Quick's Engine Swap Thread!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,555
Likes: 80
From: Manhattan, KS
You might try to find a tractor with a loader or a front end loader to lift the engine if you are not on a hard surface. That would be easier to move things into place than with an engine hoist.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Saskatchewan CANADA
i live in a town of around 800 with the nearest (what i call) a city of 4500 an hour and 10 mins away. you have beer buddies so i bet one has a garage, or atleast a driveway. A driveway is better then a dirt road.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: West cental Texas
got family in a town of <300 here in texas, but there is still concrete to borrow. You must be in the stix if you can't find a hard smooth surface. Borrow the local gas station lot or something. lol. May need to get inventive in your case. covering your engine will help, but only if you get the job done quick. Mine has carried on too long and my tarps are deteriorating in the sun and oil residue.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,453
Likes: 2,936
From: Reed Point, MT
The problem here is cowl clearance. I tried this once with a forklift stinger on a tractor. The stinger bent before the engine came up at all. I'm not saying that something can't be made that will hold the weight, but getting something under the cowl will really be the challenge.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,290
Likes: 2
From: SEMO
When you are looking for a place to get under roof.See if there is a local mechanic that has a service truck with a boom hoist on it.That could help you out with the engine R&R.
If you can get a 4'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood(maybe two sheets) it will make a floor for the hoist to roll on.
A few bags of floordry will help keep fluids from running all over the place.
A portable air comp.and air tools would be nice to have also.
If you can get a 4'x8' piece of 3/4" plywood(maybe two sheets) it will make a floor for the hoist to roll on.
A few bags of floordry will help keep fluids from running all over the place.
A portable air comp.and air tools would be nice to have also.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 7
From: Anchorage, AK
Everyone should Google Talkeetna, Alaska before doubting that I am in the middle of no where. 
Most of the cabin's around here don't have concrete driveways, water and electricity are absolute luxuries too. And to be clear all of my friends are also people who are just in the town for the summer jobs, so we are all homeless.
Thank you for the continued advice on tools needed and ways of doing things. I am going to try and find a cement spot where I could get the engine swap done and then move the truck elsewhere until I patch up all the little things that go wrong on a project of this size.
Sounds like I need a torque wrench, fuel line tool, and some basic socket sizes.
Most of the cabin's around here don't have concrete driveways, water and electricity are absolute luxuries too. And to be clear all of my friends are also people who are just in the town for the summer jobs, so we are all homeless.Thank you for the continued advice on tools needed and ways of doing things. I am going to try and find a cement spot where I could get the engine swap done and then move the truck elsewhere until I patch up all the little things that go wrong on a project of this size.
Sounds like I need a torque wrench, fuel line tool, and some basic socket sizes.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
From: Buckingham, IA
Would it be possible to have the truck hauled to a more user-friendly, location? I know that it would cost a few dollars but a more workable location would make the job a lot easier, faster and possibly safer. Or can't you get there from here?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: West cental Texas
Ok I believe him. Just looked at google maps satellite imagery and he's boned for a surface, unless you can borrow something at the airport there. Weird. In Texas not all the rural strips are paved but the roads are (except for rural county roads). I get the impression Alaska is just a little bit different. Doesn't even look like the businesses or streets are paved, Just the airport and main road. I used bags of cold patch asphault to make a surface for my job. But if you don't have a place to call home that's probably no gonna work. Maybe you could borrow some airport surface or hangar space. Just invest in deep and shallow metric size wrenches. Only a few sizes for the most part. Some things may require an occasional twelve point. Don't forget the combinations and some woble joints as well as extensions. It will be a snap for the most part in regards to tools. Get the metal disconnect tools for the fuel lines. I used plastic ones and just about invented a few new curse words. Lots of brake cleaner would probably come in handy too.
Chad
Chad
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 7
From: Anchorage, AK
Ok I believe him. Just looked at google maps satellite imagery and he's boned for a surface, unless you can borrow something at the airport there. Weird. In Texas not all the rural strips are paved but the roads are (except for rural county roads). I get the impression Alaska is just a little bit different. Doesn't even look like the businesses or streets are paved, Just the airport and main road. I used bags of cold patch asphault to make a surface for my job. But if you don't have a place to call home that's probably no gonna work. Maybe you could borrow some airport surface or hangar space. Just invest in deep and shallow metric size wrenches. Only a few sizes for the most part. Some things may require an occasional twelve point. Don't forget the combinations and some woble joints as well as extensions. It will be a snap for the most part in regards to tools. Get the metal disconnect tools for the fuel lines. I used plastic ones and just about invented a few new curse words. Lots of brake cleaner would probably come in handy too.
Chad
Chad
If nothing else, I will work on buying the engine this next Saturday, as well as getting the current engine drained and prepped to be pulled. Ill put the coolant in 1 gallon water jugs, remove the down pipe and turbo, pull out the batteries and intake accessories and anything else I can remove without making it clear to the outside world that anything unusual is about to happen.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 7
From: Anchorage, AK
