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T18 Swap; Changing My Mind About Engine Options

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by givemethewillys, Jul 2, 2019.

  1. Jul 2, 2019
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Hey guys, I have a t18 that I converted to work with the dauntless. And, I have a dauntless that's in pretty good shape, albeit with the top end taken off. I was talking to a buddy of mine the other day, and he is getting rid of his beater old s10 with a 4.3. I think I could get it for free or mostly free.

    This has me reconsidering my swap plans. Do any of you know what would be involved in making the t18 mate to the Chevy motor? Is it just a bellhousing or adaptor swap?

    More than likely I'm going to continue with the dauntless for now at the very least, but the discussion on how old and increasingly rare these engines are has me thinking about more modern swaps in the future.
     
  2. Jul 2, 2019
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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  3. Jul 3, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Just a comment - I would not consider the 225 engine "rare," and the later 231s are more like the 225 than the various versions of the 4.3L are alike. That given, there are a lot more 4.3Ls out there than 225s, so if you were starting from scratch, using a 4.3L makes sense. Supposedly Chevy parts are the cheapest and most available of all, though I think that's no issue with the 225s currently. I expect hop-up parts for the 4.3L are also way more available, and most 4.3Ls come with GMs excellent and easily hackable TBI or MPI systems. EFI works great in a Jeep, and in addition to being great on the trail, gives you much of the modern turn-key operation you expect in a modern automobile. And EFI is vastly more trouble-free than any fiddly and imprecise carburetor.

    The front-mounted distributors in Buicks give more firewall clearance than the Chevys, but I believe the small-diameter HEI distributor can be swapped to the 4.3L, if that's an issue. In a new installation, I think pretty much everything else is a wash, at worst.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2019
    J walk likes this.
  4. Jul 3, 2019
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    I don't think I could be convinced to give up my Dauntless.. Just the sound alone is worth not swapping it out..
     
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  5. Jul 3, 2019
    Jrobz23

    Jrobz23 Member

    Northern, WI
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    I dig the 231. My buddy has a mint '89 TTA. The front mount distributor of the 231, as Timgr mentioned, is a nice perk for fitment and you're set up for it already. There is not really a relevant ceiling on power for a 231 as the GN still demonstrates today. They can be built for whatever.
     
  6. Jul 3, 2019
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Thanks for the insight guys. I've honestly never heard a dauntless run outside of youtube. I have what I think are all the pieces necessary to get this dauntless swap done, and am finally making progress after a 5 year hiatus.

    I guess what i was thinking is that if i could get it done for the same cost but with a more reliable and modern engine, maybe i should investigate it. I'm not restoring my jeep by any means, i just want something to take for ice cream and the occasional trail.

    Thanks for the links twin2! Im gonna stick with the dauntless for awhile, but it looks like all I'd need to convert to a GM engine down the road would be an adapter and bellhousing. You wanna come over and help me install a dauntless into an f4 spot?
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2019
  7. Jul 3, 2019
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    My 60 has a quadrajet 4.3 and my father inlaws 69ish has a 2g dauntless. If you are good with carbs the Buick and it's earth sized flywheel are an advantage. If you aren't good with carbs I would go with a 4.3 I've got the worst of both worlds. :D but I have a dual action fuel pump on it for my windshield wipers:rofl:
    Edit: 4.3 86+ has roller lifters so you don't need to worry so much about special oil.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2019
  8. Jul 3, 2019
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I think that is good reasoning...
    Based on that concept...I would say the 225 should do you just fine and seems like much easier if the motor mounts and all are good to go - I recognize you are swapping into a '57, so guessing getting the mounts set is still a bit of an issue. Honestly, while I would love a 4-speed, I don't have any issue with my T14 and I wheel and DD my jeep a lot, and bolting up a T14 would be the fastest, easiest, cheapest way to finish up the project etc. While I would consider the 4.3 option, I would also consider the oem set-up as well.
     
  9. Jul 3, 2019
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Yup, I'm still going to have to weld in motor mounts, but I have a front section of a '69 frame with the v6 mounts. I'm assuming that it'll be as easy as cutting off the engine mount and tacking it on the '57 frame, but once again I've never done anything like this so I don't really know for sure.

    I'm just glad that I'm finally making forward progress on my Jeep again. While eventually I would love to throw new car money at the project, right now my wife and I decided that I'm going to go with an almost zero budget rebuild. Like, reuse the old clutch, resurface the flywheel with an orbital sander, only buy a gasket kit if I can get away with it type rebuild. The jeep has been inop since 2014, and I'm tired of it sitting there when I have every (used) part needed to get it back on the road just sitting on the shelf.
     
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  10. Jul 6, 2019
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    To those who haven't heard an odd fire.
    At 7:05 min you can hear "thumper" an odd fire buick in a flat fender.
    Bam bam is 165hp tbi 4.3 sm465 d-18 @3.15:1.
    Rojo? The red one has a later 200hp 4.3 t-18 with a 3.15:1 D20




     
  11. Jul 6, 2019
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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  12. Jul 6, 2019
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Thanks for the links guys! I had some buddies come over for a jeep party the other day, and we tore down a small hole/dual stick and a big hole/single stick transfer case, to make into one big hole/dual stick. This week I painted the case, and it's ready to be reassembled.

    Once that's done I'll have another jeep party and hoist the drivetrain into the jeep! I'm going to button up the dauntless and try it out "as is", with a new comp RV cam, and redone heads (all completed/purchased years ago). Hopefully the "weird noise" that the PO times two heard was just a misadjusted carb or something.
     
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