Motor Swap Advice

[UWdave]

Due to some fun with the oil pump, I'm going to be swapping in a used engine. I have some experience turning wrenches on Hondas and a fair bit of book smarts but this will by far be the biggest car project I have ever undertaken. I appreciate all advice.

See the old thread here: link

Here is the current list of things I should/need to do to the new motor:

General

• Radiator hoses
• Heater hoses
• trans cooler hoses

On motor

• head gasket
• oil pan seals
• oil passage gasket (the one to the oil pickup)
• oil pump gasket
• rear arch seal
• thermostat
• PHH
• Throttle body gasket?
• Mid Intake Manifold Gasket
• EGR Gasket
• Oil level switch seal

So far all I've been working on is pulling the old motor. Using the FSM in some areas but mainly just removing anything connected to the engine. The following has been removed:

• Every air conditioning related part except pump (didn't work anyways)
• Radiator
• Battery
• Intake
• Throttle body
• Power steering reservoir & pump connections
• Upper intake manifold
• Starter
• Both oil pans (troubleshooting)
• Most of the engine harness

Here is what is looks like so far:

I left off today with 1 connector left to go on the engine harness. A large round connector back by the transmission. Absolute total PITA.

Things I know left to do:

1. Remove exhaust header

Questions:

1. Separate motor & trans in car or remove as one? pros/cons
2. Will I need to remove anything else in order to separate the motor & trans?

 

[UWdave]

bump ttt

 

[hsiaoer]

I just finished a motor swap with some serious help from mud members so here's to build up some karma:

1 and 2. Definitely separate. The pros is the engine/tranny combo is forever long, and it would be a pain to pull together. Con is it takes some fancy contortion moves to get all the bolts off the top of the tranny. To separate the two, just unplug all the plugs on the passenger side of the tranny including the ones that go to the exhaust. Then unplug the three plugs on the passenger side near the starter. Finally get the bolt off the bracket holding the two tranny tubes on the top drivers side of the tranny(access through wheel well)

You have already removed way more than I did when I pulled my motor. My new one still had alternator, a/c compressor, power steering, all still attached. The intake was untouched and engine harness was resting on top. So here is a brief checklist of things to disconnect that look attached in your pics:

Unplug engine harness from behind glovebox, three connectors, pull through engine compartment and zip tie to something on the block for safekeeping.

Exhaust. don't pull the header, just disconnect it at the y pipe. its like 4 rusty bolts instead of 15.

Hey I dropped both oil pans first to do some troubleshooting as well, that big oil pan was annoying!

I'll tag this thread and check frequently for you, or just PM me.

 

[hsiaoer]

Also many suggested doing the Rear Main Seal while the new engine is out. I wouldn't do a head gasket unless it needs it. I reused my old gaskets, and they seem to be holding up.

Definitely do the PHH. 5 min well spent.

 

[AppleTech]

Call up DAN for parts at American Toyota. Let him know you are from MUD. 866-591-4837

 

[UWdave]

Questions on AC:
My AC never worked and I would have likely never fixed it, so I'm going to pull everything out permanently.

Should I put anything in front of my radiator to protect it? It looks like the AC radiator took the majority of road/mud/mud abuse.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't completely remove the pump? (balance our crank load etc)