Engine ideas?

Well, my 305 is blowing white smoke out the exhaust - radiator keeps boiling over even after burping the coolant system. Guess that means I'm in for head gaskets or maybe worse. I'm trying to plan ahead and figure out what I want to do. The CJ5 came with the 305 from the PO, and it's a shoddy hack job of an install. Low oil pressure too. They didn't use an adapter and just drilled and threaded new holes into the GM bellhousing for the T90 to work. The engine is off center and the driveshafts are at weird angles. They cut up center hump so the shifters would fit. It's amazing it drives without a terrible shake. That being said - I'm debating what my next step should be. Here are my possibilities:

1) Replace the head gaskets on the 305, buy an adapter, shift the engine around, buy new headers to make it fit right.
2) Find a running f134 and install it, get my overdrive fixed and install it, etc
3) Find a 231, flywheel, and install it plus buy adapters
4) Find a chassis with a working (or non-working) 225 mated to tranny and transfer case aready and get the 225 working
5) Find another 305 or 350, buy adapter, drop it in.
I'd say my 5th option would be to sell this one and get a new one, but the wife said "no way." I spent all summer in the Texas heat working on this one.

Thoughts, comments, snide remarks welcome...

 

Find another 305, TBI, and put it in right. Should be easy to find and fairly reasonably priced. Or get a 350.

 

Being somewhat of a power junkie, I would say find a 350, but the T90 will likely object to that. Another 305 is probably the ticket and you should be able to find a good running one for cheap. After driving the 305, I suspect you would not be pleased with a F head and they cost as much or more to rebuild as a sbc.

 

327, 283.

Pinto 4 cylinder, Capri v6.

Endless possibilities.

 

If you're already set up for the small block Chevy, the Chevy 4.3L V6 would be an easy option, I'd think. Donor vehicles with this engine are plentiful and cheap.

 

For a CJ, I actually think the 305, with the same 3.48 stroke as the 350, will get you more bottom end torque than any of the other "small" displacement sbc's. And yes, a TBI version would be highly desirable.

 

And there is always 'The Other 225'! Dodge Dakota 3.7 litre from 2005 on, or the slightly larger 3.9 from 2005 and earlier.

 

I agree!

 

That's an excellent point Duffer. The 3.48 stroke is as good as a factory SBC gets concerning potential "torque".

 

Since the 305 is pretty crammed in there, the possibility of having a v6 does sound rather good. Has anyone had fitting issues with a TBI 4.3L V6 in an early CJ? I think I may hit the junk yards around here to see if I can find that engine.

 

I had a 3.8L Chevy V-6. Same motor just a earlier version.

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Well...unfortunately expenses are going to restrict this project. Looks like I'm in the market for a carbureted 350 or 305 that I can just swap out. I don't want to have to buy v6 headers or deal with wiring a TBI (including buying a wiring harness.) Hopefully I can find something that will drop right in and will last for a while!

 

It shouldn’t be hard to come up with a 350, they’re all over Craig’s List.