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i'm doing an engine swap, i need some advice. 

 

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 Post subject: i'm doing an engine swap, i need some advice.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:55 pm 
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ok well it looks like the EA is not selling for what i want so i guess this provides an excuse to have a propper crack at it. The clutch will need replacing in a year or so and the engine is on its way out, so i'm thinking of putting in a new engine.

i was thinking EF/EL

what is needed other than the engine itself - ie. will the standard alternator, power steering, etc etc etc fit.

i intend to run it off the EA ecu to start with, using the log manifold.

advice much appreciated.

also i will be ordering an HD clutch. I know the bolt patterns are different between EA and EL, what clutch do i order for the EL engine with EA box?

is EL the best choice? I was thinking AU but it limits me with cam choice.

also if i come across an EF engine, this would run coil rather than dizzy, is it as simple as just using an EF ecu and the rest is all bolt up as per a usual engine swap?

cheers on the advice

btw gearbox - 5 speed manual not auto if that makes a difference
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:10 pm 
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you will use a normal ea clutch, the motor doesn't matter as u will be using your ea flywheel.

The au's run a coil pack aswell, so you will have to convert it to distributor for it to run in your ea.
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:32 pm 
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ah yep, so would i be right in saying that el will be the best for ease of conversion?

and i can use my standard accessories - alternator, power steering etc?

and lastly can someone tell me the build date where the el had the au head? and would the el with au head have coil pack or dizzy.

cheers
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:00 pm 
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It's sound like you're going to do something similar to what i did in my XG. I wrote about it in the engine retrofit sticky.

If you don't need the car as a daily driver, and want to do the full conversion in the long run, i recommend making the extra time and effort and money to doing the full conversion first time around. The thought of going back into the engine bay to put things back that were there in the first place can be dispiriting for some.

 

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 Post subject: Re: i'm doing an engine swap, i need some advice.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:40 pm 
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mystery wrote:
i was thinking EF/EL


Good choice, but AU is also an option.


mystery wrote:
what is needed other than the engine itself - ie. will the standard alternator, power steering, etc etc etc fit.


Yes, you can do this, but you will also need to use the EA haronic balancer. There is a doco on this using an AU as a basis by Troyman.

mystery wrote:
i intend to run it off the EA ecu to start with, using the log manifold.

advice much appreciated.


I also intended to do this, but I honestly think there is just as much work to do it that way as it is to use the bbm setup. Read my thread re the engine change. I would be happy for you to drop by and check out the EB etc for you to get some ideas.

mystery wrote:
is EL the best choice? I was thinking AU but it limits me with cam choice.


Don't forget that Late EL used an AU head so make sure you know what you are buying.

mystery wrote:
also if i come across an EF engine, this would run coil rather than dizzy, is it as simple as just using an EF ecu and the rest is all bolt up as per a usual engine swap?


You would need to put in the EA dizzy, the same as if you used and AU block. The EF wiring is not compatible at all and the EF ECU is very different.

Hope that helps

Cheers
BenJ

 

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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:46 pm 
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cheers benJ that helps heaps.

i've read through the stickies a while back and must re-brief myself with all that is needed.

i'm a bit unsure of going AU/EF since i'd need a new ECU and finding one that is manual is gonna be hard, also will cost quite a lot which is why i thought EL engine with the EA ecu was the best idea.

could you elaborate on the bbm vs log manifold differences though? since i thought log manifold was far easier than having a bbm set up which doesn't provide much extra gain for what i thought was a lot more trouble.

i'd really appreciate it if i could drop by some time with a mate who (i hope) knows what he's doing to ask you a few questions and check out how you did the conversion. where abouts do you live?

hopefully we'll see a nice EL engine inside her with an HD clutch, and maybe a mild turbo set up in the not to distant future if everything goes right :)

cheers on the advice
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:46 am 
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i know there is a thread on an au conversion but it is a bit light on detail

i can get a decent au engine for a good price tomorrow if i want (270$)

apart from reshaping the k frame, can someone PLEASE elaborate on:

ecu issues - i can fit an au manual ecu? smartlock override? ef ecu?

dizzy vs coil pack issues?

wiring loom issues.

pretty much anything that isn't bolt on issues - electrical system work mainly

and i know this is a bit much to ask, but if anyone in the sydney region is willing to lend a hand should we run into trouble.

thankyou all for your time.

au engine:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FORD-FALCON-AU-E ... dZViewItem

no one steal it off me please!!

thinking of doing the head gasket and maybe porting the head before the engine is in the car

cheers
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:11 am 
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after doing some more research:

ea vs serpentine belt - pros/cons? prefer ea belts for ease and fact you can use ea accessories

intend to use log manifold at this stage based on ease of install and fact bbm requires new ecu

main question: completely confused about dizzy vs coil pack. benj said i can put in the ea dizzy and then i presume run it off the ea ecu? can someone elaborate on this process PLEASE.

troymans doco says to use an AU distributor for the coil pack ignition - would require an EF/AU ecu?

think for ease of install and cost EA dizzy in AU engine best for my circumstances, can anyone tell me how to do this

advice is GREATLY appreciated.
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:05 am 
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Use all the EA accessories.. but once you've had serpentine, you can't go back, it really is better.

Put your EA dizzy and everything else on the motor.. it works fine. they are the same block

If you have an EL motor.. just leave the standard dizzy and stuff in it... the engines are very similiar.
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:58 pm 
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ok thanks for that

what is it about the serpentine belt that makes it so much better than the ea belt?

also should have asked, should i replace anything while the engine is out? welsch plugs etc

all in all it looks like it isn't going to be too difficult
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:27 pm 
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If you snap an EA main belt.. you have to take the other 2 off first.. and its not a small job.

Also the serp belt is self tensioning and swapping one takes about a minute or so.. also they are less likely to squeal.
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:17 pm 
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Yep, serp belt FTW

 

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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:24 pm 
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ok thanks for all the advice, i will be buying an au motor this week.

just want people's opinions on this set up and what i could/should do better:

AU engine with dizzy from EA, standard EA intake manifold, running off EA ecu and standard EA belt set up

will do the BBM, serp belt etc when I buy an AU ECU if that time comes...

also if anyone has info on how to remove the coil pack set up and use my EA dizzy set up so it is EA ECU friendly, this is the one thing (well maybe the most of many things) that I am unsure of.

cheers
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