226 in a Willys CJ?

[Comanche_County]

Have any of you seen an L head 226 in a CJ2A/3A? � Today such a swap would fall into the "yeah you could do it but why the heck would you" category. �Bear with me here,,,pretend the year is 49' or 50' and you're not concerned with originality and you want to use a Willys six cylinder. �So the odd fire v6, ford four banger and all other options are out. �

I tried a couple of search engines and couldn't find anything but I know its been done somewhere along the Jeep/Willys Mechanical Modder's Time Continuum. � Yes, I know its too long, if mounted forward where would it mount, the rad would have to be changed, perhaps the bell crank, or just moving the whole drivetrain rearward, cutting the firewall, modding the shift levers, lengthening the wheelbase. �

Just wondering if anyone has done it without hacking the Jeep to bits and actually made it look good?

edit: FYI, an article on old school engine swaps:  http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/engine/154_0605_jeep_engine_swaps_old_school/viewall.html

[Gunslinger]

Rocketeer did a Ford V8 in a CJ2A frame its the older 250CID style, not sure on specifics. but again thats a short block compared to the 6 cyliner.  Not sure on that one.

[calvinhunt]

Just one block from my house in a back yard shed there sits a 1942 Army Jeep with a 1953 Plymouth flathead six in it. �Not sure if the Jeep is a Willys or Ford. �I was told but don't remember. �The owner and �modifier passed away about the time I started my restoration 4 years ago. �He installed that engine about 25 years ago and that Jeep was on the trail more than it was at home ever since. �Prior to his passing I had a few opportunities to do some Jeeping with him on our local trails. �It certainly impressed me how well his little flattie did with that engine installed. �It had a lot of torque and lugging power. �Where certain sandy hills or climbs with lose rocks would require me, with my L-head 134, to get a run at it and be assisted with momentum, he had just enough power to get through such spots without the momentum. �He never cared about looks, just function. And function it did. �I am saddened that since his death the Jeep has not moved from where he last parked it, just left to dust, cobwebs, and decline.
 
He moved the radiator forward right next to the grill. �I asked him if he needed to use such a large radiator that he had to cut the hood. �He said, "No, Just one that I had". He added that at first he didn't think the original Jeep radiator would have provided sufficient cooling for the 6 cyl but afterwards he believed that it would have. �


View from above (I pulled the large diameter air filter he was using for better pics).


The right side.


The left side.




From underneath showing the oil pan, bell housing dust cover pan, and front end of tranny.


Here is another engine he had recently acquired before his death which he had planned to swap out. �It was a low-mileage engine in great shape and would have been the simpler alternative to overhauling the worn engine.

[Comanche_County]

Yep I knew it, someone had done something like it.  Good stuff, I dig old school ingenuity!  That's cooler than a blown SBC any day.  8-)   I guess they won't sell it?  

[calvinhunt]

Sell? �I haven't asked. �The family (the wife and two grown sons with families of their own) are good friends of mine. �I've stayed close to them even though the father, a Jeeping friend, passed away about 4 years ago. �He was really into Jeeps from an early age. �At the time of his passing his back yard looked like a Jeep museum. �The wife, with input from the two sons, has parted with much of that stuff. �There are still lots of parts of Jeeps and a couple of Jeeps that are quite stripped down. �The only two vehicles that are still complete are the 42 Army Jeep with the 6 cyl engine and the little four-wheel drive tractor (mostly complete) made from Jeep parts (See topic - Homemade Jeep Tractor). �Even though they have sold so many "projects" from the back yard, it seems to me that this Jeep would be like a member of the family. �The two boys learned to drive in that Jeep. �Selfishly I would hate to see it go away, but I also hate to see it just sit there and die. �It hasn't moved since the owner backed it into the shed and parked it where it now sits.
I'll ask them about the possibility of selling it and respond with my answer.

[calvinhunt]

Sure enough, this six cylinder Jeep is Not For Sale.  It truly is a member of the family.  But, because I asked them about it, it has caused them to realize that it's no tribute to Dad to have his old Jeep sit there gathering dust.  I believe it has stirred the two sons, who each have nice Jeeps of their own (CJ-5 & CJ-7) to get their dad's Jeep back on the trail.  They have told me that they will be putting the better engine in like their dad had planned.  As that happens I'll post some better pictures of this installation.  

[Gunslinger]

Good for you yoiu for asking Calvin, sometimes with things like that a feller just needs a kick in the butt to get moving.
Todd

[rocketeer]

There was a very early 6 cyl swap that's almost unheard of today but a number of WWII jeeps have shown up with this combination. The WWII M29 Weasel had a 6 cyl Studebaker in it that was a fairly easy swap into a jeep with no need to hack it up. The Weasel engine was essentially the pre-war Champion engine. Both vehicles used the same transmission so it was a direct bolt-up. The only problem was the waterpump which needed an offset for the Weasel engine but no offset for the Champion engine.

Larry