[Hoss in IL]

I'll keep the chit chat to a minimum-

I'm trying to put an '85 back together. Purchased pretty cheap with a blown head gasket, P.O. drove it (knowingly) like that for a while - it sat for a while before I bought it.

I tore the whole thing down, took the head, block,and crank to a machine shop for work.

My head has two cracks in it so, will an '83 head fit an '85 block? If I can swap the '83-'85 heads, how much of the '83 has to go with it?

My cylinders might not be able to be cleaned up by being honed, the guy at the shop said maybe bore it out. He was talking about .030, .040, and maybe .050 as boring options. What is "common" and can I re-use my old pistons; just get new rings?

My crank was "well within specs." and is just going to get polished

The '83 truck (for reference and parts) is a 2 wheel drive, the motor starts-won't stay running on its own. Has low compression in the 4th cyl. (probably Head Gasket?) Would I just be better off to swap the whole '83 motor into the '85?

This is my first attempt at something like this and don't know if the original block cleaned up, bored over with an older head would be a better route than a straight up swap.

I did search, different sites too. I contacted Ted at engine builder when I was looking for a complete gasket set, he was helpful. I just want to make sure I have (most of) my chit together when I call him back to get more parts

Thanks for any help or extra input.

Take care, Hoss

[liljlandon]

Ted would be the have the best answers to all your questions, otherwise id hit up wristy here on mud. Was the 85 injected or a carb?

[toy4xfun]

if you bore it you will not be able to use your stock pistons. does the 83 have a 20r or 22r? make sure you plasti gauge the main and rod caps for correct bearing sizes.

[corax]

Here's some tech info from LC Engineering

Originally Posted by Hoss in IL

My head has two cracks in it so, will an '83 head fit an '85 block? If I can swap the '83-'85 heads, how much of the '83 has to go with it?
No, there was a redesign in '84, might work if either engine was previously replaced with the other style - check the link above and pay attention to the part on IDing a "lazer block" - it will physically bolt on, but the compression ratio will be way low due to different combustino chamber/piston design (hmm, might not be a bad idea for a turbo build-?-not sure though)

My cylinders might not be able to be cleaned up by being honed, the guy at the shop said maybe bore it out. He was talking about .030, .040, and maybe .050 as boring options. What is "common" and can I re-use my old pistons; just get new rings?
Piston has to match cylinder bore (+ necessary clearance) otherwise you'd get slap and rapid wear/blow-by. Actually, it's best to get the pistons first and have the machine shop bore the cylinder to the piston for the best fit - - BTW, in a previous hot rod '88 22RE build I bored the cylinders .080" with Wiseco Forged Aluminum 10.5:1 compression pistons (+ cam, P&P, B&B, etc) and was able to run an Audi A4 stop light to stop light )

The '83 truck (for reference and parts) is a 2 wheel drive, the motor starts-won't stay running on its own. Has low compression in the 4th cyl. (probably Head Gasket?) Would I just be better off to swap the whole '83 motor into the '85?
It should bolt up the same, so that is a possibility (previous mentioned build was on an '84 2wd, non-Lazer Block so I could use a 20R double row timing chain)


Thanks for any help or extra input.

Take care, Hoss

[Hoss in IL]

Thank you guys for all the info. There really is no substitute for experience!

To answer the questions- both trucks are 22R (carb). It looks like I may just try to get the engine out of the '83 and put it in the '85. I was really looking forward to putting this truck back together (it's stripped down to the frame) with a nice clean engine.

Thanks again,
Hoss