I have a 68 Jeep CJ5 with a Buick 225 V6 (original) engine. I want to save the engine and put it in a 1979 CJ7. I want to swap out the stock 258 inline 6 and replace it with the Buick engine. Is this possible and will it link up to the transmission from the 79?

Thanks  

What transmission do you have?  

I am not sure of the make of transmission. Both are original. The 68 CJ 5 is a 3 speed and the 79 CJ 7 is a 4 speed. We want the 68 motor in the 79 Jeep. Will this work?  

should be and easy swap, the tranny depends on whether it'll fit the bellhousing.
off hand I don't know. Jeep should have kept buick in the line up. maybe we would have had some 231 turbocharged grand national edition wranglers.

anythings possible.  

The Buick motor actually will use the original Buick bell housing. If I am thinking right, the reason they do this is because of the flywheel. It is a lot heavier than most flywheels ranging 75 to 100 lbs to create the low end torque. It will bolt straight up to something like the sm420/465. There is a really good website that I go to every once in a while on early CJs. It has a lot of information on the 225. You should really read up on it, you will learn some interesting things about it, such as it being an odd-fire engine. I don't know if I can post the site on here, so you can PM me or someone will let me know that it is ok. I am guessing with it being a 79 CJ and a 4 speed, it is probably a T-18 or T-98. You can tell by the casting numbers on the side of it. On the driver's side it will say T-18 or 13-01. The T-98 will have T98. If it is the T-18, keep it. It is a very tough transmission. I am not saying the T-98 is a bad transmission, but it is not as tough. But yeah, sorry to ramble, but that should get you going somewhere.  

That would be one wicked ride, mud. Just imagine the face on the guy driving the wannabe Fast and Furious ricer when they hear the turbo wastegate release. Priceless...  

These are the numbers I got off the transmission. Sounds greek to me. Does this mean it is a T18? The numbers are  18-OT-065-908  Borg Warner.  

I do believe that is a T-18 tranny. I don't know how to decipher it anymore. I was wondering, why are you pulling out the I-6 to swap for the V-6?  

Correct me if I'm wrong...I was told the Buick engine is a one of a kind, excellent, hard to find motor. We also had it rebuilt at one time. It has the dual exhaust which is what we want to run off the 79 Jeep. Now, if you think it would be in my best interests keeping the 79 motor, I will. I am just not up on the history and the durability of this motor.  

The Buick is a good strong motor. But, in my opinion, I think I would leave it in the '68. But that is if the CJ5 can be restored or if in good shape. The reason is that I think it would just make the CJ5 worth more money in the long run. To have a numbers matching vehicle of that age is a pretty rare case these days. The 258 is a very durable motor if you ask me. I'm not too familiar with them because I always had V8s. I have heard that a straight 6 will out last a V6 because of balance and etc. Plus, you can find performance parts for the 258 a dime a dozen. Just about everyone has them. Anything from a rebuild kits to fuel injection for them. If you don't want to go that route, you could always use it to build a 4.6L stroker ! Can't go wrong with approx. 250-300 hp from a 6 cylinder. A buddy of mine is building a CJ7 with one in it and only has $1200 in the motor and that is including a block he got from a junk yard. But, this is all my opinion. I would like to hear what others have to say. Most of all, it is your Jeep, your budget, your ideas.