HEADGAMES

How to replace the cylinder head gasket in a Willys Go Devil flathead engine

- Christian Hazel

Ah, yesteryear. It was a simpler time, not only in the pace of life but also in the engineering that powered the vehicles of the time. The 134-cube Go Devil engine that was the motivation behind every WWII and civilian flat-fender Jeep from 1941 through 1953 was a relatively simple, very durable, and (for its time) relatively powerful design.

The design was so good that when the U.S. Military standardized jeep production in WWII, it had Ford use the Go Devil engine design in its GPW jeep in lieu of the 45hp 119ci Ford engine that powered the prestandardized Ford GP. But even the best engine designs can fall prey to the ravages of time, wear, and neglect.

When we purchased a ’48 Willys CJ-2A with a crankcase full of oil-water milkshake, we immediately suspected the head gasket had let go. Follow along to see how we replaced the cylinder head gasket in a 134-cube Willys Go Devil engine at home in our driveway with only common handtools.

1 The design of the Willys Go Devil engine is super simple and easy to work on in the field, which is probably one of the big reasons it was so beloved by the GIs who depended on it during WWII. The carburetor, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold are clear of the cylinder head, so other than removing the upper radiator hose, oil filter canister, and air filter, there’s nothing in the way of removing the cylinder head.