Engine/Transmission Swap Help
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Engine/Transmission Swap Help
I recently bought a '80 F150 Ranger with a strong i6 and auto transmission. It needs a lot of work on the front end, steering, exhaust, interior, and tires, and while surfing craiglist I came across a solid '85 F150 (base model) with none of those problems, but no engine and transmission (all the wiring is still there). It also had an i6 and auto trans, and the price was far less than I was going to spend fixing everything on the '80 so I bought it and am planning to install the engine and trans from the '80 into the '85.
I am curious how difficult this will be for an amateur like me. I have a friend who is a good (but not professional) mechanic and he's got all of the tools/equipment we need to do this. Or I know a professional who would do the whole job for $500. Curious to know what those of you who have done this think.
And if I do end up doing this myself, any helpful tips or tricks? I'd obviously like it to go as smoothly as possible. Also, what gaskets and/or parts should I replace while I've got the engine and trans out of the truck?
I am curious how difficult this will be for an amateur like me. I have a friend who is a good (but not professional) mechanic and he's got all of the tools/equipment we need to do this. Or I know a professional who would do the whole job for $500. Curious to know what those of you who have done this think.
And if I do end up doing this myself, any helpful tips or tricks? I'd obviously like it to go as smoothly as possible. Also, what gaskets and/or parts should I replace while I've got the engine and trans out of the truck?
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The biggest difference; The 85 truck had a computer controlled six while your 80 did not. You will notice the 85 has a lot of wires that you do not need, if you do some studying, you may be able to figure out a clean way to do the swap without a lot of wiring mess.
Another can of worms is the emissions. If you do not have emissions inspections, fine. If you do, they are going to be looking for all this computer controlled stuff under the hood, and the 80 engine is not going to have it, or even a place to hook it up.
Another can of worms is the emissions. If you do not have emissions inspections, fine. If you do, they are going to be looking for all this computer controlled stuff under the hood, and the 80 engine is not going to have it, or even a place to hook it up.
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Thanks for the hints. I am planning to put the ignition module from the 80 into the 85. To somewhat further complicate things I learned yesterday that the engine most recently in the 85 was from a 96. Hopefully I can just remove all of the extra wiring once I am sure everything is working properly.
As for emissions fortunately I don't have to worry about that. No inspections in Arkansas. Previous owner of the 80 took most of the emissions stuff off, but I'm not sure he did it properly. I need to sort all of that out.
As for emissions fortunately I don't have to worry about that. No inspections in Arkansas. Previous owner of the 80 took most of the emissions stuff off, but I'm not sure he did it properly. I need to sort all of that out.
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If you are lucky you'll find the wiring for the emissions stuff separate from everything else and can take it out completely. I know the '82s were done that way, but don't know about the '85s. The '82s had two separate temp senders, one for the dash and one for the computer, two separate oil pressure senders, etc.
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If you are lucky you'll find the wiring for the emissions stuff separate from everything else and can take it out completely. I know the '82s were done that way, but don't know about the '85s. The '82s had two separate temp senders, one for the dash and one for the computer, two separate oil pressure senders, etc.
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One for the computer, apparently to know the engine was running, and one for the gauge on the dash. On the 351W, and probably the 302, they were both mounted on a hexagonal adapter that screwed into the block and provided a place for two senders. Don't know about the 6.
And, for '82 the computer was under the seat with a big umbilical cord running to it. Easy to take out the computer awa the wire harness. Again, don't know about an '85 with a computer as mine didn't have one.
And, for '82 the computer was under the seat with a big umbilical cord running to it. Easy to take out the computer awa the wire harness. Again, don't know about an '85 with a computer as mine didn't have one.
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The computer was under the dash in 85 on the driver side.
The 300's had a temp sensor on the water neck and on the side of the block.
The 300's had a temp sensor on the water neck and on the side of the block.
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Honestly. All of the suspension, steering, interior stuff from the 1985 will fit in the 1980. Why not just move it over and not worry about the bigger problem of wiring and engine swapping?
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Yes... the one on the water neck is for the computer, the other for the dash gauge.
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The 80 is kingpin and the 85 is ball joint - can those be easily swapped? A mechanic friend told me replacing kingpins is a nightmare and he'd rather swap engine/trans than do kingpins. If the entire front end can just be unbolted and swapped it might be a different story. The 85 is also a SWB vs the 80 LWB so that's part of the consideration as well.
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