Dauntless

[Doug_3B]

I've been tossing around the idea of a Dauntless in my 3B for years.  In fact, several years ago, I picked up a CJ5 with a Dauntless just for the engine.  Well, marriage and family and everything else gets in the way and I needed to sell the CJ5, so bye bye Dauntless.  But, a V6 from a CJ5 just showed up here locally.  it's seized and has a transmission and transfer case on it for $300.  It all looks complete.

It would be several years before I'm ready to take the 3B down to do that modification.  I have the time to tear into it and have it machined and rebuild it.  Questions that I have:  Anything in particular that I should be looking for since it's seized?  Is it even worth it?  I'm assuming that there isn't really a way to tell if it's totally ruined without tearing into it.  I wouldn't even look at it except that its the first one I've seen in the 7 or 8 years that I've been looking here.

I'm not 100% set on this project or this engine.  My plan is to wait it out and if the engine is still available in a month or so, maybe I'll make an offer.  Also, I wanted to go to a V6 because the 3B is really under powered and it's difficult to get anywhere around here.  I wanted to be able to go camping/fishing with my wife and not be limited to the local area.  But, I solved that problem about a month ago by picking up a 91 YJ.  So maybe I keep the 3B as is.  Decisions, decisions.  I'm kind of thinking out loud here and wondering what you all think?

[aboyandhisdog]

Since you don't really NEED the new engine, I'd keep your 3B stock assuming your F head is running fine.  Go camping in the YJ.  Now if you are just looking for an engine project, then dive into that Dauntless and have a good time.  You can always sell it when you get it all sorted.

[oldtime]

The Dauntless alone won't make your 3B a road warrior.
I vote to keep the F-134 unless you wanna do several other mods along with the engine swap.

That said you might enjoy rebuilding it ...."just in case".
If you dump $2K or $3K into a Dauntless you'll never recoup all the money without running the miles back out of it.

[Doug_3B]

You know what, I think you guys are right:  I'm going to keep the 3B original.  The 134 in it now doesn't have 7,000 miles on a full rebuild.  I don't really need more projects, and if I ever do, I may re-do the body work and repaint the 3B one day.  Going faster in the 3B doesn't really seem like the right thing to do anyway.  It can already do 60 if I want to rev up the RPMs a little bit.  In my YJ, 30 years newer, I don't really feel good much about 70. 

I do like building engines, but it is just going to cost me money that I can put into another project.

I appreciate the reality check!

[aboyandhisdog]

Good call!

[Goose]

Hey Doug I'm in the middle of the Dauntless switch right now after years of underpowered ownership, I'll let you know how it goes.

[duffer]

In my YJ, 30 years newer, I don't really feel good much about 70.

70 mph in an 80" wheelbase early Willys is entirely doable.  But as Ken (oldtime) noted, a lot of other work is required to make that safe.  You basically have to build the entire Jeep with that in mind and it somewhat complicates also setting it up so it performs well off road.  But it can be done.  I drive that fast all the time in my 3B when on-road heading to trailheads.