Tips for easiest engine swap???

artisticent · Jan 10, 2008

So the motor in my 91 sy needs a serious rebuild. Its smokin, the compression in one cylinder is down to 60 and overall it needs help. I have found another motor (Typhoon) that is mainly stock but runs great. My thoughts are to pull my motor out, put it on a stand to rebuild it the way I want and drop this other motor in just to prevent me having a down truck for 6 months. It will be a straight swap. I understand the bolts from the tranny to the motor to be a pita. Any other suggestions to make it easier. Keep in mind that projects like motor mounts, cleaning engine bay and misc other things will be for when I put the rebuilt motor back in. For now I want it as simple as I can. Also if anyone could lend a hand it will be a weekend project but I am flexable with anyone that could shorten the time this would take. I will rent a hoist and buy a Harbor freight engine stand.
Thanks
Nathan

NecroWolf · Jan 10, 2008

Re: Tips for easiest engine swap???

if you don't have ac get a non ac heater box, makes lots of room to work

MRKING · Jan 10, 2008

Re: Tips for easiest engine swap???

Loosen the back 2 and remove the front 2 cab to frame bolts and you will be able to jack up the front of the cab and get to those bolts way easier . Dont forget to unbolt the fuel lines from the back of the heads , tweak them too much and they will bend and then youll then need new ones .

artisticent · Jan 10, 2008

Re: Tips for easiest engine swap???

I do have A/C but have no objections to removing that along with the ABS. I will keep all the componants for stock reasons though. Good tip on the cab to frame bolts. Thanks
Nathan

blk00z28 · Jan 11, 2008

Re: Tips for easiest engine swap???

Is this new motor that your dropping in for a short period of time have all the brackets on it or are you going to have to use the ones off the motor in the truck now?

If you are using the ones off the motor, pull the motor with everything on it, and then put it on the other motor while they are both out and drop it back in. That'll make things a lot easier. You'll risk less chance of breaking something. Assuming you move things around and have the room to pull the whole motor like that.

Houseofperformance · Jan 11, 2008

Re: Tips for easiest engine swap???

the trany/engine bolts are no problem - get the 4 lower bolts from underneath with 2 half" extensions and a wobble joint, and the 2 top ones from above with an open wrench.
i only removed the hood, upper intake, upper ic, downpipe and top fan shroud and out it went - it was harder to get the new engine in, than the old one out.
i made an engine lift plate to bolt to the lower intake, so i could tilt the engine a bit when installing it.
here is a pic: http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45001&highlight=special+tools

bezerk · Jan 11, 2008