LUVTruck.com

I got the '79 4x4 back and have decided that I might as well go ahead and install the engine I have here. It's a G180, marked '77' and is out of a 2x truck.

I know the clutch and oil pan need to be swapped over. Anything else?

What is the best way to connect the engine to the cherry picker? I've been looking at the spare engine, and I can't see any really solid lift points. I plan to drop the engine in with at least the intake installed so I don't have to mess with the plumbing too much.

The engine I have has a broken brace from the rear of the block to the front of the clutch cover. It looks like this should switch over, but I'd like to have the '77 engine ready to drop in without swapping a whole bunch of stuff from one to the other. If anyone has one of these, let me know what you want for it. I'd also like to have another 4x4 oil pan to put on the engine before I pull the old one. I'll post this in the classifieds also.

Thanks for any tips

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

I did this within the last month. Clutch and oil pan are the only things that I replaced.

As far as cherry picker mounting points...I used chain on the hoist and then found two sizable bolts, one by the transmission housing and one on the opposite side of the engine on the front. The bolts went though the chain and then into the engine. Worked for me. I had the chain laying around but I'm pretty sure you can buy it for like 10 dollars.

You can also use an intake bolt in the front and an exhaust bolt in the rear of the engine to lift it with a chain, and if you drain the oil first and wait untll it's in to fill it, it's a lot lighter.

I also got a cheap engine leveler from harbor freight which makes it a lot easier to tilt the engine up or down so you can get it in easier.

You might as well clean it up, slap on a few new gaskets and seals, and squirt some fresh paint on it while you got the engine out too.

Thanks Taz, fixer_up. I'm not very excited about the whole thing, but economics dictate I get one of these trucks on the road. Still battling the '78 and it's pretty much got me beat...

For the block do I need to use high temp paint? I have some Chevy blue here, and I think a couple cans of Saab Silver. I plan to clean the intake up, but I'm curious if I should clear coat it or not? Stock exhaust manifold will probably be where I end up spending money for paint, but I think I might have a can of that brush on aluma/silver stuff from JC Whitney...

I'm guessing the oil pan currently on the 4x4 is bent from overtightening. Any tricks for straigtening it out? Are the bolt holes indented or is the lip flat? Can I lay it on a 2x4, or a sand bag to straighten it?

After working with ctmandu on the intake plumbing, I'm planning to put the intake coolant hoses on before the engine goes in, unless you guys recommend otherwise.

Thanks again. If I can get one of these put together maybe the wife will let me out of the doghouse. It's getting chilly out there at night.

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

Use an old seat belt.

Feed it down between the 3 & 4 runner on the inlet and bring it round out the back hard against the block (so you dont squash the heater hose fittings) and around the front exhaust runner. Tie it in a good knot on the top of the rocker.

Seatbelts are nice and strong. They will hold some fat bastard that weighs as much as a motor in their seat in a smash.

Its common for wreckers/breakers to do this in yards.


Dont paint alloy with clear. It goes all yellow and yuk.


Bob.

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Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.

Thanks guys. Good stuff.

I really like the seat belt idea

In order to put the engine on a stand, I'll need to pull the clutch that's on it. I don't have a clutch alignment tool to put the 4x4 clutch on the flywheel. Can I use a socket or something to line it up? What O/D do I need?

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

You can get a tool from any tranny shop or go to the parts store the sell the alignment tool on the shelf.

Any parts store that sells you a clutch disc will have a free one included in the box.

BTW..ridgway369 - FFS fix your avatar...it's a bit huge don't you think?

What? My avatar is the same size as everyones.

LOL...thanks for fixing it.

It was really screwing up the size of the posts.

But don't feel bad....it happens a lot and usually the staff has to fix it.

Was it big? I haven't changed any thing.The avatar didn't show up as oversize to me? ow well

Yeah...it was freakin' huge and was shoving the text off of the screen on every thread you were posting in.

Someone else on the staff must have fixed it if you didn't.

Who ever it was....Thanks!

You dont need an alignment tool.


Whn your puttin the clutch on, line the outside of the cluch disc up with the outside of the pressure plate. If they are concentric the clutch is lined up.

I dont think you actually have to swap the pan over.


Bob.

_________________
Current project, 1979 KB Isuzu Ute.

Daily driver, '86 Rodeo Spacecab.
Chasing parts for Isuzu Impulse.