225 block crack, can I fix it?

My son got a pile of parts (65 CJ-5 OF 225) and has steadily got it together. Got the motor running but poor compression all around. Pulled the heads and found two block cracks between #1 and #2 at the narrow part between the cylinders. The head gasket was totally breached. It looks like some one before had attempted some kind of repair before, but it could be just corrosion.
Do you think its repairable (is it worth it) or find another block?
Oh, it really needs a rebuild too. Sorry no pics.
What are your thoughts/advice?

 

Crack repair is not something you can do in your garage. A shop can repair a cracked block usually, by several different methods of pinning the crack. But it's expensive and typically only worthwhile if the motor is rare/unusual and hard to replace. Like Bill's link above, there were a lot of these engines (with 231 cid, slightly larger bore), both odd-fire and even-fire, put into rear wheel drive passenger cars. A 231 from a passenger car is a common and easy replacement for the 225. That will almost certainly be your cheapest option.

Look around - you may find another 225 from a '63-ish Buick or from a 66-71 CJ-5 or Jeepster. Buick used the 225 for only 2-3 years, so the engines from cars (with a 1V carb) are pretty scarce. As above, the slightly different but bolt-in 231 from later years (after Buick bought the engine tooling and rights back from Jeep) will be way more plentiful.

 

Ya, I already called that guy and we might work something out.
Ill get some prices from some local shops.
I also noticed that the head gasket coolant passage hole was allot smaller than the castings. Thoughts???

Until then, Thanks. If anybody has any other thoughts, or ahemmm parts.....Im listening.
I would really like to keep the odd-fire, I like the way it sounds and feels.
So, If I am reading correctly, the 231 block should accept the OF crank, rod and the like with out issues?
As I understand it the 231 heads were different (high ports) and cooling passages were changed.

Will the early heads, manifolds bolt up ok to the later 231 block?
What's an 'integrated distributor drive?
I have a points ignition.
YES, I have checked the interchange guide and searched but didn't find a post that answered my questions.

 

The integral distributor drive is as follows. The oddfire motors used a drive gear that can be removed from the cam. The even fire has the gear machined into the cam blank. The cam bearings between the oddfire and evenfire motor are different. The oddfire motors lubed the rockers thru the heads, the even fire oiled thru the pushrods. The hi port heads came about after 1977 and yes they had different ports.

I suggest that you get the Buick v6 book by Pat Ganahl.



the book number for ordering it ISBN-10: 093147213X
The book runs about $18-$19 and will tell you everything about a v6 you will ever want to know. I have it and it is well written and explains a huge amount about interchangability of Buick parts and facts about these motors along with most other popular v6's of the 70's and 80's.

 

Ah haaa...!!! Thank you Mcruff!!!
You will be interested to know that the book new is $100 bucks from Amazon. Used about 20.00.