AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Project Cars => Topic started by: djohnston89 on April 16, 2017, 10:30:22 AM

Title: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on April 16, 2017, 10:30:22 AM
My eagle has been sitting for longer than I'd care to admit after I found out that the engine was pretty much done. Now I'm getting things together to do the 4.0 swap, and I'm moving halfway across the country this June, which means a roadtrip!  So I figured I'd start a new thread and chronicle the whole process. I'm going to be doing a bunch of YouTube videos as I go.

You can watch the introduction video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNf92Q2y_bY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNf92Q2y_bY)
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: Prafeston on April 16, 2017, 11:25:31 AM
Sounds fun! I'll go follow the adventure!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: amarshall on April 17, 2017, 12:10:40 AM
You're going to do a full swap by June and then drive across country?  Geez, way to make the rest of us look lazy! This will be fun to watch.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: eaglefreek on April 17, 2017, 10:25:15 AM
That was an excellent video and yes, Dokken rocks. I saw them in the 80's when they opened for Judas Priest.  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/Smilies/headbanging.gif) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/Smilies/headbanging.gif.html) Where in CO are you moving to? If the Denver Metro area, you will have to worry about emission testing. Are you going EFI or keeping it carb?

Not to side track the thread, but to give you inspiration, here are two different vehicles I got running and then proceeded to drive cross country.
First is an IH Metro. When I bought it, it was sitting for 10 years. The previous owner thought it needed an engine rebuild, but turned out to just need the carb rebuilt and some new points. I did have to go through the brakes. Shortly after getting it running, I drove it from Denver to TN.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/IH%20Metro/Metro3.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/IH%20Metro/Metro3.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/IH%20Metro/MetroWheels6.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/IH%20Metro/MetroWheels6.jpg.html)

January 2016, I bought an Isuzu Trooper that needed an engine. I bought a wrecked one for the engine and by April 15th, I had it running. May 19th, I got on the road for a trip to Moab, Utah and back. I put about 4,000 miles on it on that trip.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/1988%20Isuzu%20Trooper/2016-01-13_07-09-04_606_zpszbzkkgiz.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/1988%20Isuzu%20Trooper/2016-01-13_07-09-04_606_zpszbzkkgiz.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/1988%20Isuzu%20Trooper/2016-01-15_09-51-41_773_zpsaywizebj.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/1988%20Isuzu%20Trooper/2016-01-15_09-51-41_773_zpsaywizebj.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/1988%20Isuzu%20Trooper/IMG_20160520_102111512_zpspuwtaurs.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/1988%20Isuzu%20Trooper/IMG_20160520_102111512_zpspuwtaurs.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: vangremlin on April 17, 2017, 05:59:34 PM
Where in CO are you moving to? If the Denver Metro area, you will have to worry about emission testing. Are you going EFI or keeping it carb?


What he said.  And its not just emissions testing, its also the visual inspection.  I believe that if you swap in the whole 4.0 including all the emissions related equipment for it, that this is an acceptable upgrade, however I think there is an extra step involved in getting it emissions approved.  Probably worth doing some homework on what is required.

And an advanced welcome to Colorado.  Once you're out here we'll have to shoot to have another mini-meet with the local Eagle gang.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on April 17, 2017, 09:39:03 PM
Sorry for the slow reply guys, I'm actually in CO right now staying with my sister doing job interviews looking at houses etc etc. The emissions thing I am a bit worried about but only so much. I'll be north of Denver, looking at Longmont, Ft Collins and Loveland so I'll definitely be subjected to the testing, but a garage is on our list of must-haves and obviously it's not my only vehicle so I'll have a place to put it and time to get it ready.

 I kept all the factory stuff in a box, so I have it and worst case I can probably put it on  for the visual. I already have Gronk's kit for the motorcraft 2150 so I intend to make the necessary modifications to the factory manifold and run that on the new engine, but if I have to put the carter and all the factory stuff back on to get it through the visual then that's okay too, I'll worry about that once it's out here :P As far as tailpipe, gotta figure a crate engine with a new cat and a good tune shouldn't have too much of a problem!

My sister actually also mentioned the shop where she takes her XJ never does a visual, just tailpipe. Looking through the laws I didn't see it as a requirement, so maybe visual is county by county or even an inspector by inspector thing?  In VA visual inspection of emissions equipment is actually part of the safety inspection oddly enough which is handled separate from tail pipe emissions (which any vehicle older than 25 years is exempt from), but I've always been able to get my cars through that too so like I said, not terribly worried  :occasion14:

Btw, Eaglefreek that International is awesome! Between your post and a few too many episodes of Roadkill, I'm feelin pretty confident :)
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: vangremlin on April 18, 2017, 08:45:08 AM
I'm sure if you put some thought into it you'll find a way to pass the emissions test, visual and all.  Just didn't want you to be surprised once you got out here.

And if you've got a couple months, that should be enough time to get the new engine swapped in and get the Eagle back on the road.  It really shouldn't be that big of a project, especially since its not me doing it  :rotfl:

Looking forward to seeing your progress!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on April 18, 2017, 10:09:59 PM
Right? It's just a couple of bolts and a yoink, how hard could it be  ;)
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: eaglefreek on April 19, 2017, 07:43:10 AM
When did they start emissions testing up north? I don't recall them testing there when I lived there. The feed lots in Greeley are probably much worse than the cars.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: vangremlin on April 19, 2017, 12:29:11 PM
When did they start emissions testing up north? I don't recall them testing there when I lived there. The feed lots in Greeley are probably much worse than the cars.

Low blow!  True, but low.

I think that area has been included for emissions testing for quite awhile.  I was surprised that Colorado Springs is not included in the testing area.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on May 03, 2017, 12:45:08 AM
Greeley, that's the exact opposite of Hawaii isn't it?

(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/southpark/images/7/7a/Cities-greeley.png.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141229152320)

I grew up within sniffing distance of Virginia's largest sewage treatment plant and I was still caught off guard by Greeley's.. uh... "unique" smell  :rotfl:
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: vangremlin on May 03, 2017, 08:20:39 AM
It's pretty pungent there in Greeley, for sure!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on May 16, 2017, 01:34:49 AM
I've been meaning to update this thread for a while now, but I've been working on the car pretty much full tilt over the last few days and keep getting more stuff done. So the engine is out, as I'm sure most of you saw over on the facebook page. I must say it actually went remarkably smoothly, especially given it was my first time pulling an engine. So hopefully I'll have video edited and up on that sooner or later as well as I shot most of the process with my gopro.

(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18402571_10209272754726882_1018542515049317400_n.jpg?oh=86b0ba6a06b333615913143cd5b83eca&oe=59AF444E)

Today I decided to tackle a bit of rust I noticed on the driver side in the engine bay, while the engine was out. It appears brake fluid leaked out of the master cylinder and did what it does.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0514171236%20-%20Copy_zpsx1eqkpmz.jpg)

So I wire wheeled the bejeezus out of it and cut out the compromised metal, then hit it with the naval jelly, inside and out because I know those frame rails like to rot from the inside once it starts.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0514171706%20-%20Copy_zpsohfekuuk.jpg)

Then to further prevent rust, I hosed the inside with POR-15 using a little harbor freight detail gun.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0514171832%20-%20Copy_zpsadk2hdkn.jpg)

Now, the only welder I have is a little DC inverter buzz box stick welder, which is really not the ideal tool for welding 16 gauge sheet which is what that area is. So I dragged some rusty scrap I had out and did some practice and did some welds I was quite proud of
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0515171443%20-%20Copy_zps4egqzybr.jpg)

With renewed confidence in my welding equipment, I cut a piece of clean 16 gauge to fit over the repair area and booger welded it into place
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0515171646a%20-%20Copy_zpsprfdutvt.jpg)

Then I promptly forgot how to weld and did some of the sloppiest stitching I've ever done.  :banghead:
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0515171739%20-%20Copy_zpsrhwo9lbp.jpg)

Its ugly as sin, but it's not going anywhere. In an attempt to make it look less hideous I shmooed over the whole bead with some JB weld. Hopefully once I squirt some paint on it, it wont look so bad. Maybe I'll hit it with seam sealer before that too.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0515171754%20-%20Copy_zpsinwcn7a8.jpg)

On a brighter note, something special showed up for me at the local Advance Auto! (http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0515171340_zpsxteuswdd.jpg)

Ended up going with an ATK 4.0 crate motor, Interestingly ATK doesn't really care that it's going in an '87 Eagle (instead of a '93 Cherokee which is what I had them look it up under) as far as the warranty goes, so I'm good on that end for 3 years or 100k. Originally I was going to try to find a used 4.0 but everyone around here wanted crazy money for high mileage motors so I figured I'd spring for factory fresh.


Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: eaglefreek on May 16, 2017, 10:12:32 AM
I wish there was a like button. This is the time to take care of  anything you can think of in the engine bay.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: vangremlin on May 17, 2017, 12:56:45 PM
Very cool!  Can't wait to see what's in the box!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: amarshall on May 17, 2017, 01:33:09 PM
More please!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: Prafeston on May 18, 2017, 03:54:53 AM
Nice work springing for the crate motor. Can't wait to see how that looks in there!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on May 21, 2017, 11:21:39 PM
Lots of work done today. Didn't quite get the engine in, but I'm pretty close. I was having some trouble getting it lined up with the bell housing. If anyone has any tips or tricks on that account I'd be happy to hear them :help:

What I did get done today was getting the new crate motor all dressed up and I actually got really lucky in that I appear to have dodged two of the biggest hang ups I've heard of regarding the 4.0 swap. First of all the boss's for the axle bracket on the back of the block were already tapped  :hello2: So that saved me a lot of work, but even better the motor mount/diff bracket on the driver side on my eagle (and maybe this applies to all late '87 and 88 eagles) is different than others I've seen and appears to be made to accommodate the 4.0 block. I didn't have to grind down that rib on the block, nor did I have to grind the bracket to fit, it just bolted right up. My guess is in late production they were gearing up to switch the eagles to the 4.0 in the event that production continued so they engineered a bracket that would fit both engines. (EDIT: You still have to do something about the bracket on the back of the motor, that one is not easily modified so grinding the block is probably the best option)

Here is my bracket:
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0521171328_zpsmith9tfc.jpg)

And here is a bracket TheDarkSideofWill on the JeepStrokers forum had to modify:
(http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ISScwRzLu1Q/UWweRx7Ek4I/AAAAAAAAA3A/goYEFRqICj8/s800/100_1884.JPG)

as you can see the bump where he had to grind is less pronounced on my 87's bracket. In these next pictures you can also see that the later one has an opening in it where the other one does not and a support brace which is in a completely different place.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0521171328a_zpsreuvez7t.jpg)
(http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8jDVRBQzIL8/UWweSaJnABI/AAAAAAAAA3M/q-rfb71EJg8/s800/100_1887.JPG)

Anyway, I thought that was kind of interesting, but here's some photos of shiny stuff  :blob1:

Here's a photo of the engine partially dressed. I had originally planned to paint the motor itself AMC blue and the valve cover black, but ATK had already painted it gloss black so now I'm doing the opposite. The valve cover currently on it is a junkyard 4.0 cover I cleaned up a while back, and it's on there were two bolts and no gasket  just to keep everything under it cleaned and undamaged during installation. Now that I know it fits, I'll be installing the original 258 aluminum cover I have, but only after I've primed the oil pump and ensured the valve-train is getting oil prior to first start up.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0521171318a_zpsgonecnup.jpg)

Speaking of the 258 valve cover, I've painted and cleaned it and it's ready to go:
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0521171318b_zpsx0jqyxfm.jpg)

Actually, a lot of painting went on today. I try to get it done between other tasks so I had this little assembly line going
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0521171318_zpsjpn3tcto.jpg)

Here's a photo of the oil pickup screen. That was a bit of the pain in the butt as the special tool to install them appears to be made of unobtainium in Northern VA. Luckily my Dad was able to get ahold of one so I didnt have to keep goofing off trying to 'freeze it smaller' with an upside can of duster gas. (That trick totally does work for removing dizzy's on old EFI fords though, ask me how I know  8) )
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/0521171155_zpssnvacjfh.jpg)

Not sure why I didn't get one of the engine fully dressed, it looks a lot more complete with the oil pan, the flex plate and the harmonic balancer installed. I'll make sure to snap one tomorrow, although now that it's in the the bay you can really see those parts that well.

Anyway that's all for now, hopefully I'll be reporting back tomorrow with news that it's fully installed!









 
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: eaglefreek on May 22, 2017, 09:08:14 AM
I prefer to remove and install the engine with the transmission attached. It's much easier to align the transmission to the engine with it out of the car. Usually the biggest issue with not being able to get the bellhousing to mate to the engine, is the torque converter not being seated properly in the pump. DO NOT try to force the engine  and bellhousing together with bolts. If it doesn't go together don't force it, you'll ruin the transmission.  First make sure there isn't a pilot bearing in the end of the crank not allowing the converter to go into the end of the crank. To make sure the the torque converter is seated, you will have to rotate it and push on it and wiggle it. I pull it out to confirm it slides in. You should feel like 2 clunks when it's properly seated. Sometimes they are a bear to seat.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on June 10, 2017, 09:02:54 PM
I'm ALIVE!!!!

Sorry I know I just kind of fell off the face of the earth there for a bit, but with the move and all I had a lot going on, then it took a while to get internet set up at the new place (I now work for a kind and generous ISP and wanted to wait for the perks to kick in because I'm a cheap skate)

Unfortunately I did not have the eagle road-ready in time to make the trip, so it got trailer'd out here by the penske truck with all my stuff in it. The motor is in it but I still have to run vacuum lines, find TDC and stab the dizzy. I also decided to go HEI to simplify things a bit, and that's on order and should be here in a few days.

I do have pictures of a lot more of the process to upload (including some fab work I did on the REAR front diff to block bracket to make it work without having to grind the block) but I have to recover them off my old cellphone that decided to die the day before I left.

For now here's the Eagle in my lovely new two car garage:
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/IMG_5649_zpso2vrevua.jpg)

and an under the hood shot:
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/IMG_5646_zps8rvyyxrw.jpg)

and another (which by the way, I totally recommend buying a sketchy ebay header for anyone else doing this swap, being made out of thin stainless makes them ideal for reshaping with a hammer. I think the two part kind for doing dual exhaust might be ever better still because it should give more options for clearance.
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag439/djohnston89/IMG_5648_zps5jdb7b1v.jpg)
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: Prafeston on June 18, 2017, 02:21:10 PM
beautiful! Can I have that engine bay!
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: djohnston89 on November 28, 2017, 04:05:39 PM
Finally got around to editing the mountain of go-pro footage from the engine swap down to a watchable montage and got things together here in CO to do more episodes!  :blob1:

It's nice to get the momentum back after being preoccupied with other things the last few months, can't wait to get this thing on the road :D

https://youtu.be/pE0jZMOl6JE

Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: mudkicker715 on November 28, 2017, 06:36:34 PM
Nice.
Title: Re: Engine Swap and a Road Trip? Yes Please.
Post by: eaglefreek on November 29, 2017, 08:04:05 AM
Good job. I'm jealous of your Milwaukee impact, but you need to get rid of the adjustable wrenches. I call them rounder wrenches because they do a good job of rounding of nuts and bolts. Waiting to hear it start up.