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283 Chevy

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JluttyCJ2A View Drop Down
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    Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 4:50pm
Hi folks!

I'm sure this is a controversy. Pondering the rebuild expense and effort versus the eventual outcome of having the same horsepower and torque as stock from an L134 rebuild takes some maturity.

I don't shy away from work. I respect the history of the '47 CJ2A that I am tasked with restoring for future generations of the family. I am an experienced gearhead and engine builder who is comfortable with body work, paint, electrical, and tuning almost anything.

So I have this low miles 1967 Chevy 283 sitting on a pallet that ran fine when I removed it from an El Camino in favor of a 350. I still have the smaller (car sized) aluminum bell housing and the intake is low, stock and 2- bbl.

Looking at costs, I see the pricing on all the Novak stuff for going SBC to T-90 in it's stock position, etc. I tend to think that for a few dollars more than staying stock with a re-do, I can have a very mild V8 for cooler sound and flow of traffic power. I'm a bit let down that a 700R4 wont work. A 350 Turbo seems like the rest of my life would be spent aligning the driveline. No overdrive is another concern. A four- speed conversion seems like even more corrections and expense to have the same top gear. A T5 is appealing and maybe worth avoiding the $800 D-18 overdrive option?

I just wonder what the crowd thinks of making this CJ2A into a Frankenstein?



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Bruce W View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 5:59pm
  If you know me at all, you know what my answer will be. My first jeep was (still is) a CJ3B. When I got it I had just sold my last stock car and was still a rabid street rodder. The B just barely missed getting a 350. It came with a fresh F-head and I decided to put it in just to see what it would be like. Besides, hunting season was close and this was a quicker way to get the Jeep going. That was 24 years ago and I wouldn’t go back for anything. Now I have a collection of jeeps, and they are all stock powered. I love these little guys and love what they can do, stock. The Willys Go-Devil and Hurricane have a distinctive sound of their own, not only from the tailpipe, but the fan blade as well. People notice that. The only way I would re-power a flatfender with a “modern” engine would be if I found a Nova Four. I considered a Flathead V8 at one time but I got over that too. 
  My opinion - rebuild it stock. YMMV. It’s your jeep, do what you want to with it. If you destroy it, (Look at old for-sale posts and see how much trouble others have had trying to sell even a nicely-done modified jeep) it will only make mine worth more. 
My $.02 worth, and that’s probably all it’s worth. Wink  BW 

Edit to correct: Change “street fodder” to “street rodder”. Damned spell-check. 


Edited by Bruce W - 04 Aug. 2020 at 6:06pm
It is NOT a Jeep Willys! It is a Willys jeep.

Happy Trails! Good-bye, Good Luck, and May the Good Lord Take a Likin' to You!

We Have Miles to Jeep, Before We Sleep.
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Mark W. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark W. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 6:20pm
V8 = clutch, adapter, transmission, transfercase, driveshaft, cooling, electrical, brakes, steering, exhaust either changes or problems, and then there are the axles so easy to tear up with 200HP.

But its been done since the 50's its nothing new. And its your jeep so you get to do as you want. I did.


Edited by Mark W. - 04 Aug. 2020 at 6:22pm
Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized
1949 3A W/S
1957 CJ5 Frame Modified
Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962
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Oldpappy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oldpappy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 7:41pm
Nowadays I am in the same camp as Bruce, and much prefer these old gals with their stock engines put right. Love the sound of them, and the produce plenty of power for what the Jeep is intended to do.

However, I used to think differently.

I think you can use the aluminum GM bell housing by drilling a couple holes for the transmission. You would then need the longer input shaft for a T-90 which, if I recall correctly, was used in the trucks. Clutch linkage would have to be rigged up.

This from someone who has never put a V8 into a Flat Fender Jeep, but I did install a Buick V6 in a M38, and used the GM bell housing and longer input shaft I mentioned.


If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smfulle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 8:57pm
Are you wanting a street Jeep or a trail Jeep? V8 Power dies very little for you on the trail unless you like mud bogging or sand.
I love the feeling of high horsepower trying to get the rear end in front of you, but all that dies on the trail is get you in trouble faster. The appeal of big horsepower is hard to resist though.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a stock flatfender go over backwards but I’ve seen a few v8 powered ones do it.
Your Jeep so make it what you want.
Stan
48 CJ2A (Grampa's Jeep)
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+1 on what they said. Thumbs Up
James 4:6 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
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BobMc View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BobMc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 9:21pm
I'm with the above. Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill. Flat fenders forever and if you REALLY need to? Put that 283 in a CJ5. Best of luck 
Lady Astor to Winston Churchill, If I was married to you I would poison your coffee. Churchill's reply, if I was married to you I would drink it!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3A Steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug. 2020 at 9:28pm
I've faced the same dilemma with my 51 Wagon. It has a 161 Lightning flat head six in it. I was planning on replacing it with a 350 SBC. I was close to going for it and then my engine quit giving me problems (which frequently ending with me being towed by AAA). Now I have begun to like the old flat head. It goes fast enough and now is reliable and it certainly has character and a unique sound. I think I'd stick with the 134 if I were you. It works well in my 3a. Of course, as others have said, it is up to you and what you want to do with your jeep. A 283 would have more character than the 350 since you would be about right with the era.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JeepFever Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Aug. 2020 at 4:53am
Originally posted by JluttyCJ2A JluttyCJ2A wrote:

 A T5 is appealing and maybe worth avoiding the $800 D-18 overdrive option? 

I just wonder what the crowd thinks of making this CJ2A into a Frankenstein?

A T-5 would be an interesting option for the gearing,  but that is a LONG tranny.   I could be wrong,  but can not imagine it would fit in a '2A.     

Stock engine is so cool,   but I love the 225 in my '2A,  which might be similar to what you are thinking.   My father had a CJ5 with 283 when I was teenager.  I thought it was so cool,  but did not do a lot of wheeling with it.   Not really helping here.  LOL    As others have said,  it really depends on how you plan to use it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark W. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Aug. 2020 at 5:35am
A Ford RUG top loader has an 18% OD 4th gear. And is no longer then a muncie 4spd.A good one will cost as much as an OD though.
Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized
1949 3A W/S
1957 CJ5 Frame Modified
Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nofender Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Aug. 2020 at 10:36am
I own a 2A with a stock motor. I love the vintage nature of the motor, the sound and even the look of the motor. 

that being said, If I were in your shoes would I do the same? Nope. I'd swap in that 283. So many of our Jeep forefathers made this swap back in the day. Doing it with a vintage motor, keeping it true to a 1950's conversion would be great in my opinion. The T-90 will survive with a mild motor and gentle driving. Add the OD. You'd have a cool vintage piece in my opinion. 

yes - I love a stock flat head. But 60 horsepower is 60 horsepower. 
46 CJ2a rockcrawler
46 CJ2a - 26819
46 Bantam T3c "4366"
47 Bantam T3C - 11800
68-ish CJ5
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