Might be time to pull my tired motor........

[badmix]

Ive never done a motor swap on anything before. Is there anything I need to watch out for? Is it straight forward, unplug this and that and then switch it all over? Any tips to make it easier and less painfull. Any little extras I need to be thinking about.

The motor im getting is from an 1987 Chevy K5, its a 350cid 2bolt main. Its been bored .030. It has center bolt heads. Suppose to be vortex heads with 3 angle valve job. This motor hasnt been ran or fired up. Getting it for $700bux. Its from a buddy so we are going to do the install.

This is going to be one of those Drive up , install it and drive home in the same weekend. so we shall see..

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

 

[DK5]

Your's is a '91 right? I've never done a motor swap either, but I would think they'd be the same since they're both TBI. I'll let someone else chime in to confirm that.

Are you happy with the way the motor was built? I suppose the price is right but you don't want a lemon, did your bud know what he was doing when he built it? Those would be some of my questions.

Just my 2 pennies

 

[badmix]

Your's is a '91 right? I've never done a motor swap either, but I would think they'd be the same since they're both TBI. I'll let someone else chime in to confirm that.

Are you happy with the way the motor was built? I suppose the price is right but you don't want a lemon, did your bud know what he was doing when he built it? Those would be some of my questions.

Just my 2 pennies

My truck is an '84 (carb'd). The truck it came out of was a TBI motor. There is another guy going thru the motor right now and Im waiting to hear from him, ive got a few questions etc. The motor was built but sat around. The org. owner of the motor *a buddy as well* isnt the sharpest tool in the shed, but the guy who actually has the motor now has built motors before.

 

[K85 Octane]

No particular order, just ideas I came across with my first engine swap

pull radiator or put a piece of plywood against it to protect it
pull all acc off
if the hoist doesn't go up very high, look into pulling the wheels off, letting air out, or removing front core support
replace motor mounts, mine as well
unbolt TC and push it back into bell housing, put a ziptie on it so it doesn't come forward and fall off, spilling fluid everywhere (no it didn't happen
put a jack under trans with a piece of wood against pan
pull 6 bolts out of bell housing, 2 bolts out of motor mounts
get chain as close to engine manifold as possible, less room to swing and gets more height out of hoist
unbolt tranny dipstick from side of engine, be careful it doesn't get hung up and get pulled out, makes a mess on the ground (or in my case grass)

 

[max 02]

Take the dizzy out, it will smash into the firewall and get f*cked up. Good luck!

 

[K85 Octane]

hahaha
yeah, dizzy and everything else that's on the engine
I pulled exhaust manifolds off, fuel pump, carb, damn near everything
had a block, heads, intake, valve covers, balancer, crank pulley, and flywheel on the hoist

 

[max 02]

You could also take the front clip off your truck,it take alittle time,but it sure is nice to work on after its off. Thats the way I like to do it.

 

[82355]

If they are Vortec heads, your intake will not work with them. If they are center bolt heads from an '87 TBI, your intake will have to be modified to work with them.

Martin

 

[Duntz00]

If they are Vortec heads, your intake will not work with them. If they are center bolt heads from an '87 TBI, your intake will have to be modified to work with them.

Martin

x2 You are going to have to order a aftermarket intake to run a carb on it.

 

[badmix]

yea i figured that for intake, what about accessories , front of motor same on 84 and 87

 

[phreddei166]

PM sent.

 

[jann]

I'd definitely bolt on the starter and do a compression test before installing the motor if the motor has been run before.

Prime the oil pump before starting it.

Make sure you get the correct (longer) spark plugs for the Vortec heads.

If the motor has never been started, you'll need to go through a proper break-in procedure.

 

[K85 Octane]

what do you mean by longer plugs? Just curious

 

[jann]

the threaded part of the spark plugs for the vortec heads is about 1/4 inch longer than the plugs for the stock head. If the stock plugs are used, the electrode won't stick far enough into the combustion chamber.

 

[onetonbb74]

change your motor mounts while your in there, i did and it made a huge difference.