1964 CJ5 - Chevy motor swap?

Anyone ever put a vega motor in a CJ5 with a three speed and a twin stick transfer case?

 

well probably not. If you are going to go through all that trouble, why not go v8?

 

Why a Vega motor?:?
Other than it is laying around your shop and won't cost you nothing, I mean.R)
It was originally intended to be a throw away engine. After 70K miles you pull it and replace it.
They were only good for about 120K miles to begin with.monkeys

 

If you want a cheap 4-cylinder motor, the 151 cid Pontiac is a better choice than the Vega engine. Even better is one of the GM V6s, Buick or Chevy. All of these can easily be adapted to your transmission.

Do you know much about the Vega engine? It has a terrible reputation. I'd avoid it for that reason, even if it's an ok engine.

 

No.

:iagree:
Even tho I had one that was running great at over 100.000 miles when I pulled it, I still wouldn't use one. My vote would be a 4.3 V-6. May even replace my Marine V-6 with one when the time comes.

Thinking fuel injection...Mmmmm.monkeys

 

Vega engine? Yikes! I just had a flash back to the Vega I had back in the early 80's. Before I gave up on it I was using chainsaw bar oil in the engine. I'm not sure but it might have been a one off Vega 2-stroke. May have been a collectors item...

 

I had a vega once.......

 

I had a 74 Vega and at 80k miles, it was using a quart of oil every 250 miles. I bought a sleeved short block and oil consumption just dropped. It would go over 3000 miles without having to add any oil. Ran really good too. But I wouldn't stick one in a Jeep. I've heard of people swapping Pinto 4 bangers into Jeeps with good reliability. Good for the light flat fenders with 5.38 gears as the little fours will rev and give good gas mileage. Nothing's better than a Buick or Chevy V-6 , though.

 

R)

Then you would want more HP/torque :v6:

then SBC :twisted:

 

Ironically, I also had a '74, it ran really well for what it was, I got my first speeding ticket with that car, which was a surprise to me. It was very reliable, after I adjusted the valve tappets, until I got rearended my an uninsured motorist.

I am still at odds as to what engine I want to put into my jeep, I've been leaning heavily towards the chevy 4.3 with the buick 231 close behind, but for now the-little-engine-that-could will stay as long as it runs.

 

Id go 4.3.

 

4.3L: more available, cheap parts, factory TBI, possible firewall interference.
225/231cid: distributor in front so no firewall interference, beloved by many Jeep owners, more potential for use of factory parts from V6 CJs.

 

A standard Vega engine would be a bad idea in my opinion, now a Cosworth motor would be a whole new story!!