73 SIII engine swap...

[timkel74@msn.com]

Just bought a SIII with lots of extras. I have a rebuilt 2.25L that I would like to get into the truck and an overdrive for the tranny. Need to find a place in MA, NH, VT, CT area to do the work.

Any ideas??? Approximate cost?

[pickuprover]

Originally Posted by timkel74@msn.com

Just bought a SIII with lots of extras. I have a rebuilt 2.25L that I would like to get into the truck and an overdrive for the tranny. Need to find a place in MA, NH, VT, CT area to do the work.

Any ideas??? Approximate cost?

Cityside Garage in Boston area... talk to Brian, he would be able to sort you out... http://www.citysidegarage.com/ as well, if you go there, check out his DII modified with a series IIa bulkhead/front.... as for price, no idea.....

[timkel74@msn.com]

How about an opinion. the current engine has a knock once it comes to temp only when going from a standstill at the higher rpm. once I get up to speed it seems to go away. the rear main seal is leaking quite a bit and the previous owner said he would top off the oil and it would be gone in 2 to 3 days.

What to do??? I can roll the dice and use a heavier oil and some stop leak and see what happens, I could replace the rear main seal and run the current engine and see if that solves the issue with the knock, or replace the engine (and rear main seal) now.

I feel like I have a get out of jail free card and can experiment with this.

Whats your opinion?

[WineryRover]

Changing the motors isn't a bad job at all. If you have basic tools and can rent an engine hoist, you are all set (trust me, mine has been in and out a few more times than I care to admit). You could do the change out in a weekend easy, and you will know the truck much better and save you $$.

[timkel74@msn.com]

I do have a bunch of service manuals that came with it. I will look thru and see if it is something I want to take on.

I did get some feedback from another board, seems the engine swap and install of an overdrive should run me 800.00 to 1500.00. Sound reasonable???

[jimfoo]

Originally Posted by timkel74@msn.com

How about an opinion. the current engine has a knock once it comes to temp only when going from a standstill at the higher rpm. once I get up to speed it seems to go away. the rear main seal is leaking quite a bit and the previous owner said he would top off the oil and it would be gone in 2 to 3 days.

What to do??? I can roll the dice and use a heavier oil and some stop leak and see what happens, I could replace the rear main seal and run the current engine and see if that solves the issue with the knock, or replace the engine (and rear main seal) now.

I feel like I have a get out of jail free card and can experiment with this.

Whats your opinion?

Stop leak won't help if it leaks that badly. Heavier oil probably won't help much either as far as the leaking goes, but may quiet it down if it's the bearings going. If you replaced the rear main, you have to pull the tranny or pull the engine anyways. Is the knock pinging, which is more likely to happen at harder acceleration? How is the oil pressure if you have a gauge? If you did the rear main seal, I'd also do bearings and the front seal.

[timkel74@msn.com]

have not checked the oil pressure. It does knock or more like rap when you accelerate. after you let of the pedal it subsides.

Seems you think I should rebuild the current engine instead of putting in the rebuilt thats come with it.

[jimfoo]

Well, if it comes with a recently rebuilt engine, then I'd just swap them, then take my time rebuilding the other one, shaving the head, maybe porting it, doing gapless rings, 2.5 cam and new seals and bearings. Maybe figure out how to adapt the VW mechanical fuel injection to it.