album on here. and input accepted. i didnt know how to post pics on here so i created an album to look at and i made it public.

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=495&pictureid=2783

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/album.php?albumid=495&pictureid=2785

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/album.php?albumid=495&pictureid=2786

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=495&pictureid=2787

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=495&pictureid=2781