225,231 or 4.3

Ok.
I have had a bad jeep day.
Tuning up the 225.
And its leaking oil all over my new axle.

Seems the timing cover is stripped for the oil pan and some of the oilpump threads.
The motor is the only thing I didnt pull or replace.
The compression is around 145 all cylinders.( oil makes no diff.)
Very low oil pressure.
I stole the manifold, hei, and carb off a 231 I have.

I could take the cover off the 231 and swap out. ( its good, no leaky).

But now i am thinking maybe I should just pull it and rebuild.

Get the cam and everything to go with.

I could rebuild the 231 and swap it in. Its a 1975 ODFire.
Would the heavy flywheel need to be balanced to it or just bolt on as I swap?

Could rebuild the 225.


OR I have a 4.3 tbi that I could rebuild.


Just put in a Herm sm420.

Wanted to get it running but oh well.

kinda seems like I go from one thing to next.

If I replace the cover then might as well get timing chain and cam.

Is 145 compression ok or should I go ahead with a new plan of rebuilding one or the other????

As you can see I am losing it...monkeysmonkeysmonkeysmonkeys

Suggestions......

 

from the reading on here, 145# on all cyls sounds good, so long as they are within 10% of each other or so. It is the low oil pressure that would be my concern. What is the oil pressure exactly?

 

Your not the only one. My saga now includes a short-block 231 OF. If I could of rebuilt my 225 easily I would of, crank has issues. My recommendation is stay with the 225 or 231. As I understand it the flywheel from a 225 will just bolt on the 231 OF, it's the even fire that needs to be balanced. And yes you will always go from one thing to the next!

 

0 to 25.
very unpredictable bought a pump but still waiting on shims and trust plate from TA.
Leaking around it from stripped bolts part of problem..

 

Thanks Sparky.
I was worried about the compression isnt 165 normal?

So maybe just steal the cover?

Should do the timing chain at least and a new water pump?

 

Keep the 225 and ship the 4.3 to me for proper disposal. Yea, I'd stay with the 225. Oil pressure may improve once the leaks are cured. Should you go with the 231, remember that their compression ratio is quite a bit lower than the 225 and should be addressed in the rebuild if you want similar performance as the 225. I did not not address the issue and am regretting it. Flat top pistons would have taken care of it but I opted for the stock dished piston. My 231 is noticably anemic in comparison to the original 225.

 

More good info didnt know that about the 231 just assumed it would be a little better.


If I do the cover...

Maybe rebuild the heads from the 231 and get a cam and swap heads all at once???

I guess I am woundering if the cam is a big improvment and I would be close so maybe I should do it too.???

 

I am going with the keep it all in there and use the timing cover from the 231 I have.

The 231 is still in the donor car so that was a pain but I got it out.

I figured I would unbolt eveything while the weather was good and get the puller when I get paid.
Got down to the balancer and took out the bolt and tapped it with the hammer just a tap and it slid right off!

Only broke 1 bolt on the oil pump cover.

going to take it to machince shop and have it cleaned up good.

Now for dauntless...

 

Sounds like some one got carried away with an air impact wrench.

I'lld do like Sparky says and Heli Coil all the leaking bolts. You will have to with the oilpump bolts, just putting on a new one won't stop the bolts leaking if they are stripped.

Do the valve covers leak too?

 

Sparky, aren't there a lot of interchangeable parts for the 225 and 231? Heads and such?

 

Pre 79 alot of it interchanges.

Oddfire that is.

I have the 231 timing cover being hot tanked now.
It will replace all the stripped holes and then I ordered new timimg chain and water pump.
Fuel pump was 50.00 and mine works and easy to replace later so it stays.
I have a new oil pump kit to use as well.

I allready have used 231 parts on it.
HEI.
Intake manifold.
And carb all from the 231 donor motor
I will use the heads eventualy.
The 231 I have is a 75 oddfire and most of it is interchangable.

Interestingly the timing tab on the 231 cover is not a bolt on one I have heard referanced here.
It is cast into the cover.
Is that right?
it dosent look like the 225 one eighter..

Yes the valve covers leaked too.
everything leaked.... everything.

 

I just bought a fuel pump from o'rielly's autoparts for $23.99... Just FYI.

 

Did it have the return line?

 

Pulled the crank seal out and its rope.
One in kit, is rubber.

Is that OK or should I get the rope kind?


Was thinking about taking the whole grill off on the jeepster to get at the bad cover.
is it worth it or to much trouble.??
real pain leaning in there.

 

The rubber seal is an upgrade to the old rope seals. The rope seals are a real pita to install and keep from leaking.
Regarding removing the grill, it really makes it much easier to work on the front of the motor and is well worth the time in my opinion. That's assuming you don't have to deal with broken or rusted fender to grill bolts.

 

Thanks..

Just needed someone elses backup opinion.

I think it should come off ok.

Bummer is I just reinstalled the reworked Rad and it all filled up.

Going too oven cleaner the donor cover today.
the oil pump guts all look new no wear on any of it.

My timing chain kit had a chipped tooth glad I opened it at Napa.

realy wanted to do a cam right now but funds are pretty low.

Sparky made me feel alot better about the compression so It would seem the motor is healthy enough the bottom end was very clean inside.

So close but so far...

 

One alternative... Has anyone mentioned that a Buick 350 will bolt right up? :twisted: Same mounts, same bell. If you are resourceful you can have a V8, EFI, and fresh motor for about the same cost of fixing up the odd fire with cam and rebuild. Hunt CL for whole Buick Regals. It's what I'm doing the day the bottom end goes out on me.