Hi all, im looking at building a 65 scout 2wd street rod! I know its kinda weird but, I like different. What I would like to do is build a 181 4 cyl for it. What I would like to know is if anyone here knows of a turbo build on one. plan is forged pistons, H beam rods. is it possible to put splayed or billet main caps on the 181, is it needed? Crank strength? looking at 30+psi if it can handle it. Anybody gone full out on the 8 port head? valve sizes, flow #s???? I would really like to see 450+rwhp
Thanks

I would not be too concerned about the HP numbers, that engine will make torque.

The cylinder heads do not flow that well.

There are aftermarket cyl heads & Arias blocks & others w/4 bolt mains. IIRC

My friends customer had one at there shop in a Jenson Healey, IIRC if was 200 CI, turbo, blowing through DCOEs

MBHD

The 181 is basically a 153 bored and stroked. The bore went from 3.875" to 4" and the stroke from 3.25" to 3.60". The main bearings are the same but the rods have a 2.1" crank pin instead of 2.0". The bottom end is stout with 5 mains. It should handle the same amount of boost that it's big brother L6s do, maybe with its shorter crank a bit more. If there are the kind of caps you mention for the L6s they will work on the L4. The late 181s have one piece rear seals and some have pressed powder rods. The 181 rods are one offs and don't fit anything else. They are the same as V8 rod but are wider on the bottom end. There are at least 3 181 heads two are 8 ports and the best one has 2" intakes and 1.6" exhaust. With 30 pounds of boost it will flow. It will make your old Scout a little beast, better stock up on axles.

Here's a different cylinder head choice and a better block choice as well. Block can be made to go 4.125" bore if you want to build a big inch 4 cylinder. I think some of the earlier 181's had a 2pc. rear seal, I was going to buy one off of ebay and tool up to make it fit the block. Blocks can also be made splayed cap or standard 4 bolt main, but billet either way.

Yes, the pre '85(I think) were 2 piece mains. Thats how I get to use the 181 crank in my 153 block.

I think you'll be pleased with this amount of cubic inch and Tom's head on it. It still might even get fairly decent mileage if you keep your foot out of it.

Thanks guys. Kinda want to go with a stock block and head castings. this way if things blow up replacements are fairly easy to find. Ive been building turbo ford 2.3 4 cyl for about 15 years now so I have some experience in turbo engines. I happened upon these cool little gm engines when I bought my 71 cj5, which happened to have the 153 in it https://www.inliners.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=81323&Main=9759#Post81323
Really like the fairly stout construction, high rocker ratio, and the heads flow fairly well for what they are, The best is the v8 style bellhousing pattern!!!

Keep us posted on your build. It sounds like fun to me.

What happened to this build?