3400 Swap Complete -- Check it out!

[bszopi]

Oh, if you only knew how much easier (and cheaper) it would have been!!! Unfortunately, I don't own an angle grinder (just a die grinder), but I may be buying one soon. So let's see, where to start....

Had to pulley the crank pulleies off of both engines. Well, on the 3400, I forgot to put the cone piece on the end of the puller and managed to screw up the threads inside the crank. Yeah, not good... We got both front covers off just fine and the gasket on the 3400 was almost 100% intact, so Brian and I figured it would be fine to reuse it. Let's just say I hope we're right! When we had the cover off the 3100, did a little inspection. The timing chain was loose as hell!!! And I just replaced it, what, not even 2 years ago when I replaced the cam? That kinda worried me. Pull the lifters and cam. Well, everything looked fine, so maybe it was just a bad lifter. Oh well... the 3400 will still be more reliable. Anyway, started getting stuff put onto the 3400, and then the power went out. After it was out for ~30 minutes, Brian decided he was going to head home. I decided to go to Sears (20 min away) and get a rethreading kit. I also decided to buy a tap and die set while I was there... just in case I had to use that also, and because I could use it around the garage . So there was $235 more dollars. Got back about 15 minutes ago. So obviously the power is back on (yea!! ) and the rethreader worked, so I am back in business. Gonna have lunch and then it'll be just about time to finish buttoning up the 3400 and get it installed. Hopefully next time I post the engine will be in the car and about ready to start.

Oh yeah, did I mention it's raining like a mofo out here and I think the alternator on the Suburban is what is actually the culprit for the dead battery yesterday? Geez... what a year I've been having so far...

[brian89gp]

Damn, I should've stayed. I didn't think that would be re-threadable.

[bszopi]

Well, its not getting started today... It's almost all the way put back together. I was just getting ready to install the fuel rail when I noticed one of the O-rings was torn. Figured I could just steal one from the other rail, but the Multec2's have a much different oring setup. And being 8pm on a Sunday night, there isn't a damn thing open around here. Oh well... I'm about sick of this thing right now anyway. I don't know how many times I had to remove something after just finishing installing it because of a routing problem with the next thing I was trying to do. I'll take a few more pics after I get the garage straightened up some, cause right now its an absolute pigstigh!!

[skalor]

I don't know how many times I had to remove something after just finishing installing it because of a routing problem with the next thing I was trying to do.

Tell me about it, I'm doing a getrag 284 swap into my TGP and I can't tell you how many times that happened to me today.

[wiccanferret]

Rooting for ya zopi. If I had a garage, I would prolly be doing the same thing. Having to replace the oil pan on a 225k mile 3100 sucks, but it's the only option I have right now because I don't have anyone close that I could trust to put it in. And I'm SURE not gonna put another 3100 in it after all you guys have blazed the trail to the 3400.

[wiccanferret]

Well, did you give up? Break it? Throw it away?

[XLR8ING]

WOOHOOO........happy to finally hear about the swap Brad!!!
Sounds like it's going reasonably well.
Just a quick update for you. We're in the new house, but still don't have internet access at home, so I only get limited access at work. Internet is suppose to be on next week at the new house, so keep an eye on MSN for me.
Later

[bszopi]

As far as the progress on the engine, I have no spare time at the beginning of every week. Mon, Wed and Fri all consist of leaving the house at 7:15 for school, leaving school and 1:30 and going straight to work, and then getting off work at 10 and going home, at which point I do homework and try to spend some time with the fiance and kid. Tues consists of being at school from 8am till 8pm. That pretty much leaves Thurs after 1pm as my free time during the week. Needless to say, as soon as I get out of class today, I'm going home and working on the car. I am hoping to have it running by dinner time. I'll let everyone know how its going.

[bszopi]

I hate my fucking car...

Just basically finished putting everything back together, and started filling up all the fluids. Well, wouldn't you know it... the damn front cover is leaking. Guess I should have just bought a new gasket instead of trying to penny pinch. I really don't have any urge to pull this damn thing back out, but it's pretty much impossible to replace that gasket in the car. Anyone have any ideas?

[Canada]

Damn......thats a lot of stuff to tear back down for that......and to torque everything back together correctly in-the car would be a bitch.

Well......glad to see you doing the swap....it looks familar.

[bszopi]

Car started up just fine, but the leak went from a drop a second to 3 steady streams. So I'm gonna have to replace the damn gasket. Not very happy about it. Contemplating dropping the subframe and trying that route to get the front cover off... Its worth a try and would save from having to pull all the other crap out.

[bszopi]

Well, I'm quitting for the night, but here is the latest picture...



Ended up dropping the subframe and it looks like I'll be able to get to all the bolts (and be able to torque them back down) without having to pull the engine. So I guess that's a good thing. Just wish I would have replaced it the first time. Was in town getting parts anyway... Oh well.

I might get a chance to work on it tomorrow when I get home from work (~10:45pm), but I'll probably just wait until Saturday morning to do it. Everything hopefully will go back together nice and easy. By doing it this way, I didn't need to disconnect anything. I just make sure to keep it in the lowered position as little as possible so that I don't put too much strain on any possible wires, tubing, etc...

[Canada]

Remember to use RTV sealant on the lower tabs of the timing cover.

Do you need torque specs? or do you have a service manual in your grasp?

[v6h.o.]

you will be able to get that cover off brad.

yes like Canada said. make sure you get RTV on the area where the pan and block and timing cover mate.

and dont forget thread sealant on the front cover bolts that go into the coolant passages.

[95BlackRoseZ26]

Just to let anyone else who might do this know, a die grinder will work to take that extra stud off the 3400 cover. For mine, I used a cut-off wheel on the die grinder then smoothed it down with a sanding stone on the grinder. I'm dealing with the same kinda stuff in my swap right now though. I'm stuck trying to change my exhaust gasket on the rear manifold now that the engines in the car...what a pita...