I am a novice at mechanics, could I do a engine swap?
Discussion
Yes!
Everyone begins as a novice and you can only properly learn from experience. Get hold of a project and get stuck in. It will be difficult and it'll take much longer than predicted but you'll learn loads and have real satisfaction.
With the current situation, there's plenty of time to take it slowly and work out what you want to do. Make sure you read up on the internet about the specific engine and car you get before hand to look for common problems/advice. Also get hold of some decent tools. An engine crane and stand will make it easier to manipulate and allow you to enjoy working on the engine.
I started a couple of years ago by buying a tool set and an old Porsche. Last week I helped a mate engine swap his old BMW. Get stuck in and enjoy yourself!
Everyone begins as a novice and you can only properly learn from experience. Get hold of a project and get stuck in. It will be difficult and it'll take much longer than predicted but you'll learn loads and have real satisfaction.
With the current situation, there's plenty of time to take it slowly and work out what you want to do. Make sure you read up on the internet about the specific engine and car you get before hand to look for common problems/advice. Also get hold of some decent tools. An engine crane and stand will make it easier to manipulate and allow you to enjoy working on the engine.
I started a couple of years ago by buying a tool set and an old Porsche. Last week I helped a mate engine swap his old BMW. Get stuck in and enjoy yourself!
You'll be fine. I reckon there are only three fundamental skills of mechanical work:
- undoing rusted fastenings
- undoing and redoing fastenings that are hidden or inaccessible
- not losing pieces or forgetting where they go
The rest is just time, patience, and access to the right tools.
- undoing rusted fastenings
- undoing and redoing fastenings that are hidden or inaccessible
- not losing pieces or forgetting where they go
The rest is just time, patience, and access to the right tools.
Depends what car.
Depends what info is available.
Tools you can buy or borrow.
On my own with no help.
I replaced an engine in a Spitfire in 1985. Easy.
I replaced an engine in a polo in 1998. Easy.
I reckon the hardest car related job I've ever done, is replace a lower rear engine mount on a mk4 escort.
Or perhaps a head gasket on a cavalier. Mainly due to not having the right tools and advice. HBOL is not enough.
Depends what info is available.
Tools you can buy or borrow.
On my own with no help.
I replaced an engine in a Spitfire in 1985. Easy.
I replaced an engine in a polo in 1998. Easy.
I reckon the hardest car related job I've ever done, is replace a lower rear engine mount on a mk4 escort.
Or perhaps a head gasket on a cavalier. Mainly due to not having the right tools and advice. HBOL is not enough.
Pit Pony said:
Depends what car.
Depends what info is available.
Tools you can buy or borrow.
On my own with no help.
I replaced an engine in a Spitfire in 1985. Easy.
I replaced an engine in a polo in 1998. Easy.
I reckon the hardest car related job I've ever done, is replace a lower rear engine mount on a mk4 escort.
Or perhaps a head gasket on a cavalier. Mainly due to not having the right tools and advice. HBOL is not enough
Depends what info is available.
Tools you can buy or borrow.
On my own with no help.
I replaced an engine in a Spitfire in 1985. Easy.
I replaced an engine in a polo in 1998. Easy.
I reckon the hardest car related job I've ever done, is replace a lower rear engine mount on a mk4 escort.
Or perhaps a head gasket on a cavalier. Mainly due to not having the right tools and advice. HBOL is not enough
ain't that the truth. With forum knowledge, YouTube etc. it's a different ballgame these days.
I would suggest starting with taking apart and reassembling some of the more simple bits first, just to get your confidence up. You may begin to feel a bit overwhelmed if you tear down a whole engine bay as your first job!
top tip - use sandwich bags to hold screws/fasteners that are related, together. Also use thick cardboard and "poke" larger bolts through it in relation to its' real world position in the engine bay/component. You can also use a marker pen to draw/write on the board.
As already stated, it's not difficult to carry out engine swap - with enough time, patience and lubricant anything is possible
As already stated, it's not difficult to carry out engine swap - with enough time, patience and lubricant anything is possible
I rebuilt a number of 2 stoke engines in my student days, and pretty much guessed most things. My RD350LC ended up at 375 cc because I knew the grooves were deep and eventually got to speak to the importer of the pistons who explained how I could offset bore the wall. (That is a light cut on one side and 3mm off on the other where the groove was). The tool maker who did the boring for me, was a contact from my year in industry and his first words on seeing the barrels was "great, something worth fixing for once"
Go for it!
As long as you have the will & a selection of common tools (sockets, spanners, bits) go for it - it's a great task for familiarising you self with everything under the bonnet.
At 17 I managed to build a new tuned engine for my car & upgrade it from a 1.6 carb at 90bhp to 2.0 EFI at 170bhp, the short block was built as it had been at a tuner, same with the head, but other than that I did the whole lot myself & it started 1st turn on completion. It's not as difficult as you might imagine & I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.
I didn't have anyone to help if things didn't go to plan, but I did have a Haynes manual & wouldn't have attempted it without it.
A car with a reasonable amount of under bonnet space & without too much wiring / plumbing would make the 1st swap easier.
As long as you have the will & a selection of common tools (sockets, spanners, bits) go for it - it's a great task for familiarising you self with everything under the bonnet.
At 17 I managed to build a new tuned engine for my car & upgrade it from a 1.6 carb at 90bhp to 2.0 EFI at 170bhp, the short block was built as it had been at a tuner, same with the head, but other than that I did the whole lot myself & it started 1st turn on completion. It's not as difficult as you might imagine & I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.
I didn't have anyone to help if things didn't go to plan, but I did have a Haynes manual & wouldn't have attempted it without it.
A car with a reasonable amount of under bonnet space & without too much wiring / plumbing would make the 1st swap easier.
I have learnt how to remove & replace engines on a 2006 Suzuki Swift Sport.
Blown head gasket was the impetus.
Did the clutch, water pump, engine mounts and cam chain as it was out.
Get a cordless ratchet something like a Milwaukee M12FIR38 before you start, you will appreciate it very quickly.
Like the others have said; photos, bags and labels are essential.
Take your time will electrical connectors and see if the whole engine loom can be detached.
Blown head gasket was the impetus.
Did the clutch, water pump, engine mounts and cam chain as it was out.
Get a cordless ratchet something like a Milwaukee M12FIR38 before you start, you will appreciate it very quickly.
Like the others have said; photos, bags and labels are essential.
Take your time will electrical connectors and see if the whole engine loom can be detached.
So wait - youre a novice?
You have few tools
You dont have a garage
Do you have a flat driveway with a good metre of space around the front of the car?
What car?
Some cars the engine and gearbox comes out the bonnet together. Some cars you remove the whole front suspension and engine and lift the body of the car over it. Some cars you pull the bumper and yank just the engine out the front.
If you have very little experience working on cars - you are not going to find this enjoyable. Your ability to overcome hurdles such as stuck fasteners, mess, order of operations and parts aqusition will be tested. And this assumes you are doing a like-for-like swap (right?)
I'd also suggest starting with a motorbike, or perhaps a 90's / 2000's small engined fwd hatch that some 17 year old has ran out of coolant.
Also, this is not really a job for the neurotic. If you cant organise yourself in a way where you arent tripping over nuts and bolts, loosing brackets, putting down tools and not being able to retreive them quickly, you arent going to be having the most enjoyable of a time.
Theres a reason this is a job and they have to pay people to do it!
If youre as mad as the rest of us, get cracking, and post pictures
You have few tools
You dont have a garage
Do you have a flat driveway with a good metre of space around the front of the car?
What car?
Some cars the engine and gearbox comes out the bonnet together. Some cars you remove the whole front suspension and engine and lift the body of the car over it. Some cars you pull the bumper and yank just the engine out the front.
If you have very little experience working on cars - you are not going to find this enjoyable. Your ability to overcome hurdles such as stuck fasteners, mess, order of operations and parts aqusition will be tested. And this assumes you are doing a like-for-like swap (right?)
I'd also suggest starting with a motorbike, or perhaps a 90's / 2000's small engined fwd hatch that some 17 year old has ran out of coolant.
Also, this is not really a job for the neurotic. If you cant organise yourself in a way where you arent tripping over nuts and bolts, loosing brackets, putting down tools and not being able to retreive them quickly, you arent going to be having the most enjoyable of a time.
Theres a reason this is a job and they have to pay people to do it!
If youre as mad as the rest of us, get cracking, and post pictures
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