1956 CJ-5 Questions

Hello, I just picked up this 1956 CJ-5 yesterday to restore back to orig as much as I can. Right now it has a Buick V-6 in it, I know they were not in 1956, but I will run it . Problem is ,PO installed a Q-Jet 4 barrel crab on it and it will not idle. My question is can you run a 4 barrel on a V-6 and make them run ok? Or should I start looking for a intake and 2 barrel? It also has headers on it which I plan to remove and go back to stock manifolds and single exhaust, so how will this affect things? I just want to make it run right. Thanks. [/URL][/IMG][/URL][/IMG]

 

Man, that's a nice, clean looking JEEP for PA.

Sounds like you're heading back to stock, so a stock 2 bbl intake and a Rochester 2G carb would be appropriate. If you want to keep the 4 bbl, you could surely tune it or rebuild it and make it work. Not sure how it would respond to factory exhaust though. Probably wouldn't be too bad, but, it seems the 4 bbl is unnecessary for your plan. You could fund the factory type parts pretty easily, and probably quickly, by selling the 4 bbl set up (post in the For sale forum here).

Is the ignition system solid? I've learned, here, that problems thought to be fuel related, are often ignition issues instead.

Whatever the case, you've found thee single best resource for old cj owners. Period. The search function typically divulges boat loads of information and, if that doesn't turn up your answers, the people here are outstanding, informative and helpful.

 

It is possible to run a 4V on the 225. But the Quadrajet is complicated as carburetors go, and I suggest you get a book on these carburetors and read up.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_7?rh=n:283155,k:rochester+quadrajet&keywords=rochester+quadrajet

BTW I am a big fan of buying used books - check on Amazon and Alibris.com - I'd also look at any online sources like YouTube and articles for "tuning rochester quadrajet."

The Quadrajet is an excellent off-road carburetor, if you get it tuned right. It will keep running at most any angle, and handles bumps and bounces well. It has the advantage of very small primary venturies, and likely will run fine on the 225 if tuned properly. Most Quadrajets were intended for engines of ca 350cid and larger though, so it's likely way more carburetor than you will ever need on a 225. Usually a big carburetor on a small engine is bad, because the large venturis don't generate enough vacuum from the small displacement for good fuel control. But the Quadrajet may be ok anyway, because of its small primary venturies.

 

Did it come with a top?

Looks to me like a '76 or later windshield. That won't work with the right top. Nothing wrong with that windshield, but don't buy a top for a '56 and expect it to fit.

 

Thanks for responces, I thought the same thing, to much carb for this motor. Yes, its in great shape for a Pa jeep, thinking it might be from down south. Now how do I know is this a Dauntless, and how would I date it to find parts? [/URL][/IMG]

 

It's an HEI, so it could be a 231 odd or even fire. We have a casting number reference somewhere ... https://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~reese/BuickV6CastingNumbersandInternalSpecs.pdf - this may help.

Coolant leak.

 

That maybe a later even fire 3.8 looking at the extra pulleys up front for accessories, the later distributor and the later manifold with the smog stuff on the back..........on the drivers side rear on the block just to the right of your steering those blocks usually have a cast in place 3.8 makings in that area.........................although as Tim mentioned the carb is probably a little large CFM wise but with the small primaries and vacuum operated secondaries if rebuilt and tuned properly they is no reason it cannot be used. Looks like the firewall has also had some work done to it............Nice old Jeep.

 

Ok, thanks for list, now where is casting number? I was hoping like SBC, on top by bell housing but nothing I see there. yes it leaks coolant, wrong rad. makes for some weird hose hook ups!!!! That's next on list after I can get it to run right and idle.

 

On the block right beside my steering , at bell housing, flat spot has no marking. Top back of motor has time clock mark and behind it , 101??. That's the only numbers I can see. I noticed also, if I take off body lift, (hockey pucks) the pulleys will hit electric fan, so I see I'm going to be reworking a few things if I plan to keep this engine, or look for something else that fits better.

 

And to the other question, I got the orig windshield frame with it but glass is broke, and a few weeks ago I picked up a kuling hard top, plan is to run it, but first get this engine running right or swap it out for something that runs right.

 

Look closely...........if there is dirt and grease there , spray some brake clean on it and take a wire brush to it.........on the top of the block just behind the manifold there should be some casting numbers 7-8 digits there. In the area on the left side of the block if it was a 3.8 normally that is cast in there,

 

I'm off to work now, will look tomorrow, I guess this is not going to be as easy to restore as my 55 m38a1 was. It was all stock, not this custom stuff!!!! Lol, I will get it in time!!!! This was a poplar engine swap right????

 

An all stock OEM correct parts , restored early Jeep is a rarity.............as far as a Buick V6 being in a CJ ?, they were a factory option starting in late 1965 but folks were putting them in there a few years prior to that. One could even make the argument that during that early CJ era 44-70 there may be even more V-6's in those vehicles than the original 4-bangers.

 

Oh, I understand it will never be orignal, just it seems so much is hacked in my engine bay it seems this would have been a littler easy as a swap if they did it alot. I can't see peiple back then cutting firewalls and rad supports, and what did the factory do? Was a differant firewall used for the v6? And how did they deal witg rad?I didn't think they had electric fans back then. I need to see one installed, then I could go from that.

 

Back in the early 60s, the Chevy V8s (SBC) were the most popular swap. But as the V6 Buicks became more prevalent, I would guess that the Buick V6 displaced the SBC as the most popular option, because they really fit easily in the short Jeep engine compartment. I believe today, the Chevy is back but as the 4.3L V6 based on the SBC. The Buicks are less common in the yards now, and there were lots of 4.3Ls made.

You do not need to modify the firewall to put the Buick V6 in a CJ. The factory used a long input shaft for the transmission, and moved the engine forward some, away from the firewall. I don't think they changed the radiator position. Certainly the frame towers changed, and battery position changed.

Check out the Novak site for lots of discussion of the Buick V6 swap - http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/early_cj_gm_engine_conversion.htm

So yeah, it was a popular option when it was available, and it was a popular swap for CJs that did not have it from the factory.

 

The Holley 390 is that the one they call a spread bore? I know where one of those may still be at.

 

A carburetor not Idling has nothing to do with the fact it is a Qjet.........more than likely there is a vacuum leak somewhere or a circuit within the carb that is plugged or dirty , needs to be rebuilt!........A Holley 390 is a good choice but you will also have to jet and tune it to run properly on the V6..........no free rides.

 

Tarry99, I'm not looking for a free ride, I could rebuild this carb, but its missing alot of the choke stuff, I just know where I can get a Holley that I could rebuild as it is complete. I now relize in looking at this Jeep before I bought it, I missed a few of these issues, and from reading the Web site timgr posted it looks like when I remove the body I will rebuild the firewall and move motor back, so I will have room for fan, I'm not a quitter I will get It. I think the problem is the PO didnt move the mounts frim where they were from the f head, so then he just cut stuff to fit, so now I will rebuild firewall and most likly buy a differant grill /rad support