New owner, engine swap input

[lamboboy732]

Hello all, I am a new owner of what I believe is a sw48. I would love to know approximate year if anyone knows.

The Chrysler flat head is beyond saving from my initial lookover. I would like to repower the unit with something modern.

What is the maximum horsepower/torque I should be considering when deciding on an engine?

I ask because I have a Toyota V8 I'd love to hang on the back of the little thing but I feel it will likely just blow the diff up with almost 300hp. For that reason I'm considering a more reasonable 4cyl from something like a 2wheel drive Tacoma instead. Thank you for any input and for allowing me to join the group!

 

[Track Addict]

SW stands for sidewalk which is where they work best. Not good for actually snowcat usage.

Plenty of bombi and j5 people done motor swaps. The original setup in it is more than enough power and easily repair replace

 

[lamboboy732]

SW stands for sidewalk which is where they work best. Not good for actually snowcat usage.

Plenty of bombi and j5 people done motor swaps. The original setup in it is more than enough power and easily repair replace

Thanks for the info. The motor is beyond saving, all the intake and exhaust ports are full of rust and dirt. The manifold is cracked and missing ears. Plugs are not in the head and those holes are also full of rust and dirt. For that reason a repower seems much more time and cost effective.

If the stock engine is more than enough power I'll probably try and go close to that. I'd like it to have decent power/torque since my property is all hills. Seems like stock power would be somewhere around 80 maybe? Not much info I can find pertaining to engines and transmission setups.

 

[J5 Bombardier]

If you have a 4cyl toyota motor , I'd go for it. There's always a ford 300 inline 6 option also , but the tub is very narrow on those old ones , so what ever you can make fit . The original 251 was like 110 horse , going down hill with a tail wind . J5 Bombardier

 

[lamboboy732]

If you have a 4cyl toyota motor , I'd go for it. There's always a ford 300 inline 6 option also , but the tub is very narrow on those old ones , so what ever you can make fit . The original 251 was like 110 horse , going down hill with a tail wind . J5 Bombardier

110 is more than I thought. Have you operated one with the original configuration? Do you share the opinion from the other poster that the power is more than adequate?

 

[pixie]

I have a J5 with a Chrysler 230. Same format and year as the 251. Because of the diff ratio (5.83 ? ) smaller engines provide plenty of power.

 

[J5 Bombardier]

110 is more than I thought. Have you operated one with the original configuration? Do you share the opinion from the other poster that the power is more than adequate?

I'm running 3 flatheads , 2 251's and 1 265 great motors for their time , I dropped a grand (CDN) into one during covid bearings , rings , valve job , valve guides , oil pump kit etc. I wouldn''t go that way again , parts are getting hard to find and it still can't compete with a 300 Ford . Just my opinion.....

 

[lamboboy732]

I'm running 3 flatheads , 2 251's and 1 265 great motors for their time , I dropped a grand (CDN) into one during covid bearings , rings , valve job , valve guides , oil pump kit etc. I wouldn''t go that way again , parts are getting hard to find and it still can't compete with a 300 Ford . Just my opinion.....

I do have a Ford 300 6 in a junky plow truck. Fuel injected model actually. Do you think the truck motor would bolt right up to the bell housing? I really don't love the engine but if it drops right in it will be a quick swap to get this thing going.

 

[J5 Bombardier]

I do have a Ford 300 6 in a junky plow truck. Fuel injected model actually. Do you think the truck motor would bolt right up to the bell housing? I really don't love the engine but if it drops right in it will be a quick swap to get this thing going.

Nothing bolts right up , if you want to keep the original tranny your in for some modding. If you have a motor / trans to go in ,probably the easiest way .

 

[lamboboy732]

Okay I figured. I do have a trans to go with it. Nothing a welder and angle grinder can't make work

 

[lamboboy732]

No luck with the Ford 300 in the rotted plow truck. Engine and trans are way too wide and also look too long from rough measurements. Will need to locate something more slender in the bellhousing and engine mount area.

 

[Idaho Living]

I would suggest a tear down of the engine to see what you have. I own a 110 volt impact gun that seems to get all the bolts out without breaking them off. These are great engines, I ran my 251 for about two hours yesterday. Does it have the stock carb? Parts are available from vintage power wagon and other sources. I own a flat head Continental 65 cubic inch, in a tractor that had the valves rusted to the valve guides. I repaired it and it’s up and running. I yanked the valves out using a slide hammer, valve guides and all. 251 industrial engines are governed by the carb. They are low rpm torque monsters. Long blocks of your engine are on eBay frequently. Shipping would be high as these 251s weigh about 500 pounds. I would consider keeping the the 251. All you would have to do is source the parts you can’t repair. No fabrication. I pull pick up trucks out with my machine, no problem. More power would break the next weakest link, like shave the sprocket teeth off. As for the year,

you should have a brass dog tag plate on the dash board. Mine says JW67. 1967. You have solid tires with rims that split in two. I like that style of rim, my tires have inner tubes. Good luck, they are lots of fun to operate.