Basic guide to doing an engine swap.

I'm writing an article on engine swaps, with some pointers and things to look out for. It going to be very general to suit all types of cars and I'd really like as much feedback as possible.

If you were doing an engine swap what would you need? Have you got any tips you'd like to pass on? What engine conversions are easiest to do?

 

[moop]

waynne, are you yet to write on the engine swap issue or you've left it???

 

[gendox]

mate i have never even seen an engine swapped let alone swapped one mate id like to give a useful tip err make sure the mounts are in the right place or you weld them properly hope it helps lol. Oh and btw loving this new section, it is new im not just blind am i

 

[dpsubaru]

easiest: ford escort, mark 4, no need to even take out the gearbox, tilt it at an angle and you can slide the engine of the end, just need to be careful about the shaft.

tips,
dont forget to unbolt the gearbox linkage.
dont try and lift the engine without a decent engine crane, last thing you want is it staving in the front end.

 

[obi_waynne]

moop - I did an article on engine swaps (http://www.torquecars.com/tuning/engine-swaps.php), this was just an old thread I've restarted to get some new/more ideas.

Gendox, this is a new section

Wise words dpsubaru, I also had a friend who dropped the gearbox onto his hand . It's worth using the crane for everything if you can.

 

[dpsubaru]

waynne - i think one point is that if you are doing a powerful engine upgrade to the car then really need to consider brakes, as before put a 1.6i pug 205 engine in a previously 1.0l pug, but it is essential to change the brakes others just would not have stopped. Also on this we seem welded the shell and had to add strengtheners as although from the outside it looked the same once completey stripped it was obvious that Pug themselves majorily increase the strength of these more powerful shells. just a point, not sure if it is relevant on more modern cars but something to consider,

 

[gendox]

yea i mean my rover was a set shell for the 400's i know that the 1.4 and 1.6 had the same shell not sure about the 2.0 but there was holes all over my car for other parts like i fitted a radiator from the 1.6 but i didnt know it was bigger but it fitted in other holes perfectly

 

[dpsubaru]

the wholes are usually in the same place for most models but some manufacturers strengthen the chassis and weld other plates on so normally it looks likes everything is in the same place but need to check closely to see the changes.

 

[Massive]

dont forget you need and engine to swap with first, dont be takin your old one out without one

 

[stamford]

So many areas to watch when doing this, depends on the car in question and the engine/gearbox configuration going in.

• Dimensions of new engine, layout and gearbox, will it fit?
• Firewall fabrication.
• Will it clear the pedal box assembly?
• Will it foul the brake servo?
• Will it foul the steering column?
• Will it require a custom radiator?
• Will it need an oil cooler? is there room for it?
• Will the sump pan require modifying?
• If using a bell housing adaptor, do you have the necessary parts to get the starter to fit? Will it require a modified starter or mounts?
• Engine mounts to be fabricated.
• Gearbox mounts to be fabricated.
• FWD or RWD transplant or conversion? Tunnel fabs/gearshift fabs?
• Gear linkage modifications.
• Driveshaft mods? Made or beefed up?
• Propshaft mods, new one and balanced?
• Suspension beef up if heavier transplant?
• Ignition circuit/ecu/sensors/emissions etc.
• Exhaust headers and system.

Alot will depend upon the age of the car used and the age of the transplant in question. The newer the engine the more needs to be done to ensure it's capable of passing it's MOT assuming you have no issues with the engineers report for them to say it is safe to MOT.

I've not done many transplants, but have covered most issues when shoe horning a 1.9 Manta engine & box into a Chevette, then the same putting in a Rover V8. Also done a Rover V8 into a Bedford CF350 van. Also a Rover V8 into a Talbot Sunbeam. What else?...........think that will do for now.

Bascially, do your homework first! Don't jump right in until you have weighed up all the pros and cons.

 

[old-git]

Stamford seems to have covered most angles.

If starting out on your first engine swap (and ignoring other car mods required if increasing power):

Staying with the same make and model but higher spec/larger capacity is easier than using an engine from a different make. The engine mounting holes on my YB Cosworth block are in the same place as on the original Elan engine and even the same as the engine in a Ford Anglia 105E !

Modify an engine that is the same as the original. This will then fit straght in.

If you have the use of another car, modify your existing engine as this saves you from buying another one and you know it fits

All of the above allow for the original gearbox to be retained (usually and unless large power increases are planned), saving a lot of agro.

 

[HDi fun]

HDi's guide to doing an engine swap.

Firstly find a suitable donor car which has the engine of your choice installed. Now buy it.

Now go and get the other bits of the donor car fixed and flog the original car on the open market for a good price, making a big play of its factory original condition in your advert.

HDi would 'ave to go this way - if HDi was to undertake an engine swap you'd have the most radical piece of weight reduction ever seen in motorsport history, due simply to the plethora of 'spare bits' for which he'd never find a suitable home

 

[obi_waynne]

@ Hdi! Thats one way of doing it but it sounds more like a car swap to me.

 

[HDi fun]

@ Hdi! Thats one way of doing it but it sounds more like a car swap to me.

Bugger it, you noticed !!!!

 

[tully78]

I bought a mk1 fiesta back in 98 it was upgraded with 185bhp escort turbo engine. the amount of problems i had with the car upgrading everything was beyond my means. it gave up the ghost come the end. rapid on a 4 speed box.. lol wasnt enough room to get a five speed between chassis leg forever changing them and replacing driveshafts. another problem was brakes put on xr2 disks calipers pads etc main problem was no servo could fit hence engine. the thing would do 140 mph flatout on the limiter. had to back off mind blowing performance eat everything. the weight was reduced removing all passenger seats spare wheel jack. but, was i should of done is remove engine and strengthen chassis leg to bulkhead. almost rolled it going around a series of bends coming home one night. parked it up looked next morning and there was a 2" gap at the bottom of wing to door. bottom drivers leg had parted company. rendered unsafe now. sold for same money i bought it for. minus parts...lol only car i done 73 miles on £23 worth and that was the prices back then. done a couple myself bx 16valve lump in a 205 track car and 16v red top in a corsa gsi...mmm good fun

 

[GoFastMan]

i dont know alot about cars but does a timing belt always need to be re-timed when an engine is striped before putting it back into a car ?

 

[pgarner]

if the engine has been taken out in a oner and not been adjuted then there is not normally any reason for doing so. however if the engine as you say has been stripped then yes it needs to go back on and timing checked

 

[Mk2Ibiza]

Any one done a engine swap into a mk2 ibiza?