Newbie with engine swap question

[chelvis]

Greetings all, am new here and have my eye on an '86 long bed with 2.8 v6 and 5 speed.  I had a few FSJs in my lifetime.

 

I did some searching here and other internet places regarding engine swaps. 

 

I was wondering if anyone ever attempted or have heard of someone using the GM 215 aluminum v8 made back in '60s for an engine swap.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

 

[HOrnbrod]

The Buick aluminum V8? I haven't heard about anyone stuffing one into an MJ, but it and it's Rover cousin was a popular swap back in the day, and still is to some extent. I've thought a lot about it though and would be my choice if I didn't have a stroker already. If it fits in under an MGB bonnet, it sure would fit in an MJ.

 

 

http://www.britishv8.org/mg/robertmilks.htm

[chelvis]

Yup that is the one, there is someone local on CL who has an engine available.

[HOrnbrod]

That would a nice swap. Just the weight savings alone over the 4.0 is almost 200 lbs (318 lbs vs. 515 lbs).

[airspeed]

I owned a 64 Buick Special with the Aluminum 300 cu.in V8. That was a snappy little engine, one of my buddies called it the Shot Gun...  Not a whole lot of longevity or durability to the motor. The block and the heads would flex too much and it would over heat real easy.  When it did overheat it needed new head gaskets.

[johnj92131]

I owned a 64 Buick Special with the Aluminum 300 cu.in V8. That was a snappy little engine, one of my buddies called it the Shot Gun...  Not a whole lot of longevity or durability to the motor. The block and the heads would flex too much and it would over heat real easy.  When it did overheat it needed new head gaskets.

 

The 64 Buick 300 cu. in. V8 had an iron block and aluminum heads.  Weight was up around 80 lbs from the 215 aluminum engine.  So the iron block had a different expansion rate than the aluminum heads.  They ran great back in the day for many miles.  Suspect a poor prior mechanic was the cause of your over heating problemThe 300 inch crank is an easy way to get more cubic inches in the aluminum 215 engine.  

 

An old Corvair buddy of mine still has his 1966 Corvair with a 215 cubic inch Olds version of this engine after all these years.  It was a great conversion.  Smooth and QUIET on the highway.

 

This would be a great conversion for the MJ, the 215 is even 50 lbs lighter than the GM 2.8 V6 engine.