I need your opinions Straight 6 or V8?

I'm sure I'll regret asking this, but I'd like all of your views on what I should do!!

I've got a 73 CJ5 with the straight 6 engine. The engine is in pretty good condition having been rebuilt only 10,000 miles or so ago. I'm in the middle of a major overhaul of the whole Jeep and can't decide whether to replace the straight 6 with a 6L V8. I don't do any competition wheeling, mostly easy stuff and round town posing...

Now, obviously I don't 'need' a V8 as such, but this is a Jeep so 'need' is a subjective term anyway.

As part of the refurb, then engine is going to come out and be checked and re-painted anyway, so the question is...

Should I simply replace the 6 with the V8 and be done with it?

I'd really appreciate it if you'd vote for me and help me decide, any views/comments would be welcome too.

Stuart

p.s. click on the link below if you want to see what's been going on with the CJ5 so far just to inform your vote...

 

If you put in a 6L, there are other considerations. Cooling it, strength of tranny behind it, axles, etc. Hard to beat a good I6. On the other hand there are few things that sound as good and make your heart pump like a good V8. Consider the costs, and you have to decide. I think I would stick with the 6 for now and then work on the 8.

 

If you want more power, build a stroker: http://www.jeep4.0performance.4mg.com/stroker.html

 

V-8 without a doubt, life is to short and jeeps to far between to put the 6 back in. :stout:

 

What's the future going to hold for the Jeep? How will it be driven? If you want a reliable, get-around-town vehicle stay with the 6. If you want an attention getter, nothing beats a fire breathing V8.

 

My honest opinion... stay with the 6 until you have to do something else.

Then drop a 350 in it! I voted for the v8. I wouldn't change mine for the world. ALOT of power there. Just my .02

 

stroke a 6... sounds awsome and sweet power.

 

Put a v8 in , 360 or 401 dont put no stinking chevy in it !!!!!

 

Id put the 6 back in and get my moneys worth from it. I'd also atart collecting the parts for the v-8 swap as $ permitted after I was enjoying the 6. Do the 8 in a few yrs when the 6 gets old but for now put your $ in the rest of the jeep and start enjoying it.

I plan on a 302 for mine but got to kill the V-6 first. I'm going to start building a 302 and collecting the T-18 and other swap parts for it after my jeep has all the rust replaced and new paint on it. I don't need a v-8 just want one but more important I want a good reliable jeep to enjoy now so that's where I am concentrating my $

 

I would personally stay with the six. They say nothin' sounds like a V8???
Nothin sounds like a straight six with headers and glass packs. I've had more people's jaws drop when I pop the hood and theres just a six underneath. They have a really unique sound that I personally love. Fuel inject it and have no worries

Holla at me
blegenam

 

Keep the stock 6. Add a DUI distributor and a MC2100 carb. My 75 has aerodynamics like a barn over 50 MPH. A v8 will just get you in trouble.

258s with a little coaxing will provide all the low RPM torque you will ever need offroad.

 

I'd say stick with your I6. They make decent power, but not enough to tear up stuff too much, lotsa low end power for wheelin. A V8 would be a lotta fun, but I could forsee myself getting into trouble with it. The only drawbacks I see the 6's is their length and weight. But their sooo beafy!

Kevo

 

If you want flash go with a v8, I personally wouldn't put a Chevy v8 in there simply because it's cliche', a nice small block Ford, Amc or Chrysler. If you want to use it as a trail rig with good mannors, stick with the I6 and build it a little. If you want to stand out from the crowd really good, nothing says awesom like the word Cummins tatooed on the front fender, there 3.9 4banger would fit with some work and would pull a freight train.
Myself I would personally stick with the I6 simply because the V8's are a dime a dozen and the 6's are getting harder to find because everybody swaps in a small block Chevy!!!! Throw a nice exhaust, FI and electronic distributor on it and it will live a long full useful life.

 

How about a Rover V8?

 

I wouldn't trade my 350 for either of those engines...

 

I've gota 360 in my jeep liked it for a while , then traveling with it got pretty boring, with side headers, you practically need to sign language to talk to the person next to you. So now I'm building a 258 6 close to stock but with good durable parts keeping the torque and adding alittle horse power. I say keep the 6 and talk to the guys at Clifford performance.

 

I concure. Keep the 6, put in a DUI HEI and FI. ( I used Megasquirt for the true DIY effect.) I think you will be happy with the way it runs.

ps: DUI = Davis Unified Ignition
http://www.performancedistributors.com/

 

Jeez,

Now I'm confused!! I think that this seems to come into the category of people's personal preference...

On the basis that, in all honesty, this is going to be mostly a posing Jeep, my inbuilt machismo is erring towards the 'fire-breathing' V8. Call it a male ego thing if you will... There is also the small matter that the 6 does need some attention and has some dubious knocks...

My Jeep is at the stage that its about ready to whip the engine out anyways, ready for the new wiring harness, paint the engine bay, etc. So I figure it might be easier to prep a V8 on an engine stand, take the 6 out, prep the bay and wiring etc whilst there is the room to work, and swap in the new V8. If I'm going to do it at all, then this is the ideal time...

I've been offered a Chrysler 360 6L V8 from an old CJ7, which I'm informed should pretty much drop straight in. The only concern wis whether the flywheel is interchangable between the 360 and the existing IE6. Anyone any thoughts?

Thanks for your votes and comments, I really appreciate them.

SA