Im swapping my SE engine into a GXL I just bought. I was wondering what things I should replace while the engine is out. I was thinking about changing the engine/tranny mounts with some stronger ones. Anything else I should buy before I get started?? GXL driveshafts are the same as SE ones right? the only different ones are tII shafts? Thanks!

 

I think replacing the motor mounts is always a good idea. Also, the exhaust manifold gasket if you take it off at the engine. It's also a great time to clean out the engine compartment and paint it if necessary. If you have any doubts at all about the clutch now is the time to put a new one in, a lot easier now than later.
hanman

 

I bought my header not too long ago. You guys think I should buy a gasket for it? Should I go with stiffer motor mounts? Where would be a good place to buy them? thanks

 

Check the condition of your OMP lines (they get pretty brittle), and fuel dampner.

As a basic thing If you haven't changed your rad hoses yet you might want to also do that while its out and they are disconnected anyway. (they have a habit of blowing out when you least expect it).

 

thanks keep em coming

 

Ive done several engine swaps now and have it down to a science pretty much. The only things you NEED to replace are normally all fluids and the passenger side motor mount, available at your local dealer for $32(unless he's drastically different than mine). The driver side mount never breaks, because torque is pusing down on it, but torque pulls up ont he pass side ripping it apart. Depending on how old it is, you might NEED to replace the exhaust manifold-to-exhaust gasket too, sometimes theyre reuseable, sometimes not.

Things you COULD replace are innumerable, but I pull the engine and wiring harness as a whole to eliminate problems starting up later, so I never have to replace any hoses or gaskets that didnt need replaced to start with.

Things you should seriously consider for your engine's health if not already done:

replace all belts(dayco or gates highly recommended)
replace all vacuum hoses
replace oil metering lines
replace all the little throttle body coolant hoses
replace radiator hoses and heatercore hoses
replace plugs and wires
replace oil cooler lines
clean or replace injectors and all o-rings and grommets

These things mostly all require disassembly of the engine's manifolds and are not recommended unless a) you're having a problem from one of them, b) you're pretty familiar with the stuff already and c) you have a back-up ride available for about a week in case you screw up something.

By pullling the engine harness out of the computer/firewall and leaving the engine alone, repeat the proces for reinstallation, you eliminate most all problems associated with starting up a new engine. For instance, have you ever taken off the manifold to screw around inside and it took a while to get the car running right again afterwards, even though you didnt move anything and all connections were made right the first time? By pulling the runnign engine out as a whole you eliminate such problems. Drop it in, hook it up, start it up. Ive done an installation in 3 hours before. from pushing the car into teh garage to driving it down the road.

 

is it hard at all to pull the wiring harness from the computer through the firewall?? or is it just a hole with the harness through it? thanks alot for the info hypntyz7

 

bump

 

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