Pirate 4x4 banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

1983 Toyota Engine Swap - Mustang 5.0

Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 45 Posts
#21 ·
SeaBass44 said:
SMOG LEGAL IS NOT THAT HARD
+ you end up with a good running motor, usually EFI that outperforms a carb on side hills 99.999% of the time:smokin:
you also have much better resale value:grinpimp:
I don't look at most rigs 4sale if not smogged....might as well be a parts rig, & there worth proportional:eek:
Click to expand...
My rig runs awesome, efi , couldnt be happier, Dont plan on selling it anytime soon, it will pass smog if i wanted , having it reg. in a non-smog county just means i can save the $70 a year for smog and the headache of taking it down there and dealing with those people.
 
#22 ·
NORCALFJ40 said:
My rig runs awesome, efi , couldnt be happier, Dont plan on selling it anytime soon, it will pass smog if i wanted , having it reg. in a non-smog county just means i can save the $70 a year for smog and the headache of taking it down there and dealing with those people.
Click to expand...
damn!
smog here is $35 every 2 years:smokin:
 
#25 ·
workinprogresslol said:
i only have to smog if im going to sell it.
Click to expand...
and that is the time you want it worth the most $$ possiable
smog legal swap is worth buying, unless you are selling as a green sticker off road only..
 
#27 ·
workinprogresslol said:
I don't ever plan on selling this vehicle outside of my group of friends or my 4x4 club. I will probably end up just green stickering it if it comes down to that.
Click to expand...
cool
still have to smog to sell to a friend:D
might not have to smog to sell to a family member
 
#28 ·
Cool idea, but here are my critiques:

1. Engine mounts are WEAK. 3/8's plate with no gussets welded to the top of the frame? You will fatigue those in a hurry and drop your engine on the front axle driving that around. Rebuild them with tubing 2x2x.125 wall should be fine as long as the frame is plated and gussetted. I will add some pictures of how I built mine later today.

2. Transmission crossmember is hacked. It's too thin, too narrow, mounted poorly and will likely bend. Rethink it and rebuild it with something stronger.

3. Carburetors suck so I don't condone the shortcut you took. Wiring EFI is not that hard. It's a total of 7 wires you need to hook up on to the chassis wiring outside of the EFI harness.

4. Electric fans will not be sufficient to cool that 302. You would be better served with an engine-driven mechanical. As a SBF owner I can tell you that this engine needs a shrouded mechanical fan to stay cool on the trail.


Overall, I like the idea behind this build, but there are some hack shortcuts that seriously bite into the potential reliability of this setup. Take your time, and try not to take the easy way out of fabrication and you will end up with a properly-built vehicle.
 
#30 ·
I like it I think its a sweet swap, I am putting a 302 in my 94 ranger and I can only imagine how much of a shoehorn it must be to fit it in the engine bay of a yota!!

I agree that you made some "hack" shortcuts however, that crossmember is ugly lookin and you should just go flat bottom if your going through this much work, just make the damn crossmember flat and hack the cab if you have to.


Also carbs just need a little lovin to get them to work correctly thats all, they do not suck, they are just not something you can forget about like EFI.

You gotta tune them and then possibly once in the winter and once in the summer but its not much, EFI is a pain in the ass to wire up so I feel ya on going with a carb, its old school but it works and is simple lol
 
#31 ·
FordFascist said:
4. Electric fans will not be sufficient to cool that 302. You would be better served with an engine-driven mechanical. As a SBF owner I can tell you that this engine needs a shrouded mechanical fan to stay cool on the trail.
Click to expand...

Shenanigans... depending on the radiator.

I have a 91 5.0 in my 68 Cougar. I run a bone stock aluminum radiator out of a 91 Tbird with a single 14" electric fan on a thermostat. Even driving it around town on a 105* day, it NEVER gets hot... rarely gets over 190*
 
Discussion starter · #32 · (Edited)
Like I said earlier, we are going to be gusseting every mount before they are tested.

We are going to have one fan on the outside pushing air, and one on the inside pulling air.

Have spent over 2 months on it so far so I have not been thinking about what "shortcuts" I could take.

The carb was the cost efficient way for me to run this swap with what I had available.

Will post more pics today.
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
Everything has been cut out, the pictures are lagging way behind where we actually are. The truck is already running. Just having to modify the clutch and the hood to allow for the size difference of the radiator.

Image


Image

Image


Cleaned up the axel and frame and put new leaf springs on the front of the truck that gave if a huge lift.
Image
 
#38 · (Edited)
You guys just cut out the rad support? With the 302 you should have no problem getting that rad in without having to cut it up. I have an 83 with a small block and currently working on a 90 runner with the 5.7 chevy and the hood closes with no problem

By the way that trans crossmember is shit
 
21 - 40 of 45 Posts
About this Discussion
44 Replies
25 Participants
Last post:
porterwagner
Pirate 4x4
posts
19M
members
378K
Since
2000
A forum community dedicated to custom off-road vehicle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about trail reports, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, fabrication, drivetrain, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General 4x4 Discussions Toyota - Truck and 4Runner Vehicles & Trailers Classifieds Axles,Tires & Wheels Classifieds Jeep - Hardcore Tech