Motor Swap Toss up
 

The time is coming. So lettuce wiegh out some options.

Pretty much, im in a toss up on how to assemble this pig. Do i mate the trans together with the engine and front end? or do i throw the front end w. motor in by itself and do the trans on my back? Lets take a closer look cotton...


Engine/Front End/Trans-

-First and formost... time due to cost. I cant mate the engine and trans together without throwing the stall converter in, and thats $800 i dont have right now. So realistically, i wouldnt be able to throw it together until after labor day weekend when i get home from Vaca. Thats an extra 4 weeks of down time.

-On the postive side, if i do wait it out it would be much eaiser to slap it together on the floor of my garage. Converter bolts to flexplate would be a breeze, and bellhousing to block would take 2 seconds. Then id roll it all under on a dolley as one.

-Drawback 2... Since the rear of the car would be on the ground, and i have large belly, the transmount wouldnt be able to be bolted in until the subframe and suspension were in and i would then be able to get the car on jack stands to do under it and throw the transmount on. So the trans would be held up on nothing but the bell housing bolts and the converter.

Engine + Front end only

The only real negative i see to this is the opposite of what i listed above. Ive done a 60e on my back 5 times, and it kinda blows, but its not impossible. just like any job, itd be easier on a lift but i dont got one. So id ive have stuggle with the stall bolts as well as the top bell housing bolts. But nothing i havent done before.

On the flipside, if im just throwing the motor n suspension on its own, ill be able to do it prob mid next week. Just waiting on my headers to get here. Then i would throw them on the motor, motor to the subframe, throw it on a dolley and get under there. (it would be easiest to install Long tubes while the engine is out right?)

Once the engine is in, id be able to bring the car back inside my garage and finish all the little stuff i have to do. Without having to worry about rain or light... and insects. Id be able to run the battery lines, all the guage and the wiring to go along with it. and then when i have the money for the converter, throw it in on a nice climate controlled smooth floor vs the grooved concrete driveway.


cast your votes.

Find a thinner FRIEND to do option A with everything assembled outside the car.

I just don't see any time saved shoving the motor in now since its more of a pain to do trans after. Don't you have a sweet crane setup? Between that and a jack, pick car and trans up and tighten cross member bolts up.

Do it once right. Least when you can

A.

/thread

Wait.


Signed,
The guy that's going on year 17

How about, don't go on vacation and use that money TOWARDS the converter, then you can get it done early :wink:

bc the gf may be short, but she packs a lot of grumpy into that short.

:kneeslap:

Just remember, it's better to ask for forgiveness than it is permission :rofl:

This x10000 :lol:

option A. easier
(yet ive never done an engine/trans install in a 4th gen)

I'd say wait and do it all together. Those trans bolt suck even when on a lift. Can't imagine on the ground. Also plugs and headers all in one shot.

I did it on the ground. Lol super long extension and swivel!

one word: sawzall

Not nearly as dangerous and thrilling as a cutoff wheel while working upside down.

i am very safety conscious

My personal favorite, the plasma cutter!