Author Topic: Could use some advice about an engine swap (Read 4137 times)

1985ToyotaForLife · « **on:** Jan 07, 2004, 09:52:30 PM »

Well, I lucked into a $200 20,000 mile chevrolet 350, running, complete, comes with everything. And my 1985 Toyota 4x4 is sitting in the driveway with a blown 22R carbuerated. I am getting this 350 motor to put in my truck. I just need some advice from someone here, you guys seem very knowledgable about toyotas so i'm looking forward to your advice. Here's what I think I know:

Needed for swap:
- New radiator
- Bellhousing adapter (most likely using the northwest off-road kit)
- Engine mounts
- 2" body lift for distributor clearance and cooling (questioning this)

And thats all I know. I'm very mechnically inclined and have most of the needed tools i believe.

The truck currently has a 3 inch suspension lift as well as a shackle lift thats in the process of coming off. Transmission was replaced in january and motor blew in may, so I think my transmission will be ok. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance for any advice, if there are any websites about 350 swaps please let me know.

Thanks again, Daniel

gferris5 · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 07, 2004, 11:17:40 PM »

I don't think your transmission will be okay, your rear end might hold up if you keep the taller gears-teeth are thicker- I think you could find a T-350 for cheap that would be a good bet, even if it's an auto, and then all you need is the adapter for the t-case-which will handle the added horsies. You may also need to beat up/reshape your firewall and possibly cut your radiator support and use an electric fan. Smog should also be interesting, but since your truck was carb'd, it should be okay, but I'm not really the one to ask. I'd also imagine that there are quite a few guys on this board that could do that swap with a crescent wrench and a blind fold. There's a guy here that posted Q's about a 302/c4 swap that said he had done tons of 350/350 swaps-pm him. Good luck!

Thumper · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 11:12:37 AM »

Hey man my friend and i are doing a 350 swap right now and it sounds like u have just about everything u need.
we are running a chevy 350 thats been camed port and polished, headers, port injection, its got the works, then going to a turbo 350, and from there going too duel toyota transfer cases. sitting on top of a 3 inch body,2 inch shackle's,and a 7 inch skyjacker suspension lift. all that clearing 38/15.50/15 super swamper tsl's,but looking for some 44's.
we are staying with the stock drivetrain right now, but LOOKING for a set of 2 1/2 ton rockwells.
As for running the toyota tranny u can use it because it is a pretty tuff tranny, and as long as u dont get too crazy it will hold up fine.
Good luck with ur swap.

beachtaco · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 12:12:24 PM »

i heard the same thing, the 4cyl trannys (especially 2nd gear) won't hold up to the torque of a 350. if you wanted to run a toy tranny, the only thing i would recommend is R150F or R151F tranny at most. but the best bet is going to a T350 or TH400 (??) tranny.

once the 350 is in, you may have to pound some of the firewall to clear the distributor and you may have to modify the front support where the radiator sits. it's a tight fit but it will work. is the 350 carbed or fuel injected?

1985ToyotaForLife · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 02:47:05 PM »

The 350 motor is carb'd, I also don't want to go to an auto tranny, I like rowing gears, i've heard mixed things on my toyota trans holding up, i'm not gonna romp on this truck or is it going to see off road time anytime soon. The tranny should hold up under normal driving right? its not that weak, its rated for more torque then my 300 ft-lb motor has.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 03:53:37 PM »

you need to talk to whitetrash, he's a chevy nut

as for adapters and info, talk to Downey off road---562-949-9494

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:41:36 PM »

From the sounds of it you are opening a huge can o worms. No need to be worried it actually is real easy to do these swaps. Ill post some pics of how mine is right now actually how it was about 45 mins ago!

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:44:21 PM »

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:45:47 PM »

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:47:11 PM »

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:48:35 PM »

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:50:02 PM »

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:51:28 PM »

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 07:52:52 PM »

Ive got a 3 inch body lift and a slightly massaged firewall. all hooked to th350, with a downey adapter to the stock case. as you can see the radiator is in the back, I got tired of fixing/replacing radiators all the time. If I was gonna do it with a stick I would use a SM420 with a ott divoced yota case. I wouldnt waste my time with a yota trans they will self destruct EXTREMELY easy. Believe me when I tell you this they just are not ment to handle anywhere close to the power of a v8! That should give you some ideas some good some bad. Ive got lots of pics if you need some direction lemme' know. good luck!
WT

Thumper · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 08, 2004, 09:50:23 PM »

I think they stock tranny will do fine if he is not planning on romping on it and dumping the clutch all the time.
And being that it was just rebuilt it should be good.
And ive seen stock toyota 5 speed trannys hold up to alot we have a 87 4 runner that is running a lc engineering motor with the big bore 93 mm pistions, port and polished head with a low range cam, adjustable cam gear, and it was putting out about 225 horse's with about 275lbs and it was on 35 thornbirds and it was drove hard and had the tires roasted many times on it and the tranny still works great. then we had a tall deck 22r motor with a 20r lcengineering stage 5 head that was milled, port and polished, and a high rpm cam in it webber 38 carb, the works with 5.29's and 38's and it never shelled the tranny and it was 4 wheeled hard and had the tires roasted on pavement and the tranny outlasted the motor and the tranny is now in my truck still workin great and it has the same treatment in my truck and still works great.
so i think if u dont have the $ for a diff tranny just use the one u have for now till u can upgrade later.

84runner · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 09, 2004, 12:13:41 AM »

Either way you will need to buy and adaptor, but if your really worried about it run the 350, that way you only have to buy one adapter as opposed to getting the adapter for the tranny then blowing. Then going with a 350 and haveing to by the t/case adapters

WHITE_TRASH · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 09, 2004, 06:25:37 PM »

A TH350 is way stronger than a yota 5-speed but even it can be broken!

J&m · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 09, 2004, 09:40:03 PM »

If you are in cali to be smog legal the engin going in has to be the sme year or newer to get thrue the reff and get soged.and watch the motor mounts and fire wall ive seenem flex and break the distributer cap,no spark no go no fun.good luck

84runner · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 11, 2004, 11:58:29 AM »

That is a good point about the cap I could see one of those nocking the fire wall and hearing OH $H!T

yotaboy79 · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 14, 2004, 07:33:33 PM »

the stock trans should be fine just be light on the gas and on the clutch. u start getting on it and that trans will be scattered around the highway!!

1985ToyotaForLife [OP]

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