The Power of the Dark Side (Dauntless 225)

52 M38 wrote: What about 2 rear facing manifolds?

flatfender47 wrote: ...maybe to some. $300 ain't a lot when doing exhaust or conversion work... It solves a lot of headaches.

I see your point...

<shrug>

The guy who said the 225 is a bad engine and to high revving for a Jeep is full of it! It will chug down to 150 rpms, gobbs of torque! And those who say that a Willys doesn't need a v6 may have a little point but probably haven't ever done the swap.  Yes Willys are fun in stock form, I use my stock 2A often but the v6 just makes me smile when I take it out!  It makes the jeep so much more drivable!  I have both.  MY 53 is resto modded.  225 v6, T18, 11" brakes, overdrive.    

Go for the 225! I used stock cj5 motor mounts, my stock cross member, and even stock drive shafts.
Save up and swap a T18 ford 4 speed at the same time.  Really worth it!
Then
Upgrade your brakes to 11" drums. 
I don't really like headers so I went with stock manifolds ( driver side from a buick car)
I also swapped my stock steering to a manual sagnaw box keeping my stock steering wheel and column, so it feels like my old willys but goes down the road smoothly.

Have fun Been running mine for 15 years now.... WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE!!!!!


Edited by windyhill - 31 July 2015 at 2:36am

No mods to the fire wall at all for tghe buick v6 (dist. is in the front, Chevy in the rear, I used my stock cross member (I did add a bracket to the back to have the mount for the T18/ dana18 sit on).  My stock drive shafts worked without cutting.  I took stock v6 motor mounts off a 66-71 cj5.  The stock Buick bell housing will work as well with the T18.  You have to have the hole machined out to and the transmission retainer turned down to a slip fit. I found a stock clutch/ flywheel set at my local parts place that even worked. I think it was for a 79ish cj? it had the ford transmission splines and the pressure plate bolted up to the stock Buick flywheel.  It's been a while.


Edited by windyhill - 31 July 2015 at 3:15am

But wait, there's more...I have now read not all 225s had thrust buttons and springs.  Has anyone else built one of these without one.  Apparently the fuel pump arm and cam gear can keep it all in check.  Opinions, experience?? 

You have no idea how much of a relief that is.  I have one on the way, but I now have the option of putting it in or not.  I was not happy about having closed this whole thing up without it and then realizing that it might be an issue.  My engine definately never had one.  Given the condition of the original timing gears no one had ever opened this engine up before me.  In the couple of quick other articles I have read, all the other people who found there engines without them are in the same year as mine, late 67 early 68.

I have installed the newly arrived cam button.  Upon inspecting the timing cover, this engine definitely never had one, it was completely unmarred on the machined surface.  I was also able to close up the oil pan.  I need to order an HEI distributor, high flow water pump, starter (old one fell apart) and headers and it will be complete.   I plan to paint it in the next few weeks before it starts to get cold.  Once it it painted I plan to move it from the assembly stand to a floor stand where I can start to assemble it with the rest of the heathen drivetrain.   I need to come up with some creative solutions for starting.  I want to keep a floor starter.  I think I will find an old button and rig it to fire the solenoid.