v8 or v6

I have a 68 cj5 with the 225 with headers and th350
I think 4.88 gears and i beleive I was told a streering box change sag something.

I lost a piston scaered the ctlinder wall and now need to eather rebuild or put a used motor in

With little checking its looking like $800 just to get it to wherer I can start to put the mototr back to gether there is a chevy 350\th350 4wd on craiglist for $400.

My question is will the v8 swap end up cheaper or am I just opening up a can of worms and i should just get the 225 rebuilt? Maybe I am just looking for pos and con.

 

The Chev swap is a good one but will be more expensive. Bellhousing bolt pattern, exhaust, cooling, possibly wiring changes, engine mounts, the list goes on.


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I have a spare 231 V6 complete with accs and a th350 that I'm selling for $300 if interested. I'm in No CA

 

I always find that Craigs list will turn up a good engine and trans after searching for a while. Usually get way more for your money, some other guys project. That being said, it seems harder to locate a 225 and associated early Jeep drive trains.

 

Maintaining a CJ close to "standard" is a HUGE plus for anyone who is inexperienced or marginally experienced with swaps.
Even if you try to keep things "standard" you will likely end up with a few modifications due to lack of stock parts availability.
That alone can be challenging enough for some.
If its rebuilt you know what you have.
If it's a used engine it's essentially a gamble concerning dependability.

 

I'm with Nick on this - there's no way that a Chevy swap will be cheaper than fixing what you have.

Lots of these Jeeps now have 231s from Buick passenger cars, either odd-fire or even-fire. This swap will be dead blind simple compared to swapping in a V8 - practically drops in - and much less expensive than the Chevy swap.

Or you could buy a reman engine to replace the 225. This is what I'd do, if I wanted to keep the Jeep.

Aside from a used 225 or 231, the cheapest way out will be to sell it as-is, and let someone else deal with the engine issue. Then buy another Jeep that has a V8, if that's what you want.

 

I agree with the others-a good running 225 or 231 is a good all around engine for a Jeep. Since you're already set up for that, to me it's a no brainer. Stick with the v6.
If your Jeep has the stock T86 trans, it's marginal at best behind a V8. So, figure the costs of a new trans, adapter, driveline and floorboard mods into your swap.


Edit-just re-read your original post & you said you have a TH350. So, disregard that line about the trans.