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Blast from the Past

Flattie Engine
Posted August 6 2011 08:17 PM by Christian Hazel 
Filed under: Custom Jeep Projects, Jeep Enthusiast Culture, Christian Hazel

Yet another old photo. This one is of the DOHC 3.5L LX5 V-6 in my '53 DJ-3A.


The Jeep had a 305 Chevy V-8 in it when I bought it. I yanked that and got a '70 Cadillac Eldorado with 400hp/550lb-ft and started shoehorning that in. Then mid-stream I changed plans and got a 300hp/295lb0ft 4.6L L37 Northstar V-8. Then I started realizing what a suckfest it'd be cramming that much engine originally intended for a transverse application into a longitudinal package.

Then Colby Enger at Turnkey Engine Supply called me up because he knew I had a brand new Northstar and he was all out. He had a customer who really wanted one and offered me my choice of the LX5 Shortstar or an LS1 V-8 as a trade. To sweeten the deal, the offered to throw in his complete wiring harness, MEFI 3 computer, and front accessory package.

In hindsight, I really don't know why I picked the Shortstar. The LS1 would've made almost twice as much power as my 260hp/260lb-ft Shortstar, but I've come to love the little V-6 as an off-road engine. It's docile when I need it and lights up like a roman candle when I need to blip up and over an obstacle. Sometimes the wrong choice is the right choice.



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