Motor swap + more

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial WWII field mods NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by Marty, SoCal » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:44 pm

An automatic trans is easier on the driveline and frame, too.

If you switch to Saginaw steering, be sure to add a support brace from the gear box over to the passenger side frame. Even on late CJ's, it's needed to help prevent the front of the frame from fatigue cracking.

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by JIMN » Thu Sep 28, 2017 6:05 pm

Some folks here probably should not read the forum section called "Modifications". They know it will be painful for them, I guess they are masochist :D .
There is also not really a shortage of MB/GPW jeeps that have been brought back to original-like condition, so no need to worry about depriving anything from history.

Don't forget that later jeeps came equipped with a 225 Buick V6. Those fit well, are easier on your drivetrain parts and have a unique look to them.
I believe it would be worth the effort to find one. Check one out in a jeep before you do the Vortec.

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by lt.luke » Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:36 am

The flathead Ford 8 has been stuffed in everything imaginable since they built them. There are multiple versions available from about 1936 - about 1952. They fit in a jeep engine bay pretty cleanly. If you go that route, use available aftermarket stuff to figure out which variant to look for as a base. The "60" is probably the best as the aftermarket was full of performance and rebuild stuff going back to when they were new. This is due to that engine being the basis of a racing class back in the day. I had a 1937 85HP (early 21 stud, IIRC) and had lots of trouble finding stuff for it.

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by tamnalan » Mon Nov 06, 2017 1:21 pm

Jeff Petrowich did an outstanding job building "Bam Bam". His build thread is on the cj-2a forum: https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/buil ... 28473.html

Another fellow on the cj-2a forum put a flathead V8 in a jeep. I think he used an 8ba engine but I'm not positive about that.

I think a great jeep engine would be a Ford ecoboost motor. Probably a 4-cylinder version out of a Ford Focus. I have a 3.5L V-6 ecoboost in an F-150 and love it. They're very torquey, low-rpm motors. The turbo would be a huge plus if you like wheeling at altitude, such as in the Rockies. The ecoboost would also have some advantages over a Kubota diesel, which is another popular jeep swap. The RPM band on the ecoboost is wider and running gas would be more logistically compatible with other offroad vehicles if you run out.
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by Gerben Faber » Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:48 pm

I just finished my GPW with a 24 stud Ford flathead v8. I had the idea for years, but never got to it until now.
Used a CJ3a boxed frame and driveline with a composit body from 1945.
On the outside you hardly can see the diverence, it's all original or looks like it.......until you start it.
If you look under the hood, I tried to make it look like it was build that way from the factory.
It drives very well with stock steering, brakes ect. And it's arround 100 hp

Will try to get a link to pictures or film later.

Gerben :D

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by artificer » Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:01 pm

Suggest you do some type of brake upgrade. Fitting a small remote hydrovac unit @ a very minimum.
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by scheinerj » Tue Nov 07, 2017 6:02 am

Gerben Faber wrote:
Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:48 pm
I just finished my GPW with a 24 stud Ford flathead v8. I had the idea for years, but never got to it until now.
Used a CJ3a boxed frame and driveline with a composit body from 1945.
On the outside you hardly can see the diverence, it's all original or looks like it.......until you start it.
If you look under the hood, I tried to make it look like it was build that way from the factory.
It drives very well with stock steering, brakes ect. And it's arround 100 hp

Will try to get a link to pictures or film later.

Gerben :D
Please I would love to see it!
Was it hard to fit in the compartment?
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by scheinerj » Tue Nov 07, 2017 6:05 am

artificer wrote:
Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:01 pm
Suggest you do some type of brake upgrade. Fitting a small remote hydrovac unit @ a very minimum.

I was planning on doing the disc brake conversion many on the forum do. It doesn't seem to difficult or expensive.

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Nov 07, 2017 7:14 am

Installing V-8's, etc., over torques the drive train components that were designed for 60HP. Studebaker 6's is more compatible.
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by lt.luke » Tue Nov 07, 2017 7:58 am

Ben Dover wrote:
Tue Nov 07, 2017 7:14 am
Installing V-8's, etc., over torques the drive train components that were designed for 60HP. Studebaker 6's is more compatible.
Inline 6's are 2 holes longer than the factory motor and the transmissions are longer. Thanks for facilitating hacked up grilles and transmission tunnels in addition to butchered motor mounts. I bet the old flat head 8's fit in the space left behind by a go-devil and with a t-90, the jeep should handle the same exact 15-20 HP of the majority of the v-8's in question the same as the Stude 6's.

MOST flat-head 8's are under 100hp from the factory, depending on what motor is found. Some of them are at the same 60-hp that the go-devil provides, although the hot-Rod world has more availible for the 60's than the 85-100 hp variations, so it would be pretty easy to twist one up.

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by JIMN » Wed Nov 08, 2017 12:31 pm

It is not how much power an engines has that affects the rest of the driveline. It is how you drive it.
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by lt.luke » Wed Nov 08, 2017 7:16 pm

JIMN wrote:
Wed Nov 08, 2017 12:31 pm
It is not how much power an engines has that affects the rest of the driveline. It is how you drive it.
Very true

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:05 pm

FLATHEAD?

Why stop there?
Either go with the "G503" or go balls to the wall....
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I thought the chromed top bows/brackets were a nice nostalgic touch.
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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by Gerben Faber » Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:35 pm

Here is a small film of the flathead v8 in my GPW.
Tried to let look like a swap from a Ford 3/4 or 3 ton truck or perhaps from a Brengun carrier.
Link:https://youtu.be/6ZAPhsaHogI

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Re: Motor swap + more

Post by Ralph » Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:41 pm

Gerben,
A cool video, sounds great, looks pretty natural as well...beyond the L134,it is a great choice, well done.
Ralph


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