Postal Jeep 232

Somebody local is selling a 232 motor / torqueflite 727 tranny from a postal jeep.  It doesn't say what year of jeep it came out of and i haven't gotten a hold of the guy yet.  I was wondering if anybody knows whether or not it would fit right into a 64-69 american.  For the price that he's asking, I wouldn't mind having an extra one laying around.

Here's a few pics...

The engine is a definite yes.  Not sure about the 727, but someone else will.  It is Pre 72, based on the starter being on the left hand side.  Just like the engine in your American.

Yeah, it would be an easy swap. I like the fact that the driveshaft comes with it too. You will need it. The tranny looks to be an updated model of the BW 35 because it is radiator cooled instead of air cooled. I think it's like a Model 43 or something like that. See if he has the speedometer cable too. The motor has the engine mount brackets on it too which is helpful. The engine mounts will sit in front of the original crossmember about 2 or 3 inches so you will have to weld some metal to the crossmember to fill the gap. I've do it, it's easy. Getting a driveshaft made will be the hardest most expensive thing you should encounter. You'll need to have the mounts on your radiator swapped side for side. I'd buy it. I don't think you'll find such a complete package like that again. Edit: Flipping the radiator mounts is only needed for the 64-65 year models. Welding metal to the crossmember for engine mounts is only needed if the car came with the 196 engine.

Edited by ramblinfsj - Apr/13/2012 at 12:45pm

I have a 232 and BW M37 that came from a 67 American. The tailshaft housing I have looks much longer than the one you show. 

The engine will fit, should even have the short water pump and pulley, which makes it a real good find if it's going in a 64 or 65 American. The trans isn't an M-35, the 35 used a cable instead of a vacuum modulator. It's an M-37 most likely (which was just a bit stronger than the 35, used in early big cars with 232), but may be a M-4x. It's not air cooled either. The trans case has the vents so it could be air cooled, but the bell lacks the big air inlet opening on the right side, and there are trans cooling lines. That's no big deal though, fluid cooling is probably better, more consistent anyway (keeps a more even temp than air cooled would).