Nice Wagon

[colojeepguy]

This wagon looks nice...maybe TOO nice. It'll be interesting to see how high it goes.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-willys-jeep-wagon/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Make_Update

 

[eyotajeeper]

Yup, too nice as I would gut the drivetrain and replace it with something more modern so as to make it a better driver.

 

[Boyink]

It is nice, just odd to have what I suspect to be a non-stock paint scheme over all-original drivetrain.

 

[Keys5a]

Reserve not met at $19,000. As nice as this one is (and rare with the 230 OHC), I think it should have been done in period factory colors.

 

[dnb71R2]

From what I recall, that engine is just not desirable.

 

[colojeepguy]

From what I recall, that engine is just not desirable.

On paper, it's pretty interesting. A cross flow, hemi head OHC 6. Seems like it should have made more than 140 HP. In practice, I've never heard much good about them.

 

[Dave Deyton]

Those Tornado 230 6's have a very bad reputation. Seems that's what did in the M715. Very bad in the reliability department.

Dave

 

[Keys5a]

The 230 OHC had a bad reputation as an oil-leaker. The original design of the engine mount nearly assured oil leaks. They used a steel plate similar to the L/F-134 that bolted across the front of the engine block. This included an aluminum timing cover that sandwiched the steel plate with paper gaskets on either side of the plate. The bolts that held it all together tended to loosen, not holding torque due to the thin aluminum timing cover deforming as the engine moving around in use. Those paper gaskets just couldn’t maintain an oil tight joint. They leaked notoriously.
The actual design of the rest of the engine was pretty advanced for the time. As compared to the 226 flathead six that preceded it, the 230 was a much better performer, more power and torque, but still no comparision to SBC engine swaps that followed years later.
By the time Kaiser built the military M715, the 230 front engine mount plate had been abandoned, with bosses for more conventional engine mounts on either side of the engine block. The new design substantially eliminated the oil leaks. The 230 was marginal on power and torque for a truck of this size/application, so didn’t impress users as far as performance goes. It was adequate unladen, but when loaded (as they usually were), the M715 was underpowered, leading to a an un-impressive reputation. These trucks were also known to break axle shafts in the otherwise stout D70 rear axle when heavily loaded. All things considered, the M715 wasn’t a bad design, but just wasn’t as overbuilt as other military vehicles. The OHC 230 wasn’t a bad engine, and was likely better than the 232 six that replaced it when AMC took over.

 

[Dave Deyton]

That's interesting. There is military rebuild shop that puts Cummings 24 valve diesels with a 5 speed in NC. That would probably be a great combination.
Always loved the M715.

Dave

 

[Daryl]

Gonna be a hard sell with that motor to any Jeep guy.

 

[FinoCJ]

Gonna be a hard sell with that motor to any Jeep guy.

The guys at OWF love those tornados.....some of them are also miserly cheapskates and would never spend that kind of money!

 

[Daryl]

The guys at OWF love those tornados.....some of them are also miserly cheapskates and would never spend that kind of money!

Hands down the worst motor ever installed in a Jeep.

 

[FinoCJ]

Hands down the worst motor ever installed in a Jeep.

Not commenting on the engine so much as if you need to move tornado parts, OWF is the place to do it.