Motor swap with no mechanical experience?
03-16-2017, 07:50 AM
#3
Teching In
Is it possible? Yes.
Should you? That's another question and it depends on more than just a willingness to try. Do you have access to the knowledge? Has your particular swap been done before? Is it just a remove and replace or are you modifying things? Do you have an appropriate work area? Do you have the time? Do you know how much time it should take? (Well double that and maybe triple if you've never done it before.) Do you have the right tools? Anybody willing to help you out or give direction? Do you have the skill? Do you know lefty-loosey, righty-tighty? Is it worth it with time and pride of doing it yourself out weighing the time and cost of paying some-one? (If it is just a "R and R" job you can probably get it done in a day or two for around 500-600 dollars.) Plus it will cost more for someone to rescue you from the middle of a mess than to do it from start to finish.
These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself and if you are okay with your answers then go for it. You learn from doing and IMO this is a worthwhile thing to know.
Should you? That's another question and it depends on more than just a willingness to try. Do you have access to the knowledge? Has your particular swap been done before? Is it just a remove and replace or are you modifying things? Do you have an appropriate work area? Do you have the time? Do you know how much time it should take? (Well double that and maybe triple if you've never done it before.) Do you have the right tools? Anybody willing to help you out or give direction? Do you have the skill? Do you know lefty-loosey, righty-tighty? Is it worth it with time and pride of doing it yourself out weighing the time and cost of paying some-one? (If it is just a "R and R" job you can probably get it done in a day or two for around 500-600 dollars.) Plus it will cost more for someone to rescue you from the middle of a mess than to do it from start to finish.
These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself and if you are okay with your answers then go for it. You learn from doing and IMO this is a worthwhile thing to know.
03-16-2017, 12:04 PM
#4
My advice is similar to the above.
1. Is this a DD or a car you rely on in some way and need back up in a certain time frame?
2. Do you have a decent work area, that Is indoors and can be easily secured for the night and returned to on your own time?
3. Do you have the cash for the unforeseen things, like trips to ACE for hardware and tools you didn't plan for or things that break during mid-swap?
4. Do you have a friend that can help that is at least somewhat mechanically inclined or in the very least know what a ratchet is?
5. Do you have patience? (probably the biggest one of all)
Go over these points and really think on them, make sure you have all the checks in the block. The biggest thing for a newbie when attempting something like this is time, make sure you have nothing constraining you that will force you to work faster than you are comfortable with and get stressed or overlook things. I can tell you from my own installs that ive never done before, id research beforehand and think I had everything, then had to go to ACE or homedepot mid install to pick up a stupid bolt or a swivel that would help reach a stupid bolt. A motor swap can be done with your level, just take your time and go slow and do it right. READ READ READ up on it as much as you can till you feel you cant learn any more by reading and then plan it out and go at it. you'll be fine.
Oh, and get used to saying "where the **** is that ratchet I just had it"
1. Is this a DD or a car you rely on in some way and need back up in a certain time frame?
2. Do you have a decent work area, that Is indoors and can be easily secured for the night and returned to on your own time?
3. Do you have the cash for the unforeseen things, like trips to ACE for hardware and tools you didn't plan for or things that break during mid-swap?
4. Do you have a friend that can help that is at least somewhat mechanically inclined or in the very least know what a ratchet is?
5. Do you have patience? (probably the biggest one of all)
Go over these points and really think on them, make sure you have all the checks in the block. The biggest thing for a newbie when attempting something like this is time, make sure you have nothing constraining you that will force you to work faster than you are comfortable with and get stressed or overlook things. I can tell you from my own installs that ive never done before, id research beforehand and think I had everything, then had to go to ACE or homedepot mid install to pick up a stupid bolt or a swivel that would help reach a stupid bolt. A motor swap can be done with your level, just take your time and go slow and do it right. READ READ READ up on it as much as you can till you feel you cant learn any more by reading and then plan it out and go at it. you'll be fine.
Oh, and get used to saying "where the **** is that ratchet I just had it"
03-16-2017, 06:06 PM
#5
TECH Resident
Books and YouTube are your friend. Join a car club. Take some night courses at your local tech school. Make detailed lists and plans, get a chalk board so you can see what;s left to do. Have FUN!! Meet some really nice people in this hobby...
03-17-2017, 11:54 PM
#6
Staging Lane
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Is it possible? Yes.
Should you? That's another question and it depends on more than just a willingness to try. Do you have access to the knowledge? Has your particular swap been done before? Is it just a remove and replace or are you modifying things? Do you have an appropriate work area? Do you have the time? Do you know how much time it should take? (Well double that and maybe triple if you've never done it before.) Do you have the right tools? Anybody willing to help you out or give direction? Do you have the skill? Do you know lefty-loosey, righty-tighty? Is it worth it with time and pride of doing it yourself out weighing the time and cost of paying some-one? (If it is just a "R and R" job you can probably get it done in a day or two for around 500-600 dollars.) Plus it will cost more for someone to rescue you from the middle of a mess than to do it from start to finish.
These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself and if you are okay with your answers then go for it. You learn from doing and IMO this is a worthwhile thing to know.
Should you? That's another question and it depends on more than just a willingness to try. Do you have access to the knowledge? Has your particular swap been done before? Is it just a remove and replace or are you modifying things? Do you have an appropriate work area? Do you have the time? Do you know how much time it should take? (Well double that and maybe triple if you've never done it before.) Do you have the right tools? Anybody willing to help you out or give direction? Do you have the skill? Do you know lefty-loosey, righty-tighty? Is it worth it with time and pride of doing it yourself out weighing the time and cost of paying some-one? (If it is just a "R and R" job you can probably get it done in a day or two for around 500-600 dollars.) Plus it will cost more for someone to rescue you from the middle of a mess than to do it from start to finish.
These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself and if you are okay with your answers then go for it. You learn from doing and IMO this is a worthwhile thing to know.
03-17-2017, 11:57 PM
#7
Staging Lane
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My advice is similar to the above.
1. Is this a DD or a car you rely on in some way and need back up in a certain time frame?
2. Do you have a decent work area, that Is indoors and can be easily secured for the night and returned to on your own time?
3. Do you have the cash for the unforeseen things, like trips to ACE for hardware and tools you didn't plan for or things that break during mid-swap?
4. Do you have a friend that can help that is at least somewhat mechanically inclined or in the very least know what a ratchet is?
5. Do you have patience? (probably the biggest one of all)
Go over these points and really think on them, make sure you have all the checks in the block. The biggest thing for a newbie when attempting something like this is time, make sure you have nothing constraining you that will force you to work faster than you are comfortable with and get stressed or overlook things. I can tell you from my own installs that ive never done before, id research beforehand and think I had everything, then had to go to ACE or homedepot mid install to pick up a stupid bolt or a swivel that would help reach a stupid bolt. A motor swap can be done with your level, just take your time and go slow and do it right. READ READ READ up on it as much as you can till you feel you cant learn any more by reading and then plan it out and go at it. you'll be fine.
Oh, and get used to saying "where the **** is that ratchet I just had it"
1. Is this a DD or a car you rely on in some way and need back up in a certain time frame?
2. Do you have a decent work area, that Is indoors and can be easily secured for the night and returned to on your own time?
3. Do you have the cash for the unforeseen things, like trips to ACE for hardware and tools you didn't plan for or things that break during mid-swap?
4. Do you have a friend that can help that is at least somewhat mechanically inclined or in the very least know what a ratchet is?
5. Do you have patience? (probably the biggest one of all)
Go over these points and really think on them, make sure you have all the checks in the block. The biggest thing for a newbie when attempting something like this is time, make sure you have nothing constraining you that will force you to work faster than you are comfortable with and get stressed or overlook things. I can tell you from my own installs that ive never done before, id research beforehand and think I had everything, then had to go to ACE or homedepot mid install to pick up a stupid bolt or a swivel that would help reach a stupid bolt. A motor swap can be done with your level, just take your time and go slow and do it right. READ READ READ up on it as much as you can till you feel you cant learn any more by reading and then plan it out and go at it. you'll be fine.
Oh, and get used to saying "where the **** is that ratchet I just had it"
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03-20-2017, 05:39 PM
#9
On The Tree
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As stated previously, make sure you have a reliable secondary vehicle to drive while performing the swap. The last 10 years have been kind to the D.I.Y LSx community. Tons of information and build threads chronicling everything from basic maintenance to complex swaps.
03-25-2017, 09:10 PM
#10
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If it not your DD ride I say go for. I am a concrete man and doing it myself with google in my 68 Camaro. Taking my time pulled the big block out and going to a LS3. This is a while back I am a lot closer now.