3am and can't sleep

[Andy4639]

Well I can't sleep and been thinking about this motor swap.
I like to do things myself and like the part about building something with my own hands. So

I think I've decided to do this swap myself. I found a engine hoist for $125.00. This has been my biggest problem. I had no way to remove/install the engines. So if I buy the hoist I can work on it anytime I want here at the house and take my time cleaning & painting up the new LSx motor while I have it out. I can store the hood and other parts in my enclosed trailer out back. I think I can get the motors out and in with the grille left in place. I hope! I may just as well take the whole front out of it though would make it much easier to work on it I guess.

I will be selling the 305HO TPI/700R4 once it's out. This will be a complete motor/trans combo that has Street & performance wiring and computer setup.

[w4625]

How much for the 700r4? I have a friend that is looking for one for his 65 Chev
Impala.

[Indian113]

Andy, when I did my S10 I took the front end off as it made it easier to install my motor and trans. I had it in and out about 8 times before I buttoned it up. I imagine you will have more room than me but it was nice not to have to bend over a fender all the time!

[Andy4639]

The motor runs fine just has some blow by and it's just not what I want anymore. Want some more HP! It's been a good combo for 20 years but it's time to move on. It still has 80lbs of oil pressure when running and the transmission shifts fine no problems with it at all. I was going to run the 700r4 but found the combo so just went with it. I've had both cooler's on the trans the whole time.


Yea I think I'm going to leave the fenders on it and just pull the front off haven't looked that close at it yet. Maybe better to take the fender's off though maybe less unbolting over the long run. I'll decide when I start.

I'll start a motor swap thread when I do start.
Man I hope I can pull this off!

[jjzepplin]

I like to pull the whole front clip so I don't damage it. These grills are not easy to come by and one tiny ding would just pi$$ me off and keep me up til 3am cursing myself and I just don't deserve it.
That and my back just isn't what it used to be.

[BR3W CITY]

If you're going to leave the front in place consider getting a Load leveler for the hoist. Its only about $20 and lets you angle the load so you can "stab" the tranny tailshaft down into the engine bay, and angle the engine in place. It was a lifesaver with my swap.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

If you're going to leave the front in place consider getting a Load leveler for the hoist. Its only about $20 and lets you angle the load so you can "stab" the tranny tailshaft down into the engine bay, and angle the engine in place. It was a lifesaver with my swap.

I plan to pull the front end off just not the fender's at this point and time.

[Billett]

I pulled the whole front clip and used the load leveler. With all of it bare I only had to drop it in once and then I could work around it inside the engine bay. Not to mention it isn't exactly time consuming to pull those few extra pieces off. Its maybe a total of 30 bolts for the whole front clip. The problem is getting new bolts once your old ones snap haha

[mooseknuckles]

just pull the whole front clip off, you'll be glad you did.....if you can swap out a smallblock you can do an ls swap!.. just do your homework and you won't have any "surprises"......

[65 wonton]

Andy, I'm confused. Not too hard these days, but you opened your swap thread with the price of a HF hoist ($195 IIRC) included in your cost and showed pictures of it. Then later you talked about not having one and now in this thread, you talk about not having one, again.

Dave.

[jorgensensc]

Take my word for it, take the whole front clip off. I just took the front grill/ core support out of mine, left the hood and fenders on. It was more work and more of a pain in the arse to do it that way than if I would have just pulled the whole front clip off.
Shawn

[softballnrd27]

Yes, it is much easier to take the whole front clip off. It allows you to see and get into places you jsut can't get into with the front clip on.

[ls1nova71]

Its really hard to spread the fenders apart enough to get the core support out. I wouldn't try it on a truck with nice paint. Pull the whole clip, but do know they are front heavy and will flip forward if you're not ready for it. Ask me how I know...

[71chevystep4x4]

I've done 3 swaps on my truck, first two taking whole clip off. Third time I didn't have any help, so I decided to remove the grill and core support, WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS!!!! Besides, with a swap like this, you gotta have the room to work on stuff.