I think this guy is making a very reasonable choice in this engine swap. I am fed up with all the hype and extravagancy. What average Joe can daily drive a car making 10 mpg at today's fuel prices with peace of mind? To hell with burnouts and shit like that which has no business with a car like this. It is enough if it can cruise at motorway speeds comfortably. Keep up with the good work Mr. Wizard.
I'd rather have a diesel sleeper that gets killer MPG than a car that goes absurdly fast. If someone's tailgating me, just floor it and let them smell the soot 😋😋😋
Umm the V6 from a camaro makes 300 horsepower and 30 MPG and the car probably weighs the same too, and your not dealing with a damn dirty diesel either, plus........ yeah theirs a problem they dont tell you with diesel, the passenger cars need low Sulfur Diesel, and if you dont put that in it kills the engine, atleast the modern ones. I overheard it at my dealership when i was buying a car as an engine got replaced under warranty for that with a customer in the next room, as they went to a truckstop and filled up, as it was the only source they could find on a long trip, only to have that happen to it, and since then I saw them put a plaque on there that says just that. as theirs a reason why diesel is gonna get replaced by electric for heavy lifting, like trucks and vans and the like, and natural gas is the future of the autombobile provided people stop thinking electric solves everything. which should happen when tesla goes out of business, which should be soon with the way he acts. although for this POU, purpose of use, it should work alright.
The Old's diesel is reliable if new head studs and a fuel water separator are used. I might have did a boosted 3800 swap to get gas mileage as it can make as much power as the old 472 but that would be more hacking of parts especially on the electrical end.
@@kavinskysmith4094 I didn't think anyone carried anything BUT low sulfur diesel today. I thought the old stuff was banned nationwide a few years ago. That gas station could have been held financially responsible for the replacement of that customer's engine, if GM wanted to go that route to recoup their warranty expenses. If they put a plaque out there after this incident I bet they, at minimum, got a call from GM and had a very one sided conversation with them.
Hey Wiz, this is Jimbo in Chicago. One swap that has (or had) a kit that wasn't bad was the Buick 3.8L V6 into a TR7. I did this swap back in the day, and you are absolutely right, every issue you mentioned was a roadblock for me. But you forgot one big potential mishap with a swap: When you're all done, only to find out at a stoplight (with your girl in the front seat- of course) that your swapped motor has too much torque for your stock drive train. Needless to say, wherever this happens- is where you stay for awhile... Great job on the videos, if you ever need anything up here in Chicagoland let me know. Jimbo
@Never Gonnatell , It turns into an addition for some people, I've seen even members of my family going through this, but not only the man, both, him and her, the people I'm talking about even asked for money to all of us for it, without a can of soup in their kitchen cabinet, they'll lie, a lot, but they didn't got a penny from us, and my parents halted their crap as well, when things get to that point? Is a terrible thing.
Car Wizard, the honest mechanic 👍! So refreshing to have you on RUclips man, I love your simple and no bs way of doing your videos! Thank you and don’t change a thing🙏
I actually considered putting an olds diesel into my 1966 Olds 98, way back when the diesels were new... It was a monumental undertaking and I would have killed my Olds's performance, but at least it should have improved the gas mileage. The sad fact was that the cost would just about never have been recouped by gas savings... likely even if I were still using the car as a daily driver... and then the dang diesels started blowing up... Oddly, I'm enjoying watching you have all of the fun I spared myself.
In my '74 Eldorado, it not only has the 2nd battery tray like that, it even has the bracket for the battery hold down. From the factory, it has FOUR horns and the overflow bottle in that location.
Solid yet candid advice from a mechanic worth his weight in gold. I've gone to a similar shop for 25 yrs. Great video. You're lucky to have a level head and an understanding wife. Looking forward to future videos.
*GM has the most interchangeability in this area and always budget as Car Wizard said triple the amount of money - GREAT ADVICE as it can lead to a lot of other problems* 👍✔🔧
I'm not even doing an engine swap and my project car has sat immobile for over a year. the modification roadblocks I hit are easily solved (brake backing plates, narrowband emulation off of my wideband O2 sensor, etc.) but the fact I work on a sloped, narrow driveway is not. I'm getting too old to crawl around the asphalt in 90 degree weather.
I also use those square rubber mats that have little notches that you can connect them like a puzzle to make them as big or as small as you want. One square is probably 2x2 or so.
Firstly, thank you for this video, as a novice from uk u speak really well and ur clearly very knowledgeable and a credit to your profession and second, never change ur intro please 👍
What is great about David Long is that he is utterly a regular guy, not an actor at all. His delivery is fine, but it is best described as "regular guy on the job" tying to explain things. Tyler Hoover is a showman, he's trying to keep you entertained all the way with his delivery, while David is not trying to be anything other than what he is, a "car wizard". -It's funny how the Wizard's videos are starting to be more fascinating than Hoovie's.....
I did an engine swap several decades ago; Nissan 2.8 six into a '74 Datsun 240K (Skyline). I had the oil pan mismatch issues that Car Wizard mentions in this video at 4:39. Luckily I had my engineer step-dad helping out, otherwise it would have ended in disaster. As it was, it cured me of ever wanting to do my own repairs again !
Thank you for the update Wizard. I'm in Australia, have a dealership parts background, no longer work in them due to health reasons, but still like to watch car repairs.
@@BillyBobDingledorf Yes, but still, just getting a service manual, just buying parts for your rare automobile/motorcycle... was pain in the arse and very expensive. Nowadays, there's nothing a determined person wouldn't easily achieve. All the information is out there, just one click of a button. All the parts available 24/7, shipping all over the world...
"Bolts Right In!" is one of the biggest lies in the automotive aftermarket.. I don't even want to try to figure out how many times I had to resort to grinding, cutting, and even using sledge hammers in conjunction with a torch to provide clearance for everything from headers to motor mounts. As usual, this was a great, no-prisoners taken and informative video.
Spot-on advice, Mr Wizard. I did a engine transmission swap in a car many years ago in my early 20s, Ford small block V8 and transmission to replace the straight 6 in my 79 AMC AMX. Hanging around my Ford friends they talked me into it, but I should have stuck with an AMC 360. I had to Fab motor mounts, coolant hoses, accessory mounts for the front of the engine, transmission mounts, and the list goes on. It took longer than I thought and cost more than I thought, but I finished it and drove it for a few more years.
Good video and you’re right on the money with those points. I did an EFI powertrain swap into an old Ford truck and I had to deal with all of those issues and more, like high pressure fuel systems, wiring and emissions components that needed to be added to prevent tripping DTC’s. I did my research before and during the process, and I enjoy fabrication, so I figured it out, but it is a serious challenge. Bolting the engine and transmission in place is the easy part.
Learned my lesson years ago! I had a lot of knowledge from race car magazines, swapped a aluminum intake & Carb. The accelerator line didn't line up and a host of other problems! Lesson learned, leave it alone!
Another piece of good advice you can give to the viewers is this. If you’re thinking about doing an engine swap find someone on the Internet who has successfully performed the swap so at the very least you have someone to guide you through the process and these people will know the part numbers you’re looking for and the adapters you need to make the swap work. About 10 years ago I converted my 92 mustang from an automatic four-speed to a manual five speed and had the help of numerous people online who performed the swap and knew exactly what parts I needed to make it work. Form networks and do tons of research before you purchase any parts and before you put a wrench to your car. It’s also helpful if you’re doing an engine swap to purchase an entire donor car. Now if you don’t have the room for a donor car you may have to get parts from many vehicles. My transmission swap required me to find junkyard parts from over a dozen cars which was less efficient but took up less space in the garage. Bottom line: do your homework before you start.
That, and beware of the "golden window". It's one thing to do a swap when donor parts are common and whatever bits you need to adapt it are available but quite another thing when they are NOT. The guy who did this may well refer you to pieces and parts you just can't source anymore. It's not his fault but it is a thing.
Car wizard is spot on swaps of any kind. Couldn't find a radiator with a internal auto trans cooler for my 1993 Audi 80. So I had to get a manual version and add a external transmission cooler. There were some fittings I needed to fit to the existing lines, plus the bottom radiator mount was bigger on the manual version. Brackets for the cooler and securing the existing lines. It all add's up to a small fortune, even for something simple as adding a cooler.
@@missingremote4388 in some cases you have no choice. like a guy im watching thats building an LS powered toyota. not many have done LS in those. so hes having to learn by trial and error to some extent.
On my 2000 Celica GT, I took it to a garage to replace the manual transmission to a manual transmission from a Corolla. It bolted on to the engine just fine, but then, the transmission shop gave up when they saw that the number of splines on the left and right output shafts were not the same between a Celica and a Corolla. They were the same on the wheel side, but not on the transmission side. I installed 2 CV joints-shafts from a Corolla, but a Celica is larger, so the right on did fit, but the left one was too short and broke on the first test drive. My father has been able to cut another Cv joint-shaft and make an adapter to make it longer. I use the car like that for 7 years, but then that transmission was largely on its way out. All this for 2 car of the same brand and almost of the same family, with the same engine.
My biggest & worst repair was at 17 -18 yrs old I sucked a valve broke a valve spring and popped a hole in the no. 4 piston on a 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic super 88 w/ the 394 , 4bbl dual exhaust... Learned my lesson about doing burnouts in a cold car in the winter in Northern Ohio ... Many Blessings , SMR
My biggest car repair headache? Hard to pick just one from 34 years messing with cars. There are a bunch. One that still gives me twitches to this day is the torque converter bolts on my 1985 LeBaron convertible (not the wood trim model). They kept coming loose. This was back when I was more ignorant of turning my own wrenches. I got took by a few shops "fixing" the problem.
Swaps can be fun but require planning before you ever start...I'm currently putting a 6.4L SRT8 Hemi engine into a 1936 Dodge.The custom harness and etc was insanely expensive, but I knew it would be, and planned for the expense.
Great video as always, Car Wizard! My biggest automotive headache? Probably twin turbocharging an NA 3000GT. Even with the factory turbo VR-4 parts it took all winter and a lot of fabrication, plus tuning headaches. It was a great learning experience that helped make me the tech I am today but I don't have any desire to do it again.
Yes, I've had some of those same problems trying to swap the engine out of my old Boeing 727 into my 1963 VW Beetle …. it's been a real struggle ….. LOL (fun video full of a lot of truthful warnings). Thanks again Weeezzard …. :)
I might be starting to sound like a suck up, but I continue to be impressed with how good a man he is. It would not surprise me if this is Christ ‘s light shining through him, haven’t heard him mention it but I have my suspicions.
The thing that I always think about swaps is how to make the instrument cluster work. When they are electronic, you have to find a way to make the systems talk to the cluster and when you have mechanical clusters, you have to make custom cables and then there is the challenge to make it accurate. You have to plan in advance your options, and for that you need to do a lot of research.
Very good video Car Wizard & lots of relevant points. I'm currently putting a tuned Duratec 2.3 into a 1998 Lotus Elise & its taking aaaaages & I've given-up counting the $$$ a long time ago. Another factor if the swop takes too long, is just your general motivation starts to decline, as you really just want to drive the car, not solve hurdle after hurdle - which is the reality if you're installing something unusual, in a remote location & there are no off the shelf parts, let alone a 'kit' or 'plug & play'. I've just sent this video link to a friend who's think of putting 'X' engine into his Lotus Esprit S3 Turbo... well when I say 'he' I mean a local general garage he's found. I hear alarm bells already....
Spot on advice. I've done one swap & will never ever do that again (SBC in a Jag XJS). I could have bought one already done for quite a bit less. One upside: I got to go tool shopping quite often.
Great points on what to watch out for in a swap. I plan to put a modern T-56 6-speed manual transmission in my '70 Plymouth Duster which currently has a stock-type 3-speed automatic... I probably won't do it for a least a couple years because it involves major cutting and reworking of the transmission tunnel on the body as well as a heavily modified crossmember/mount setup, plus a shortened driveshaft, custom clutch linkage/hydraulic lines, new shifter assembly, the list goes on. I "swapped" from the stock 318 V-8 to a 360 V-8 which is essentially the same engine and even that was tons of work, mostly in building the engine itself but if you've never done it pulling an engine and putting in another one is a big job. Totally worth it though!!
Swapped 302 w 289 heads into a '63 F100. Getting the right headers to fit and clear various obstacles took more time and money than expected. Still worth it.
Love the videos thanks for everything you. Love your slow articulated approach at explaining everything clearly so NO ONE should have any issues following along or understanding. Keep it up weeeeezzzaaaarrrrrdddd!
Yes, an oil pan mod and driver's side exhaust manifold were the most PITA to deal with when I did the Chevy 327 swap into my 1972 Vega station wagon back in 1977. The oil pan got a new fitting factory pan when they made a version for the Monza V-8 around that time.
All your videos are great Wizard, but this one was in a class of it´s own. At last someone is telling the truth that you don´t see behind the scenes in all those polished videos. Of course it may seem simple to "just drop" something nicer in an old car "in a couple of hours". But what you are saying is the actual reality. Heck, even if you swap to the same type of stuff, you will probably run in to issues. Thank you for this one. I know about these things since decades, but i really like what you do for others. As for me, i am planning to do a swap on an old Citroën, but before even thinking of it, i will look at all possible service bulletins, parts list, electric schematics known problems etc. And that swap is about installing an engine identical to the one that´s bad. Of course it should be easy. But you never know. AFAIK they could have changed anything a week after one of the engines was made. I may have to start with taking out the whole dash to swap wiring looms or what ever. My friends always say that i think to much. But that "overthinking" comes from decades of experience. Lots of love from Sweden for this video. Now i have something to show my friends the next time i am "overthinking".
This is an interesting video that warns of the problems a person can run into if they decide to swap out an engine on a vehicle for an entirely different engine. I have not run into this, because the only time I had a defective engine replaced, it was replaced with the same model and type of engine.
Everyone talks LS Swap this or LS swap that when in reality, they don't understand there's lots of wiring involved. Its doable but it's more complicated than a standard 350-swap. I once swapped out a 22R for a 22RE in my 1982 Celica hatchback and had to replace the entire engine harness and computer. it was a pain but wasn't too bad if you know what's what.
This man knows what he's talking about. I caught hell swapping a v6 to a v8 in my thunderbird when i was 18. Neighbors were pissed at me. Plus i had no idea what i was doing
Did a Buick 3.8L V6 into a Chevette. It took a shortened driveshaft and a little door on the floorpan to be able to bolt the starter motor in. And then on the first drive, I discovered that I needed a beefier rear end, so $$ to get a Ford 8.8 narrowed... and have the hubs modified for Fiero 5-bolt circle, and Fiero rotors up front so I didn't need to carry around two spare tires. And *then* the doors popped open when I hit the gas - I had to reinforce the structure of the car with a roll cage. Chevette radiator was marginal at best, it would not have handled the 3.8L V6 idling if I got stuck in traffic very long. In the end, though, it was a hell of a lot of fun, and it was mostly built with junkyard parts. But yeah, vastly more expensive than the headers and motor mount kit that I bought from Hooker. :)
A thing I want to do is to put a semi truck engine, like a Scania V8 into a small car like a WV Golf or even smaller like a Polo. Would be fun to have enough power to move 40 tons in a car weighing like 1.2 tons. I know it won't be fast at all but it will be slow and cool in my mind.
Love the video. I know you did a walkthrough video at the start, will you please do a second walkthrough when you finish the car? Love to see again what you used, what you had to change out and everything involved to swap the engine in
My biggest car repair headache so far was trying to fix my airbag light. My car doesn't have OBD2, it uses a blinking code, eventually it was just the clockspring, took me a year to confirm before doing anything expensive.
1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams had self leveling, air shocks powered by a vacuum operated compressor, that was mounted to the left hand, (driver side) brace that went from the cowl to the left side inner fender. I don't see that compressor on Wizard's car! It may have been removed and tossed, and in it's place a direct air valve put in the rear bumper to add air to the rear air shocks. The vacuum compressor, and the self leveling air valve mounted to the rear axle were prone to failure. I am really enjoying this video! I wrenched on these cars, and remember when they were brand new in the wrapper! 1969 Not my favorite year for Cadillac, a lot of black plastic in the dash..1967-1968 my favorite years for Cadillacs.
My Rx8 swap uses an aisin ar5 transmission from a solstice, with an Isuzu Rodeo drive shaft. and an Rx7 rear driveshaft flange. That flange required a special u-joint to adapt two different joint sizes, that part is commonly found on the front driveshaft of some dodge pickups. THAT was a fun puzzle to figure out
Great video. I love old cars and doing engine swaps as well. Nothing wrong with a diesel but the olds diesel ? They didn't have a good reputation when new. I worked in a wrecking yard for 10 years. Every olds diesel that came through the gates were bad. Good luck with it.
I pulled a bad 4100 out of a Caddy and put in a 350 Chevy & trans. It was very easy but the rear drive ratio was way lower. I didn't change it because I liked the takeoff punch. I had to clear a spot on the crossmember for the mechanical fuel pump is all. It was the easiest swap I ever did. My current ride is a 3800 in a Fiero. Not a bad job, but way more to do.
Had to modify my old Audi, because of lack of parts availability. There were no automatic versions (built-in trans cooler) of the cars radiator available, so I had to install a manual version and add a external transmission cooler. It turned out good in the end, but it took extra time parts, fittings and lines/money to get this sorted. That's not even a engine swap and it was a minor headache. You could only imagine what a engine swap would entail.
To keep the cost down, swap the same make engine and car and nearly the same year. Example: 302 Ford into a Fox Body Mustang that had a 2.3 four cylinder. Or maybe a small block Chevy where there was once a Chevy six. I have done many swaps. The cross company... Chevy into a Ford product, GM into a Dodge Dart, V8 swap into an MGB... the hassles and cost increase. The newer the car, the more issues. Good video! Thanks.
Couple suggestions. Astro/Safari vans, as well as Oldsmodiesel-equipped squarebody pickups, had hydroboost. Also, I should think the A/C lines from any SBO-equipped car with A/C would allow you to retain functional A/C. Recently transplanted lines from an 82 Olds 260 to an 86 Olds 307. Fit like a glove.
On less common engines swaps were you can't get the original ECU reprogrammed an aftermarket EFI controller which often can make things easier but it will involve doing a lot of wiring and getting an initial fuel map close enough to make the engine run. The lesson though is always do your homework as not all swaps are going to be as easy as putting a 350 in a V6 Camaro which only required moving the motor mounts.
YOU ARE AWSOME!!!!!! you give great advice. You are young and full of knowledge I would trust you to fix any of my vehicles. I've done some crazy swaps you hit every point👍
Learned the homeowners thing is good and bought, i made a killer deal on a rare '80 LS Rx-7 (Leather Sport edition, nothing to do with the engine) because someone's HOA made them get rid of a car. Midway through swapping my 13B from my wrecked '84 GSL-SE Rx-7 (I hit a tree head on while drifting) the city hall that across the street from my work area threatened me to get some of our 5 or so cars out of the yard because it "looks like junkyard" and made city hall look bad apparently...IDK 2 Rx-7's being restored would add value to this small ass town hall scenery if you ask me. I was forced to sell both cars before i could get them somewhere else. Never again
Take the plates and reg off, then cover them when not working on them. They can't do crap because they are now property not vehicles. And they can't touch them. Only observe. Check your laws of course. Good luck.
Best advice for completing a project for the average gear head. Things take a lot longer than you think. If you're just learning (as I was when swapping my first engine) double the wizards estimate of time and money when doing it yourself... then quadruple it if it's s JDM swap.
Great video!! GM cars are the most "easiest" do do these swaps. Great on the Olds Diesel. I have 4 of them. You realize you won't have a lot of power, but baby the car around and you'll be fine. Consider adding a big water separator!!!
When I was an apprentice at GM before going into the service, my “job” was swapping Goodwrench diesel motors into Pontiac and Oldsmobile Station wagons. I think that the brakes in those wagons were all Hydro-Boost by 1985. Maybe you should switch to that rather than having a vacuum pump with a huge reservoir?
I was looking into doing a swap myself, I found a running 96 silverado with the 350 in a junkyard for $500.120k miles I also found a 1980's Fox Body with the 5-speed manual and a roached 5.0. I made the mental note of what vehicles they were (VINs help with builds) and found out the sold adapters for the 5-speed to a 350 conversion (if the gearbox was okay that is) but I still had a running silverado drivetrain if the gearbox doesnt plan out. I came back to find that the running solverado was bought and ruined my plans. (Objective was to buy the silverado, get a trailer to pick up the fox body go home and start stripping the truck) sell the truck to a neighbor who needs a silverado frame for his project. using that money to buy bell housing adapters and engine mounts. AND GET IT RUNNING. after that then you get to the minor details such as cleaning your rats nest of wiring and whatnot
Weeeezard when we put engines in other bodies for racing we used to do away with the brake servo due to the slight delay of the pads releasing with the brake servo installed was an irritant , no servo no problem you just had to remember that you need to push the brake pedal using muscle not a fairy touch. I not long ago had a Fiat Van no power steering my brother in law said it killed him to drive I had no problems at all, he always tried turning before moving many didn't like early power steering as it had no road feedback but to some they are lost without it.
7:48 Nailed it, my 2007 Mazda 3 2.3 to 2.5 swap was supposed to take 3 weeks but took 4 months waiting on various parts and boy was my wife pissed at me.
I think this guy is making a very reasonable choice in this engine swap. I am fed up with all the hype and extravagancy. What average Joe can daily drive a car making 10 mpg at today's fuel prices with peace of mind? To hell with burnouts and shit like that which has no business with a car like this. It is enough if it can cruise at motorway speeds comfortably. Keep up with the good work Mr. Wizard.
I'd rather have a diesel sleeper that gets killer MPG than a car that goes absurdly fast. If someone's tailgating me, just floor it and let them smell the soot 😋😋😋
Umm the V6 from a camaro makes 300 horsepower and 30 MPG and the car probably weighs the same too, and your not dealing with a damn dirty diesel either, plus........ yeah theirs a problem they dont tell you with diesel, the passenger cars need low Sulfur Diesel, and if you dont put that in it kills the engine, atleast the modern ones.
I overheard it at my dealership when i was buying a car as an engine got replaced under warranty for that with a customer in the next room, as they went to a truckstop and filled up, as it was the only source they could find on a long trip, only to have that happen to it, and since then I saw them put a plaque on there that says just that.
as theirs a reason why diesel is gonna get replaced by electric for heavy lifting, like trucks and vans and the like, and natural gas is the future of the autombobile provided people stop thinking electric solves everything.
which should happen when tesla goes out of business, which should be soon with the way he acts.
although for this POU, purpose of use, it should work alright.
The Old's diesel is reliable if new head studs and a fuel water separator are used.
I might have did a boosted 3800 swap to get gas mileage as it can make as much power as the old 472 but that would be more hacking of parts especially on the electrical end.
@@kavinskysmith4094 I didn't think anyone carried anything BUT low sulfur diesel today. I thought the old stuff was banned nationwide a few years ago.
That gas station could have been held financially responsible for the replacement of that customer's engine, if GM wanted to go that route to recoup their warranty expenses. If they put a plaque out there after this incident I bet they, at minimum, got a call from GM and had a very one sided conversation with them.
@@joe6096 No it was VW actually, I went to them after how badly they treated me
Wizard, thank you for the excellent insight on engine swaps and the pitfalls that come with it.
Hey Wiz, this is Jimbo in Chicago. One swap that has (or had) a kit that wasn't bad was the Buick 3.8L V6 into a TR7. I did this swap back in the day, and you are absolutely right, every issue you mentioned was a roadblock for me. But you forgot one big potential mishap with a swap: When you're all done, only to find out at a stoplight (with your girl in the front seat- of course) that your swapped motor has too much torque for your stock drive train. Needless to say, wherever this happens- is where you stay for awhile... Great job on the videos, if you ever need anything up here in Chicagoland let me know. Jimbo
My wife still loves me but she would sure like me to finish restoring her 62 caddy.its only been apart since 1998
So you're halfway done?
I saw what you did there, you devil you😅🤪😂
@Never Gonnatell , It turns into an addition for some people, I've seen even members of my family going through this, but not only the man, both, him and her, the people I'm talking about even asked for money to all of us for it, without a can of soup in their kitchen cabinet, they'll lie, a lot, but they didn't got a penny from us, and my parents halted their crap as well, when things get to that point? Is a terrible thing.
Car Wizard, the honest mechanic 👍! So refreshing to have you on RUclips man, I love your simple and no bs way of doing your videos! Thank you and don’t change a thing🙏
David of Omega: Demolisher of Dreams.
I don’t know anything about swapping engines and this video solidified that notion.
It takes a lot of time, money, and patience. And yet there's a million people out there who will happily tell you to LS swap everything.
You hit a home run with this video Wizard! Thanks for sharing! Best Wishes!
Yes Cadillac had a dual battery option. Good call wiz. My very first car was a.1975 Cadillac sedan de ville.
I actually considered putting an olds diesel into my 1966 Olds 98, way back when the diesels were new... It was a monumental undertaking and I would have killed my Olds's performance, but at least it should have improved the gas mileage. The sad fact was that the cost would just about never have been recouped by gas savings... likely even if I were still using the car as a daily driver... and then the dang diesels started blowing up...
Oddly, I'm enjoying watching you have all of the fun I spared myself.
I’m thinking that Tyler’s Prius is prime for a swap. Maybe with a Briggs & Stratton.
Thats too much power for a prius
If only Tecumseh hadn't gone under. It'd be a perfect match.
The 12v battery can fit a lawnmower battery too.
2jz swapped Prius
On my 65 Cadillac, the second tray was for the automatic high beam sensor, I thought it was a second battery,but no
lol, thank goodness for microelectronics!
I find that interesting, The space is vacant on my 65 Calais, because that was the base model of the year.
I think my 1980 Chevy Kingswood wagon had 2 batteries with the diesel.
The second tray on commercial vehicles is used for the second battery to run the emergency lights.
In my '74 Eldorado, it not only has the 2nd battery tray like that, it even has the bracket for the battery hold down. From the factory, it has FOUR horns and the overflow bottle in that location.
Only the Wizard could make glow plugs sound all cute and cuddly...
Solid yet candid advice from a mechanic worth his weight in gold. I've gone to a similar shop for 25 yrs. Great video. You're lucky to have a level head and an understanding wife. Looking forward to future videos.
*GM has the most interchangeability in this area and always budget as Car Wizard said triple the amount of money - GREAT ADVICE as it can lead to a lot of other problems* 👍✔🔧
I'm not even doing an engine swap and my project car has sat immobile for over a year. the modification roadblocks I hit are easily solved (brake backing plates, narrowband emulation off of my wideband O2 sensor, etc.) but the fact I work on a sloped, narrow driveway is not. I'm getting too old to crawl around the asphalt in 90 degree weather.
Make sure you have wheel chocks and jack stands. Also a movers blanket helps to lay on
I also use those square rubber mats that have little notches that you can connect them like a puzzle to make them as big or as small as you want. One square is probably 2x2 or so.
Firstly, thank you for this video, as a novice from uk u speak really well and ur clearly very knowledgeable and a credit to your profession and second, never change ur intro please 👍
Professionalism is so endearing to behold. Thank you Wizzy.
Thanks for sharing the caddy I've been missing that project
Customers ask me what candy to buy, I always say junior mints. Every time two weeks later they come in with a york patty and all sorts of problems.
😅😅
I laughed a lil too hard at this
Beard of knowledge strikes again! Thanks for sharing!
What is great about David Long is that he is utterly a regular guy, not an actor at all. His delivery is fine, but it is best described as "regular guy on the job" tying to explain things. Tyler Hoover is a showman, he's trying to keep you entertained all the way with his delivery, while David is not trying to be anything other than what he is, a "car wizard".
-It's funny how the Wizard's videos are starting to be more fascinating than Hoovie's.....
I agree with you Fliesfll, you get tired of the same clownish act in Tyler’s videos.
@@Cachapeluo I like Tyler's videos, it is just that Car Wizard's are refreshingly "regular guy".
The Wizard is educational and Hoovie is the "don't do this" video.
Wizard with the voice of reason!
Wizard speaks the truth- THINK about how it’s all going to work together. Many younglings don’t like to think.
I’m officially now scared to start any project. I’ll be bankrupt, divorced, and homeless
Not if you research and budget correctly.
Could take one (average working Joe)
a couple of yrs research to see if a swap is viable.
But you could grow a really cool beard!
His numbers are spot on, just think about r/r rebuilt stock engine runs 3 to 5 grand
I did an engine swap several decades ago; Nissan 2.8 six into a '74 Datsun 240K (Skyline). I had the oil pan mismatch issues that Car Wizard mentions in this video at 4:39. Luckily I had my engineer step-dad helping out, otherwise it would have ended in disaster. As it was, it cured me of ever wanting to do my own repairs again !
Thank you for the update Wizard. I'm in Australia, have a dealership parts background, no longer work in them due to health reasons, but still like to watch car repairs.
Imagine doing this long before the internet was even a thing. People today have no idea how complicated some things were before the internet.
Those were the days you needed a mentor. Better approach anyway.
@@BillyBobDingledorf Yes, but still, just getting a service manual, just buying parts for your rare automobile/motorcycle... was pain in the arse and very expensive. Nowadays, there's nothing a determined person wouldn't easily achieve. All the information is out there, just one click of a button. All the parts available 24/7, shipping all over the world...
Excellent video full of sound advice and caveats. Going to be sharing this with several friends.
"Bolts Right In!" is one of the biggest lies in the automotive aftermarket.. I don't even want to try to figure out how many times I had to resort to grinding, cutting, and even using sledge hammers in conjunction with a torch to provide clearance for everything from headers to motor mounts. As usual, this was a great, no-prisoners taken and informative video.
SWAPS Don't ever ruin relationships....It's the lack of money!
I can't wait to hear this thing fire up for the first time.
Spot-on advice, Mr Wizard. I did a engine transmission swap in a car many years ago in my early 20s, Ford small block V8 and transmission to replace the straight 6 in my 79 AMC AMX. Hanging around my Ford friends they talked me into it, but I should have stuck with an AMC 360. I had to Fab motor mounts, coolant hoses, accessory mounts for the front of the engine, transmission mounts, and the list goes on. It took longer than I thought and cost more than I thought, but I finished it and drove it for a few more years.
390 was a good engine.
Good video and you’re right on the money with those points. I did an EFI powertrain swap into an old Ford truck and I had to deal with all of those issues and more, like high pressure fuel systems, wiring and emissions components that needed to be added to prevent tripping DTC’s. I did my research before and during the process, and I enjoy fabrication, so I figured it out, but it is a serious challenge. Bolting the engine and transmission in place is the easy part.
Learned my lesson years ago! I had a lot of knowledge from race car magazines, swapped a aluminum intake & Carb. The accelerator line didn't line up and a host of other problems! Lesson learned, leave it alone!
Another piece of good advice you can give to the viewers is this. If you’re thinking about doing an engine swap find someone on the Internet who has successfully performed the swap so at the very least you have someone to guide you through the process and these people will know the part numbers you’re looking for and the adapters you need to make the swap work.
About 10 years ago I converted my 92 mustang from an automatic four-speed to a manual five speed and had the help of numerous people online who performed the swap and knew exactly what parts I needed to make it work.
Form networks and do tons of research before you purchase any parts and before you put a wrench to your car. It’s also helpful if you’re doing an engine swap to purchase an entire donor car. Now if you don’t have the room for a donor car you may have to get parts from many vehicles. My transmission swap required me to find junkyard parts from over a dozen cars which was less efficient but took up less space in the garage. Bottom line: do your homework before you start.
That, and beware of the "golden window". It's one thing to do a swap when donor parts are common and whatever bits you need to adapt it are available but quite another thing when they are NOT. The guy who did this may well refer you to pieces and parts you just can't source anymore. It's not his fault but it is a thing.
My Brother had a ‘69 Caddy Deville in @ 1981 it had a 472 caddy that had DUAL batteries....looked like a factory installation
Car wizard is spot on swaps of any kind. Couldn't find a radiator with a internal auto trans cooler for my 1993 Audi 80. So I had to get a manual version and add a external transmission cooler. There were some fittings I needed to fit to the existing lines, plus the bottom radiator mount was bigger on the manual version. Brackets for the cooler and securing the existing lines. It all add's up to a small fortune, even for something simple as adding a cooler.
Sounds like it's a ton of research before you even touch an engine.
yes. if you just jump in. youll be hit hard by reality lol
Trial & error method
@@missingremote4388 in some cases you have no choice. like a guy im watching thats building an LS powered toyota. not many have done LS in those. so hes having to learn by trial and error to some extent.
On my 2000 Celica GT, I took it to a garage to replace the manual transmission to a manual transmission from a Corolla. It bolted on to the engine just fine, but then, the transmission shop gave up when they saw that the number of splines on the left and right output shafts were not the same between a Celica and a Corolla. They were the same on the wheel side, but not on the transmission side. I installed 2 CV joints-shafts from a Corolla, but a Celica is larger, so the right on did fit, but the left one was too short and broke on the first test drive. My father has been able to cut another Cv joint-shaft and make an adapter to make it longer. I use the car like that for 7 years, but then that transmission was largely on its way out. All this for 2 car of the same brand and almost of the same family, with the same engine.
Thanks for bringing everyone into reality.
My biggest & worst repair was at 17 -18 yrs old I sucked a valve broke a valve spring and popped a hole in the no. 4 piston on a 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic super 88 w/ the 394 , 4bbl dual exhaust... Learned my lesson about doing burnouts in a cold car in the winter in Northern Ohio ... Many Blessings , SMR
What a sobering and valuable video. Wizard speaks the absolute truth. One of the best videos I’ve seen. Thank you!
Best swap I ever saw was a 350 chevy with a turbo 400 trans and a narrowed Ford 9' rear end in an Opel GT.
Go in expecting to pay 3x your original calculation and you will think you got a bargain when you only pay 2x.
agreed!
You are so right Wizard, engine retrofits are not for the faint at heart. It's a huge undertaking.
My biggest car repair headache? Hard to pick just one from 34 years messing with cars. There are a bunch. One that still gives me twitches to this day is the torque converter bolts on my 1985 LeBaron convertible (not the wood trim model). They kept coming loose. This was back when I was more ignorant of turning my own wrenches. I got took by a few shops "fixing" the problem.
Car Wizard: "You'll go bankrupt, divorced, and contract a disease"
..... "Well I hope these tips have helped you out 😁"
Swaps can be fun but require planning before you ever start...I'm currently putting a 6.4L SRT8 Hemi engine into a 1936 Dodge.The custom harness and etc was insanely expensive, but I knew it would be, and planned for the expense.
1936 Dodge what???
how did you have one made?
@@hank1556 Several companies make them, including Mopar performance
I believe I remember seeing Oldsmobile diesels that had a hydraulic break booster that ran off of the power steering pump like you mentioned.
Great video as always, Car Wizard! My biggest automotive headache? Probably twin turbocharging an NA 3000GT. Even with the factory turbo VR-4 parts it took all winter and a lot of fabrication, plus tuning headaches. It was a great learning experience that helped make me the tech I am today but I don't have any desire to do it again.
Yes, I've had some of those same problems trying to swap the engine out of my old Boeing 727 into my 1963 VW Beetle …. it's been a real struggle ….. LOL (fun video full of a lot of truthful warnings). Thanks again Weeezzard …. :)
Thank you for the reality check, especially for the youngsters out there! It's a ton of planning and work involved.
I might be starting to sound like a suck up, but I continue to be impressed with how good a man he is. It would not surprise me if this is Christ ‘s light shining through him, haven’t heard him mention it but I have my suspicions.
Mark St.Germain youd be right. Lol
The thing that I always think about swaps is how to make the instrument cluster work. When they are electronic, you have to find a way to make the systems talk to the cluster and when you have mechanical clusters, you have to make custom cables and then there is the challenge to make it accurate. You have to plan in advance your options, and for that you need to do a lot of research.
Great video Wizzard! Little kids today always sayin “YO just throw a LS into it!” Have no idea what’s involved
Very good video Car Wizard & lots of relevant points. I'm currently putting a tuned Duratec 2.3 into a 1998 Lotus Elise & its taking aaaaages & I've given-up counting the $$$ a long time ago. Another factor if the swop takes too long, is just your general motivation starts to decline, as you really just want to drive the car, not solve hurdle after hurdle - which is the reality if you're installing something unusual, in a remote location & there are no off the shelf parts, let alone a 'kit' or 'plug & play'. I've just sent this video link to a friend who's think of putting 'X' engine into his Lotus Esprit S3 Turbo... well when I say 'he' I mean a local general garage he's found. I hear alarm bells already....
Well said wizard, how ever long it take triple and quadruple it. Don't forget the cost triples or quadruples as well.
Spot on advice. I've done one swap & will never ever do that again (SBC in a Jag XJS). I could have bought one already done for quite a bit less. One upside: I got to go tool shopping quite often.
You just saved a whole bunch of people a whole bunch of money! Good job. Excellent advice!
Great points on what to watch out for in a swap. I plan to put a modern T-56 6-speed manual transmission in my '70 Plymouth Duster which currently has a stock-type 3-speed automatic... I probably won't do it for a least a couple years because it involves major cutting and reworking of the transmission tunnel on the body as well as a heavily modified crossmember/mount setup, plus a shortened driveshaft, custom clutch linkage/hydraulic lines, new shifter assembly, the list goes on. I "swapped" from the stock 318 V-8 to a 360 V-8 which is essentially the same engine and even that was tons of work, mostly in building the engine itself but if you've never done it pulling an engine and putting in another one is a big job. Totally worth it though!!
Great info wizard!! This is why I decided to pay to have someone replace my engine.
Really enjoy your videos! Thank you to you and Mrs Wizard for all the effort you put in to making them. They're always very insightful
Such a great build! Thanks for the update/info, Wizard!
Swapped 302 w 289 heads into a '63 F100. Getting the right headers to fit and clear various obstacles took more time and money than expected. Still worth it.
Love the videos thanks for everything you.
Love your slow articulated approach at explaining everything clearly so NO ONE should have any issues following along or understanding. Keep it up weeeeezzzaaaarrrrrdddd!
Yes, an oil pan mod and driver's side exhaust manifold were the most PITA to deal with when I did the Chevy 327 swap into my 1972 Vega station wagon back in 1977. The oil pan got a new fitting factory pan when they made a version for the Monza V-8 around that time.
All your videos are great Wizard, but this one was in a class of it´s own. At last someone is telling the truth that you don´t see behind the scenes in all those polished videos. Of course it may seem simple to "just drop" something nicer in an old car "in a couple of hours". But what you are saying is the actual reality. Heck, even if you swap to the same type of stuff, you will probably run in to issues. Thank you for this one. I know about these things since decades, but i really like what you do for others. As for me, i am planning to do a swap on an old Citroën, but before even thinking of it, i will look at all possible service bulletins, parts list, electric schematics known problems etc. And that swap is about installing an engine identical to the one that´s bad. Of course it should be easy. But you never know. AFAIK they could have changed anything a week after one of the engines was made. I may have to start with taking out the whole dash to swap wiring looms or what ever. My friends always say that i think to much. But that "overthinking" comes from decades of experience. Lots of love from Sweden for this video. Now i have something to show my friends the next time i am "overthinking".
Wizard,
ROCK N ROLL
Ur videos r fantastic
Ur VERY SKILLED and SUPER SMART with a lot of experience
This is an interesting video that warns of the problems a person can run into if they decide to swap out an engine on a vehicle for an entirely different engine. I have not run into this, because the only time I had a defective engine replaced, it was replaced with the same model and type of engine.
Everyone talks LS Swap this or LS swap that when in reality, they don't understand there's lots of wiring involved. Its doable but it's more complicated than a standard 350-swap.
I once swapped out a 22R for a 22RE in my 1982 Celica hatchback and had to replace the entire engine harness and computer. it was a pain but wasn't too bad if you know what's what.
And I agree with the Wizard 100%; having done a few engine/tranny swaps myself over the years.
This man knows what he's talking about. I caught hell swapping a v6 to a v8 in my thunderbird when i was 18. Neighbors were pissed at me. Plus i had no idea what i was doing
Did a Buick 3.8L V6 into a Chevette. It took a shortened driveshaft and a little door on the floorpan to be able to bolt the starter motor in. And then on the first drive, I discovered that I needed a beefier rear end, so $$ to get a Ford 8.8 narrowed... and have the hubs modified for Fiero 5-bolt circle, and Fiero rotors up front so I didn't need to carry around two spare tires. And *then* the doors popped open when I hit the gas - I had to reinforce the structure of the car with a roll cage. Chevette radiator was marginal at best, it would not have handled the 3.8L V6 idling if I got stuck in traffic very long.
In the end, though, it was a hell of a lot of fun, and it was mostly built with junkyard parts. But yeah, vastly more expensive than the headers and motor mount kit that I bought from Hooker. :)
Good advice, I honestly never thought about all of that
A thing I want to do is to put a semi truck engine, like a Scania V8 into a small car like a WV Golf or even smaller like a Polo. Would be fun to have enough power to move 40 tons in a car weighing like 1.2 tons. I know it won't be fast at all but it will be slow and cool in my mind.
Love the video. I know you did a walkthrough video at the start, will you please do a second walkthrough when you finish the car? Love to see again what you used, what you had to change out and everything involved to swap the engine in
My biggest car repair headache so far was trying to fix my airbag light. My car doesn't have OBD2, it uses a blinking code, eventually it was just the clockspring, took me a year to confirm before doing anything expensive.
1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams had self leveling, air shocks powered by a vacuum operated compressor, that was mounted to the left hand, (driver side) brace that went from the cowl to the left side inner fender. I don't see that compressor on Wizard's car! It may have been removed and tossed, and in it's place a direct air valve put in the rear bumper to add air to the rear air shocks.
The vacuum compressor, and the self leveling air valve mounted to the rear axle were prone to failure.
I am really enjoying this video!
I wrenched on these cars, and remember when they were brand new in the wrapper! 1969 Not my favorite year for Cadillac, a lot of black plastic in the dash..1967-1968 my favorite years for Cadillacs.
The '79 Old 88 diesel that I owned many years ago had hydaboost brakes powered off the PS pump.The vacuum pump was for HVAC controls only.
My Rx8 swap uses an aisin ar5 transmission from a solstice, with an Isuzu Rodeo drive shaft. and an Rx7 rear driveshaft flange. That flange required a special u-joint to adapt two different joint sizes, that part is commonly found on the front driveshaft of some dodge pickups. THAT was a fun puzzle to figure out
Great video. I love old cars and doing engine swaps as well. Nothing wrong with a diesel but the olds diesel ? They didn't have a good reputation when new. I worked in a wrecking yard for 10 years. Every olds diesel that came through the gates were bad. Good luck with it.
I pulled a bad 4100 out of a Caddy and put in a 350 Chevy & trans. It was very easy but the rear drive ratio was way lower. I didn't change it because I liked the takeoff punch. I had to clear a spot on the crossmember for the mechanical fuel pump is all. It was the easiest swap I ever did. My current ride is a 3800 in a Fiero. Not a bad job, but way more to do.
When it's done will you ever sell it? I'm a Land yacht addict just like hoovie
He usually sells the projects after he drives them for a while.
Yeah but the motor😬
Had to modify my old Audi, because of lack of parts availability. There were no automatic versions (built-in trans cooler) of the cars radiator available, so I had to install a manual version and add a external transmission cooler. It turned out good in the end, but it took extra time parts, fittings and lines/money to get this sorted. That's not even a engine swap and it was a minor headache.
You could only imagine what a engine swap would entail.
To keep the cost down, swap the same make engine and car and nearly the same year. Example: 302 Ford into a Fox Body Mustang that had a 2.3 four cylinder. Or maybe a small block Chevy where there was once a Chevy six. I have done many swaps. The cross company... Chevy into a Ford product, GM into a Dodge Dart, V8 swap into an MGB... the hassles and cost increase. The newer the car, the more issues. Good video! Thanks.
Couple suggestions. Astro/Safari vans, as well as Oldsmodiesel-equipped squarebody pickups, had hydroboost. Also, I should think the A/C lines from any SBO-equipped car with A/C would allow you to retain functional A/C. Recently transplanted lines from an 82 Olds 260 to an 86 Olds 307. Fit like a glove.
My dad actually managed to make his 350 diesel pretty solid with a water separater and head studs. I think he also did a oil separater on the PVC.
On less common engines swaps were you can't get the original ECU reprogrammed an aftermarket EFI controller which often can make things easier but it will involve doing a lot of wiring and getting an initial fuel map close enough to make the engine run.
The lesson though is always do your homework as not all swaps are going to be as easy as putting a 350 in a V6 Camaro which only required moving the motor mounts.
YOU ARE AWSOME!!!!!! you give great advice. You are young and full of knowledge I would trust you to fix any of my vehicles. I've done some crazy swaps you hit every point👍
You are the stuff Wizard!
Thanks for the update.
Learned the homeowners thing is good and bought, i made a killer deal on a rare '80 LS Rx-7 (Leather Sport edition, nothing to do with the engine) because someone's HOA made them get rid of a car.
Midway through swapping my 13B from my wrecked '84 GSL-SE Rx-7 (I hit a tree head on while drifting) the city hall that across the street from my work area threatened me to get some of our 5 or so cars out of the yard because it "looks like junkyard" and made city hall look bad apparently...IDK 2 Rx-7's being restored would add value to this small ass town hall scenery if you ask me.
I was forced to sell both cars before i could get them somewhere else. Never again
HOA is anti-American.
Take the plates and reg off, then cover them when not working on them. They can't do crap because they are now property not vehicles. And they can't touch them. Only observe. Check your laws of course. Good luck.
Best advice for completing a project for the average gear head. Things take a lot longer than you think. If you're just learning (as I was when swapping my first engine) double the wizards estimate of time and money when doing it yourself... then quadruple it if it's s JDM swap.
Great video!! GM cars are the most "easiest" do do these swaps.
Great on the Olds Diesel. I have 4 of them. You realize you won't have a lot of power, but baby the car around and you'll be fine.
Consider adding a big water separator!!!
I'm writing this down as an exit strategy in case I'm ever stupid enough to get married again.
When I was an apprentice at GM before going into the service, my “job” was swapping Goodwrench diesel motors into Pontiac and Oldsmobile Station wagons. I think that the brakes in those wagons were all Hydro-Boost by 1985. Maybe you should switch to that rather than having a vacuum pump with a huge reservoir?
I was looking into doing a swap myself, I found a running 96 silverado with the 350 in a junkyard for $500.120k miles I also found a 1980's Fox Body with the 5-speed manual and a roached 5.0. I made the mental note of what vehicles they were (VINs help with builds) and found out the sold adapters for the 5-speed to a 350 conversion (if the gearbox was okay that is) but I still had a running silverado drivetrain if the gearbox doesnt plan out. I came back to find that the running solverado was bought and ruined my plans.
(Objective was to buy the silverado, get a trailer to pick up the fox body go home and start stripping the truck) sell the truck to a neighbor who needs a silverado frame for his project. using that money to buy bell housing adapters and engine mounts. AND GET IT RUNNING. after that then you get to the minor details such as cleaning your rats nest of wiring and whatnot
Weeeezard when we put engines in other bodies for racing we used to do away with the brake servo due to the slight delay of the pads releasing with the brake servo installed was an irritant , no servo no problem you just had to remember that you need to push the brake pedal using muscle not a fairy touch. I not long ago had a Fiat Van no power steering my brother in law said it killed him to drive I had no problems at all, he always tried turning before moving many didn't like early power steering as it had no road feedback but to some they are lost without it.
7:48 Nailed it, my 2007 Mazda 3 2.3 to 2.5 swap was supposed to take 3 weeks but took 4 months waiting on various parts and boy was my wife pissed at me.