Engine Swap Question
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Engine Swap Question
I have an 1980 302 engine 2 barrel carb with a c6 trans. I want to know if you can use the engine assembly out of an 1986 it has a 302 EFI. It looks like all I have to do is swap out intakes??? But not sure if internals are the same? I was going to just put the EFI system in my truck but I see their is alot of changing over to do .... lol.
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From: Virginia
You need to swap intakes, and I would also advise swapping the whole front of the engine. This would;
Let you put a new timing gears and chain in place. Any engine with some miles on it needs these changed.
Let you mount the correct 2 piece cam eccentric on the big cam gear.
Let you mount the older timing chain cover so you can run a mechanical fuel pump
Let you mount the correct v-belt waterpump and correct fan. If the fuel injected engine has a serpentine setup, the fan and the waterpump won't work because they turn backwards.
The only problem you might run into is the flywheel or flexplate. Your 80 engine has a 28oz inbalance fllexplate while the later engine has a 50oz inbalance. So if the newer engine already has a flexplate that will work, you are ok. If not, you will need to get one that is around 83-up. The 80 flexplate will make the newer engine vibrate.
Let you put a new timing gears and chain in place. Any engine with some miles on it needs these changed.
Let you mount the correct 2 piece cam eccentric on the big cam gear.
Let you mount the older timing chain cover so you can run a mechanical fuel pump
Let you mount the correct v-belt waterpump and correct fan. If the fuel injected engine has a serpentine setup, the fan and the waterpump won't work because they turn backwards.
The only problem you might run into is the flywheel or flexplate. Your 80 engine has a 28oz inbalance fllexplate while the later engine has a 50oz inbalance. So if the newer engine already has a flexplate that will work, you are ok. If not, you will need to get one that is around 83-up. The 80 flexplate will make the newer engine vibrate.
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Thanks for the input. I never thought about the fuel pump issue. As for the flexplate issue I bought the whole truck ...lol. This is why I thought of changing over to fuel injection but it is alot more work and my 7 seven year old wants to go play in the mud soon ...lol. The 86 has a v-belt set up so I shouldn"t have a problem their. I also have seen the distributor has to be changed. Is their any thing else u may know. I think the spark plugs may be different?
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I would keep the same sparkplugs for the 86, in the 86. I know the fuel injected 86 engine I used did take a special sparkplug because the head was different, so you need to stick with the proper 86 sparkplug.
I remember getting a complete engine gasket kit when I did my swap(it was cheaper) and it came with two different intake gasket sets. I seem to remember using the intake gaskets for the injected engine for the old carbed intake. I don't think the other intake set covered everything like they should.
I remember the dowel pin holes for the timing cover were larger on the 86 engine, so I had to take a 1/2 drill and open the dowel holes up on the old timing cover.
My engine was a roller cam style from a Lincoln. I think they delayed this a little bit in the trucks, but you might have the roller block with a regular cam in it. Anyway, I heard about the roller cam/distributor gear compatibility issue, and went to the local Ford guru and asked about it. He said don't worry about it, only the billet cams had a problem chewing up dist gears. I dropped the old 1980 dist in and ran it with the roller cam for 8 years with no problems.
I remember getting a complete engine gasket kit when I did my swap(it was cheaper) and it came with two different intake gasket sets. I seem to remember using the intake gaskets for the injected engine for the old carbed intake. I don't think the other intake set covered everything like they should.
I remember the dowel pin holes for the timing cover were larger on the 86 engine, so I had to take a 1/2 drill and open the dowel holes up on the old timing cover.
My engine was a roller cam style from a Lincoln. I think they delayed this a little bit in the trucks, but you might have the roller block with a regular cam in it. Anyway, I heard about the roller cam/distributor gear compatibility issue, and went to the local Ford guru and asked about it. He said don't worry about it, only the billet cams had a problem chewing up dist gears. I dropped the old 1980 dist in and ran it with the roller cam for 8 years with no problems.
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I see the front timing cover is different and wondering if the crank has the cam for the mechanical fuel pump? Since the fuel injected engine has a shorter cover. I still think though if I am right that a base 302 engine out of a truck will go into my truck even though it has the first year fuel injection verus the carb engine? I see the exhaust manifolds are different to but no big deal their. Thanks Franklin2 for helping me sort this out. I work at a Ford dealership but I work on the newer vehicles that have computers. These older trucks are basic but not sure what matches with what on older vehicles. I do alot of driveability and electrical.
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From: Virginia
I still think though if I am right that a base 302 engine out of a truck will go into my truck even though it has the first year fuel injection verus the carb engine?
A car engine will fit also if you change the oil pans out.
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Mountain Pass
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I have never put the fuel injection on an older engine but I've went the other way.The timing covers will interchange you would have to use the newer cover not the old one.You can't use a mechanical fuel pump with the fuel injected motor.You would probably have to change gas tanks so you could run the electic pump and have your return fuel lines and all.
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I see Franklin2 ....lol. I will change out the eccentric piece from my old engine and install it into my new engine. Oh yeah I did a check on the spark plugs and the fuel injected engine and my old carb engine uses the same spark plugs. I have to ask will a 352 engine out of a 65 galaxie fit in my truck with the c6 transmission? I found one totally rebuilt for $450 ... lol.
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