Engine swap help

[vbswensen]

So I have always payed to have my car maintained by someone else. I guess I was trying to stimulate the economy. But then I got my first land cruiser. It's a 1987 FJ 60 and she's a beauty. I have had so much fun learning about this rig thanks to my MUD buddy Eric.
And recently I have been trying to work on the rig my self. I changed the starter,swapped out the carpet, changed the oil, replaced the antenna and installed a stereo. Now I am getting ready for something big.
It has a carbureted Chevy 305 v8 with a ranger overdrive. From what professionals tell me the conversion was done right. But I need fuel injection. And this is what I need help from you boys with.
Should I keep the 305 and install a fuel injection kit? And if so is it something I can learn to do my self?
Or should I swap in a 5.3 or 5.6 V8. And will a new v8 be that hard to do because it has already be done with the 305? and what might it take to get it done?
Help me out let me know what you think? And if there anyone that wants to hold my hand threw this process please volunteer.
Ben from Boise

 

[LukesDad]

Ben,

I think you need to answer a few questions based on what you have? There are numerous variables in your situation and you may want to eliminate a few. A Howell TBI harness is not that hard to install but cost as much if not more than a used 5.3. But swapping in an engine is a bit more complicated than installing a TBI harness. If your engine is worn out, I would consider the 5.3, but if your engine is ok, I would probably do the TBI kit. You just need to decide what will work best for you and do some research; plenty of good sources here.

Mark

 

[Firephil]

I'm going to say that the 305 boat anchor should probably go. You will get more horsepower, same if not better mileage, and a lot more fun with a 5.3, 5.7, etc. everything should bolt right in to the already placed motor mounts and tranny bell housing.

Find a decent fuel injected one around you and do that. Even if it costs you a bit more you will be happier in the end.

Send me a PM with your name and phone number. My father lives in payette and has forgotten more about motors than either of us will ever learn. We might be able to help out.

 

[Kurtis]

You could just get the tbi off of a 305 in a junk yard and drop it in. Even if you buy an aftermarket harness you won't be much more than 5-600 into it. In fact I bought my whole 350 tbi motor with all accessories and ecm for $400 at 99k miles. Since your already set up for the v8 it would not be to expensive at that route. Swapping to a 5.3 is going to push you well over $3500.

 

[ivdusmc]

my 5.3 swap has run me around 6k and i am not finished. these things seem to be way more then expected. if you can keep it simple by keeping your engine and adding a tbi, i would go that route. swaps are a PITA

 

[Elbert]

easy answer... pull fuel injection off a wrecked GM vehicle with 305 engine and get teh ECM too.

reality the 305 is a slug but for low dollars I would just rob from a salvage yard. A 5.7 and 5.3 are different engines. A 5.7 would swap right in ...in place of a 5.0 like you have. The 5.3 would require some minor changes due to the exhaust, mounts, and other misc issues to include mating with whatever transmission you are using.

I like fuel injection but what's the driver for you?

 

[vbswensen]

These are all really good points. The reason I even want to do this is because I am a family man. I like the idea of fuel when I need it. And there is a lot of people in my life that may drive it that don't quite get the choke.
So if I am hearing you boys right a 5.7 should bolt in to match the 305 and fit up to the ranger over drive? but not the 5.3?

I think the 350 swap is what I got to have. As much as I want a play rig I also want to be able to tow decently. And the 305 can't hardly pull a hill with a full load.

One more question if the engine mounts fit and everything matches up. There's the matter of the harness and computer. Is that a difficult thing to install? What does that consist of.

 

[dbleon]

You can buy a pre-made wiring harness that is basically plug/play (see howell, speartech, painless, wait4me, etc).. or DIY if you have the time.

TBI will probably be your best bet as it is allegedly easy/user friendly, and inexpensive.

Good luck, and stick to the family. Building vehicles can suck you in pretty bad!!

 

[elripster]

Sounds like your desire is fuel injection? There are other ways to accomplish that like a 3FE swap out of a 62 which will be faster than the 2F but slower than the V8's.

How competent are you with electrical schematic reading, soldering, etc...? All of these swaps will require custom wiring to the truck itself. Not a big deal but you need to at least be comfortable digging through schematics and finding wires in harness bundles.

Frank

 

[vbswensen]

Frank

I used to work as a stereo instalation shop. Is it similar

 

[Mace]

Wiring is wiring, if you can wire a complex stereo and monitors, you'll be fine with the TBI harness.

Drop in a TBI 350 and call it good..

 

[lehiguy]

Electrical is not my strong suit, but I did manage to retrofit GM TBI onto an existing 350 and it lit right up and ran on the first attempt. If I can do it, anybody can do it. FTR, the old body style trucks (1997 only) and the old style Blazers and Suburbans (1997 through 1992) have a more adaptable harness that is not as integrated with things that you don't need for a conversion. They are high quality and schematics are easy to find.

 

[vbswensen]

So one more snag. I think I want to do a newer engine. Maybe a vortex but I hear the don't make a VSS for it to match the cruiser . What do you guys know about that.



Ps. I don't know what a VSS is or what it does.

 

[usmcruiser]

I'm in the process of putting a 2002 5.3L Vortec with 90k on it in my FJ60. So far with the engine and the adapters (keeping the stock transmission and t-case) im about $4300 into the project. I got my engine from BD turnkey engines. It was 100% complete from the ecm to the ac compressor. I still need to buy several little items. Such as the fuel pump, fuel lines, an electric fan, and all the plumbing for the power steering and coolant.

You will have to weld in new motor mounts as you are going from ford to chevy and the locations and bolt patters are different.

My .02 is to do the 5.3L. Lots of power and well worth if if you body and tranny/t-case are in good shape.

 

[PapsD]

Not that I don't enjoy my my cruiser but......

For the amount of money you're talking about wouldn't it be easier to buy a tow vehicle that has efi for about the same amount of $?

 

[Cruzerman]

So one more snag. I think I want to do a newer engine. Maybe a vortex but I hear the don't make a VSS for it to match the cruiser . What do you guys know about that.



Ps. I don't know what a VSS is or what it does.

VSS = Vehicle Speed Sensor

This lets the ECM know how fast the vehicle is moving. You might want to look at this thread. JTR (Jaguars That Run) has done lots with VSS for many vehicles.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/541165-jtr-vss-setups-new.html