I wont kid myself i am a novice mechanic at best, cant do anything without instructions,
how hard is it to swap a engine and transmission without screwing everything up.
Trent
"Hard" is a relative term. What is easy for some it not for others, and you need to identify what you want or don't want to do for yourself.
Are you talking about removing and installing like items, or CONVERTING to different drivetrain parts? (IE: a/t to m/t, n/a to turbo, v6 to v8...)
Bill
ahh, Sorry Bill, i'll try to be a bit more specific, I currently have a 1980 for pinto, its a money pit. and soon i will be selling it off, BUT, i want to get a pinto sometime in the future, becasue i have become addicted in the short amount of time i have been driving this car, My question was, If i were to acquire a new transmission and an engine from say an '88 TC im looking at, would it be possible for a mechanically minded novice to perform the swap? or is it an operation that requires more skill and should be left up to an auto shop? ( im literally on a shoestring budget and trying to save a few $)
anywho, hope that clarifies, if not i check the forums 3-4 times a day,
Thanks again!
Trent
The turbo swap is a little advanced due to not only needing basic engine removal/replace skills, but also fabrication/auto electrical skills as well. For a regular shop to do what I did would cost 2K+, easy in labor alone. The 87/88 t/c is a great donor, but ditch the harness and go with one from an 86, or from a Merkur. If you have not done so, read my thread about the install.
Bill
Thanks Bill!
answered perfectly, and ill do a bit more reading today, when you say to ditch the harness is that a complete re-wiring? from and 86 Thunderbird? Mustang? Merkur? or does it really matter?
-Trent
No, well... yes.
You need the engine management harness and sensors from your (a) donor turbo car. The 87/88 t/c harness has a BUNCH of other systems incorperated into it, where the others I mentiond do not. Just get an easier harness, and use all the sensors from your donor.
Bill