58 CJ5 engine swap questions

[Helomedic1171]

So I have a '58 Willys CJ5 that I got as a rust-infested basket case. I'm about to get started on the body, but none of the drivetrain is in it. it got me thinking as I'm also working on my 85 CJ7 , about a different engine besides the F-head engine I got with the Jeep. being that the older CJ5s are 5 inches shorter than later CJs, are there any viable options? are any of them "easier" than others? am I better off tackling the F-head and running the original-style drivetrain? ( I don't know if this is the "original" drivetrain, but the jeep would have had an F-head with a T-90 and a D18 or Spicer 18 Transfer Case ).

thoughts?

 

[hagar]

sky is the limit....
time and money can be your limit
do you have the fab skills?
Dauntless Buick 225 V6
small block chevy or ford?
it's not as easy as just putting the engine of choice in...
cooling, clutch, exhaust, steering, wiring, etc etc etc

yes, an F-head would be the simplest/easiest.

 

[Helomedic1171]

I'm learning the fab skills, and I'm willing to give it effort, but I guess the first step would be get some measurements of the engine bay and an engine I may want to put in the jeep and see where I'm at. Are there any other popular swaps for the early CJs besides the Dauntless Buick 225 V6 ?

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