Engine Swap

[nstone63]

Hey guys,

I've got a series 1 VN, and I've just been presented with the $250 option of getting another whole vn. This other one runs -sooo- much better than mine, but is bombed out as all hell when it comes to exterior and interior (smoker owned if for ages, dents and rust everywhere)

Is an engine swap something I could reasonably achieve? I've got a mate who's a boilermaker now but did three years worth of a mechanical apprenticeship and he's swapped a few engines back in the 80s...

The cars up for cheap cause it was a mates intended present for his girfriend (after doing it all up himself - he only got as far as the engine) but they broke up...

So yeah, could I do it?

[wraith]

Fairly simple. Motor, gearbox , radiator, overflow bottle, loom and ecu and you should be right. There isn't a lot to it.

[frdhtr]

If yours is a series 1 and you are putting another series 1 in it should be easy for you, I've done it a few times your Gina wanna get the car high of the ground if you Carnt it will be a bit harder 2 jacks will come in handy, I highly recommend you take the engine out with the auto, I think it's much easier to take the auto off and put it on the other engine out of the car, you also need to take the bonnet off and have a good engine jack, get a tail shaft plug or chop the end of a spare tail shaft from the 2nd car to plug the rear auto so fluid won't go everywhere and make sure you don't knock it out (I've done it before lol)

If it's a series 2 engine then you can still make everything work you will notice small changes everywhere just take the time to work it out You should be right. Good luck

[frdhtr]

Oh I found it easiest also to unbolt the engine mount from the engine block on what ever side has the most room and unbolt the other side from underneath the car k frame, you will end up with one side engine mount on and the other in the engine bay, I found it easier to line them up and bolt the
In with the new engine rather than using lever bars for hours yelling and screaming... Lol

[nstone63]

That's good, reassuring that it seems pretty straightforward (lol).

Is it something acheivable in a full weekend, like two 15 hour days? Cause it's my daily so I can't go screwing it up or taking ages on it

Not sure if the new one is a series 1 or not, haven't had a good look at it yet... but it's good as well that it sounds simple if it is a series 2

[frdhtr]

It is achievable but don't think it can easy be done or else you might slack off and be caught up on somthing it happens all to often that a part or somthing silly you have broken or anything like that holds you up, when I was a second year I put a series 2 in my series 1 vn started it 7am didn't drive away until 9.30pm and that was on a hoist in a workshop also by myself I also had other stuff to do on it though, as I said if your not sure just spend that lil bit of time to work it out it could save you later on.

[frdhtr]

Put your plates on your second vn and pressure pack spray it the same color as your register one haha

[nstone63]

Put your plates on your second vn and pressure pack spray it the same color as your register one haha

Haha, that's the first thing that I considered doing...

I'd do it really carefully, but do you reckon it's achievable in a whole weekend?

[frdhtr]

You should be fine if you got a hand your mate sounds cluey, take the engine out of the 2nd car first just to get the knack of it, have you also considered taking out the engine of the 2nd one and quoting a mechanic to put it in the daily driver if your not to confident, I wouldn't see it being to much money.

[padrickz88]

Its easy,If its a series 1 to series 1 then its just a matter of changing the engine and thats it.
If its a series 1 to series 2, you will need the cooling system aswell and also use the loom on the engine from the series 1 on the series 2 engine....

4 bolts, tailshaft to diff
2 bolts, tailshaft support
2/4 bolts, trans mount
2 bolts, cat converter
4 nuts, engine mounts

Undo all the wiring under the engine bay, and hoses.
Undo trans selector, and i think 2 plugs?

Then should be alright to lift out (if i remember right, i have probably left some stuff out)

[Pub247]

Good advice in here Can be done in a weekend ive done it before from series 1 to 2 i had some troubles as the wiring was quite different. The charge wire for alternator was different the main ecu plug to dash harbess was different and needed rewiring. But other than that its pretty strightforward

[UNDERCOVER HQ]

Hey dont undo injector wires alternator etc just undo it from the computer much easier. On the drivers side undo the exhust at the flange. If u just undo the cat the rack will get in the way. Dont forget about the gear selector. Do every think under neath first.