How to stuff an early CJ-5 around a Dauntless?

I asked this question in the WillysTech group and they said that y'all are the specialists.

I have a '56 CJ-5 that a prior owner dropped a Dauntless V6 in. He cut up the firewall to get it to fit. I am planning on putting on a donor tub. I love the engine but I do *not* want to hack up the firewall to put on the new tub. I am almost positive that the Tuxedo Park came with this engine and transmission, so I know it will fit (okay maybe I don't know but I've managed to convince myself that it will).

Where do I need to move the mounts to and what type of adapter will I need to hook up the engine to the transmission after I move it? Will I need to move the radiator forward, too?

This is a loaded question, but if I farm this out to a shop, how many hours of shop time would you expect it to take? This would be on a rolling chassis and I'd need them to pull the engine, move the mounts, put the engine back, and hook the drivetrain back up?

Finally, any recommendations on a shop in Denver that you'd trust to do the work? I'm on the southwest side, near C-470 and Santa Fe.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Thanks. There's a section on "Firewall Clearance, especially conversions on Early CJ-5s and M38A1s" in that link. That's kind of what I am looking for.

Mike

 

If installed properly, you should not have to do any firewall surgery to drop the Dauntless into an ECJ5.

Bring $$$ if you have a shop do it. Fairly easy to have a welder do the engine mounts for you then do the rest yourself. Put the engine in the right place and you can source all the rest from parts CJs that came with Dauntless engines.

 

Okay, but what's "installed properly" and "in the right place"? The way that the engine is currently placed, the firewall will have to be cut. I am hoping that someone has the measurements from an early CJ-5 that came with the V6.

I think that' moving the engine's going to be the easy part. What I don't understand is how to hook up the tranny once I move the engine. Does it move forward, too, and I need to lengthen the rear driveshaft? That part just doesn't make sense to me.

Mike

 

Welcome aboard.
With that being said it would help to know what kind of frame mounts for the engine you have. In stock configuration the v6 fire wall was never cut or altered, the battery tray from the v6 to the 4 cylinder model was different though. I can get dimensions tomorrow for the engine mount locations.

 

I just welded in stock v6 mounts. 14" from engine mount to front cross member. that was mesured right at the bolt hole on the mount. Hope this helps. (Mcgruff check yours anyway I'm 99% shure. LOL)

 

Let Warloch take you under his wing on this one; you're lucky to have a guy like that in your neck o' the woods.

 

Hi and welcome from Mi. I consider Moses Ludel's Jeep CJ rebuilder's Manual a must have. It covers this very subject well including measurements for placement on the frame. The factory manual is also invaluable. Mike

 

If Warloch offers his help, you should take it. He's done quite a few V6 conversions.

Also take a look at the Novak site: http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/cj5_55-71_swap.htm
There's some discussion there specifically about engine placement in the chassis.

Re the Tuxedo Park, AFAIK it only came with the F134. However, the 225 V6 was offered by the factory as optional equipment in the CJ-5, CJ-6 and Jeepter Commando from around 1966 through 1971; the engine is still popular for CJ-5 conversions because it makes good power and torque for its size and fits the engine compartment so well.

 

Yup, some guys have been through this already. Good to have those guys available.

For the record, this is what the "stock" setup looks like, factory-installed V6.