1986 300zx Engine Swap

[jdkirkham1]

Last year, my son purchased an 86 300zx 2+2, non-turbo with 200k+ miles. It was a car that had sat for 6-7 years. The guy he bought it from took it and got it “running” running in the sense of idling in the driveway and driving up and down the road a little. When my son started driving it regularly, little things started to pop up and we replaced. Earlier last month, his water pump went out. In the process of replacing the water pump, we messed up the timing belt and bent the valves. I purchased an engine from an 85 300zx with 75k. I am beginning the process of switching the engines. I am looking for advice, pointers, and comments. I have NEVER done an engine swap. What all would you do while doing this job. Thanks in advance, dk.

[evildky]

Not much to it, going back with the same engine makes things pretty simple. The air piping is old and hard and makes wrestling those bits kinda laborious. I assume you don't have a lift which is fine as form my own experience these engines go out the top easier. Leave the trans in the car, you can wrap a ratchet strap under the bellhousing and hook it on the lip above the firewall to support the trans. Obviously a good time to do the clutch assuming it's a manual. The automatic's have a little adapter disk on the crankshaft, the manual uses a pilot bushing, so if your donor and project weren't both auto or both manual you'll have to swap that as well as the engine backing plate. Careful wiht the wiring harness connectors, they are old and brittle.

[BadQ45t]

Not surprised the water pump went out, when you do the timing belt you normally replace that part since your already in there. With the new donor engine you should see if there is any record of the timing belt being replaced. They need to be done every 60k or 10 year, my bet is that your donor is probably due. You don't want a repeat performance with the belt breaking after all that work. Also new cam seals at the same time are a good bet as those leak after time too.

My 84' is on its 6th timing belt now and will be due for the 10 year cycle in 2019.

[evildky]

definitely easier to do the belt, and waterpump out of the car and should definitely be done on an engine with an unknown service past, good idea to do the cam and crank seals, tensioner and whatever else too, much easier outside the car.