Estimates
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
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Estimates
Hello guys I am looking to get some estimates. I am wanting to know how much you guys think a mechanic would charge to swap all of the engine components from a 1990 351w to a 1994 351w. I am looking for a mechanic to do this because I don't have the time to do this by myself right now. So what do you guys think?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You're swapping motors? Is it a '94 motor going into a '90 truck?
If they are complete the only things that need to change are..
1: The distributor drive gear.. remove the steel gear from the '94 and put it on the '90 distributor and then put that into the '94 motor. The idea is to use the '90 distributor because it matches the wiring harness in the truck, and you don't want to change any wiring.
2: The air injection system. There are differences between the 1/2 ton and HD versions but functionally they are the same. If your donor motor came from an HD truck you don't need to change anything, but if it's from a 1/2 ton and the parts from your truck are in good condition then remove the crossover tube at the back of the motor and plug the heads with 5/8 corase bolts with copper washers.
3: Lower intake. The only difference is the location of the Air temp (IAT) sensor, it's in a runner on your '90 but was in the airbox on the '94. Again you don't want to change any wiring so either drill and tap the '94 lower intake for the sensor or swap them out.
If they are complete the only things that need to change are..
1: The distributor drive gear.. remove the steel gear from the '94 and put it on the '90 distributor and then put that into the '94 motor. The idea is to use the '90 distributor because it matches the wiring harness in the truck, and you don't want to change any wiring.
2: The air injection system. There are differences between the 1/2 ton and HD versions but functionally they are the same. If your donor motor came from an HD truck you don't need to change anything, but if it's from a 1/2 ton and the parts from your truck are in good condition then remove the crossover tube at the back of the motor and plug the heads with 5/8 corase bolts with copper washers.
3: Lower intake. The only difference is the location of the Air temp (IAT) sensor, it's in a runner on your '90 but was in the airbox on the '94. Again you don't want to change any wiring so either drill and tap the '94 lower intake for the sensor or swap them out.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
You're swapping motors? Is it a '94 motor going into a '90 truck?
If they are complete the only things that need to change are..
1: The distributor drive gear.. remove the steel gear from the '94 and put it on the '90 distributor and then put that into the '94 motor. The idea is to use the '90 distributor because it matches the wiring harness in the truck, and you don't want to change any wiring.
2: The air injection system. There are differences between the 1/2 ton and HD versions but functionally they are the same. If your donor motor came from an HD truck you don't need to change anything, but if it's from a 1/2 ton and the parts from your truck are in good condition then remove the crossover tube at the back of the motor and plug the heads with 5/8 corase bolts with copper washers.
3: Lower intake. The only difference is the location of the Air temp (IAT) sensor, it's in a runner on your '90 but was in the airbox on the '94. Again you don't want to change any wiring so either drill and tap the '94 lower intake for the sensor or swap them out.
If they are complete the only things that need to change are..
1: The distributor drive gear.. remove the steel gear from the '94 and put it on the '90 distributor and then put that into the '94 motor. The idea is to use the '90 distributor because it matches the wiring harness in the truck, and you don't want to change any wiring.
2: The air injection system. There are differences between the 1/2 ton and HD versions but functionally they are the same. If your donor motor came from an HD truck you don't need to change anything, but if it's from a 1/2 ton and the parts from your truck are in good condition then remove the crossover tube at the back of the motor and plug the heads with 5/8 corase bolts with copper washers.
3: Lower intake. The only difference is the location of the Air temp (IAT) sensor, it's in a runner on your '90 but was in the airbox on the '94. Again you don't want to change any wiring so either drill and tap the '94 lower intake for the sensor or swap them out.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Does your '90 still have the stock cat on it? Does it have to pass an visual emissions test? If not then you can delete the whole air injection system and that will make this swap even easier.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
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No the 1990 doesn't have a cat or a muffler, and no it does not have to go through any emissions tests here in Iowa. It seems the previous owner already blocked the air injection on the 1990's motor but not the new motor.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
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From: Gilbert, PA
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,507
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From: Oregon
According to the paperwork for the long block that Ford put in my truck back in 03', labor was $1008.00 for 17.8 hours of work. That was back in 03' so I imagine prices have changed a bit.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
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From: Gilbert, PA
Typically they are $85-125
Regular shops are 45-75
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Screw hawaii. Everything is expensive there
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
You're swapping motors? Is it a '94 motor going into a '90 truck?
If they are complete the only things that need to change are..
1: The distributor drive gear.. remove the steel gear from the '94 and put it on the '90 distributor and then put that into the '94 motor. The idea is to use the '90 distributor because it matches the wiring harness in the truck, and you don't want to change any wiring.
2: The air injection system. There are differences between the 1/2 ton and HD versions but functionally they are the same. If your donor motor came from an HD truck you don't need to change anything, but if it's from a 1/2 ton and the parts from your truck are in good condition then remove the crossover tube at the back of the motor and plug the heads with 5/8 corase bolts with copper washers.
3: Lower intake. The only difference is the location of the Air temp (IAT) sensor, it's in a runner on your '90 but was in the airbox on the '94. Again you don't want to change any wiring so either drill and tap the '94 lower intake for the sensor or swap them out.
If they are complete the only things that need to change are..
1: The distributor drive gear.. remove the steel gear from the '94 and put it on the '90 distributor and then put that into the '94 motor. The idea is to use the '90 distributor because it matches the wiring harness in the truck, and you don't want to change any wiring.
2: The air injection system. There are differences between the 1/2 ton and HD versions but functionally they are the same. If your donor motor came from an HD truck you don't need to change anything, but if it's from a 1/2 ton and the parts from your truck are in good condition then remove the crossover tube at the back of the motor and plug the heads with 5/8 corase bolts with copper washers.
3: Lower intake. The only difference is the location of the Air temp (IAT) sensor, it's in a runner on your '90 but was in the airbox on the '94. Again you don't want to change any wiring so either drill and tap the '94 lower intake for the sensor or swap them out.
I will also need to swap engine wiring harneses also correct? Thanks for your help.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 871
Likes: 6
From: Orcas Island, WA
It's called the paradise tax. Those of us that live on an island, tropical or otherwise, pay more, sometime a lot more, than mainland dwellers. But where do a heck of a lot of mainland people go to get away from it all? To an island! But we get to spend all of our time away from it all.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 319
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From: Honokaa Hawaii (Ahualoa)
It's called the paradise tax. Those of us that live on an island, tropical or otherwise, pay more, sometime a lot more, than mainland dwellers. But where do a heck of a lot of mainland people go to get away from it all? To an island! But we get to spend all of our time away from it all.