Crankshafts ?

[edohan]

I wonder if the crankshafts of 226 Super hurricane and 161 F head Hurricane engines coupled with GM Hydramatic transmissions for  the Willys passenger cars are different?
 Would you please explain how somebody could swab these engines and still keep the Hydramatic transmission?


Thanks

[Aeroman]

I am sure linkages would need to be changed and I know each has it's own bell housing, the F-head housing being pretty rare, 226 is common.

[Fid]

See if this thread helps

http://kfclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,7570.msg35522.html#msg35522

[DTort96646]

Are you trying to swap a 226 Continental engine with a  161 F head Willys engine and keep the same Hydra Matic transmission? The Hydra Matic transmission Torus pilots on a needle bearing in the crankshaft flange. The flywheel part of the torus cover is bolted to and sealed at the crankshaft flange. The Torus assembly is large and heavy when spinning thus the reason for the large crankshaft flange. The crankshafts are different. To put it short and simple: It ain't gonna work.

[edohan]

Thanks everybody for your very useful comments. I would like to purchase a 1954 Eagle Custom for a frame-up restoration.
I was told that somebody swapped the original 226 Super Hurricane engine with a 161 F head Hurricane engine and the transmission still is Hydra Matic???

 If I am going to restore the car, I would like to make sure I am using  a Super Hurricane engine coupled with the Hydra Matic transmission  to keep everything original??

[Gordie]

1954 Eagle Customs with the continental kit are very scarce.  Did they have a choice of engines?  Mine has the 226 with hydramatic.

[MarkH]

Thanks everybody for your very useful comments. I would like to purchase a 1954 Eagle Custom for a frame-up restoration.
I was told that somebody swapped the original 226 Super Hurricane engine with a 161 F head Hurricane engine and the transmission still is Hydra Matic???

 If I am going to restore the car, I would like to make sure I am using  a Super Hurricane engine coupled with the Hydra Matic transmission  to keep everything original??

I think I know of the car you're discussing. I was under the impression it was a rare combination of F-head & Hydramatic, however I never got as interested as you so never asked questions.

If it originally had the 226 instead of the F-head then the grill shell will have the cut that allows the radiator to be a few inches farther forward than an F-head equipped car.

[Barnum]

If it came with the FHead...it would be the rarest of the rare! If you go with the 226...you should save the Fhead as that was also a rare combination with the hydramatic.

[edohan]

Based on information Rickey provided about the Willys Aero Production;
this car should be Eagle C2 series which came with factory installed continental Kit ,  226 engine and only HydraMatic transmission was available for this particular Eagle model.

[Gordie]

If you read the old magazine road tests of the Willys with the 226 Continental engines they raved about the additional power and performance of the cars with the 226 engines over the previous engines.  Just the Customs had the Continental kits and an original one has Eagle Custom scripts on the front fenders.  Continental kits were an option and at least two after-market companies advertised Continental kits for the Aero Willys.

[MarkH]

Here's a car with the cut in the grill bar for the forward set radiator that indicates a 226 engine.

[r1lark]

Wow, thanks for posting Mark. I have never noticed that difference before.

[Thomasso]

How would I tell if the Continental Kit on my 55 Bermuda is factory or aftermarket.  I know the car was bought new this way but don't know if dealer installed.  Sold new May 55 for $1920.00.  Tom.

[MarkH]

I was looking through some service bulletins and ran across one that mentions the idle speed needs to be increased from 575 rpm to 650 rpm for the newly available Hydramatic for the 685 Ace & Eagle. It mentions predelivery inspection & adjustment instructions are in Service Bulletin #53-29

[Aeroman]

How would I tell if the Continental Kit on my 55 Bermuda is factory or aftermarket.  I know the car was bought new this way but don't know if dealer installed.  Sold new May 55 for $1920.00.  Tom.

As far as I can tell, the only mention of a factory option continental kit on any Aero 1952-1955 I have seen is in the Parts Manual Supplement, Group 35-73 which only allows the option on 1954 models: 475B, 675B, 685B and 6-226 (475, 675 and 685 would be 1952; 475A, 675A & 685A would be 1953; so next would be a "B" suffix for 1954, 6-226 was introduced in 1954 so no suffix. 685C and 6-226A would be 1955). The kit part number is 691155. More than likely, it was dealer installed. A dealer was able to order this kit and retro-fit it to early models or add it to a '55. 
I have option sheets for 1952 and 1953 and there is no mention of continental kits in the listings. I do not have those bulletins for 1954 or 1955 so cannot say for sure. The 1954 Salesman's Data Book does not mention the option anywhere, but does tell about the Eagle Custom with a standard Continental Kit.