T3CH83
Junior Member
I scored a parts truck roller with no body or engine harness that was a 1989 LA318/727 with tbi and the necessary mounting brackets off of craigslist for $200. The guy only needed the cab.
I plan on doing a mild build on the engine before swapping based on a mixture of two popular hotrod.com articles:
Junkyard Jewel:400hp 318 https://www.google.com/amp/www.hotrod.com/articles/318-small-block-build/amp/ and
318 Engine Build – A Parts Book 400HP 318 https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0409-318-engine-build/amp/
I've already got the 302 swirl port heads on my donor 318 so I plan on attempting a home port job upgrading the valves to the larger 2.02/1.60 with a set of Milodon street valves. However, on the bottom end, I plan upgrading the pistons with hypereutectic 318 pistons (KB 167) and moly rings once I take the block to get inspected/ assessed for bore wear, hot tanked, and zero decked. So for this setup, I would zero deck the block as opposed to the head milling. I also plan on using the Comp Xtreme Energy 268, 224/230 degrees of duration at 0.050 with a 110-degree lobe separation angle and 0.477/0.480-inch lift to make some power. For induction I plan on going with a new eddy performer RPM air gap 7576 from summit and a Demon Carburetion Street Demon Carburetor (1901). For exhaust, Hedman Street Headers 79080 leading to Summit Racing[emoji768] Universal Rod Builder Exhaust Kits SUM-670146 with Flowmaster Super 10 Series Mufflers 842515 exiting before the rear tires, out the sides. The biggest issues / questions that I forsee running into:
1) Going 3.9 tbi wiring to carburetor leaves so many gaps it seems like I may be forgetting something.. I've got nothing from the donor truck electronically except for the distributor, which for all I know, might need replaced as well and with a new coil, etc, or ignition system altogether.
2) Will the original 727 behind the old la 3.9 work (linkage and all) or should I roll the dice on the 727 already mated to the 1989 la318?
3) I'm pretty sure I will need a fuel pressure regulator but aside from that obvious bit, any suggestions in routing / fabing up a working fuel system. I've just recently replaced the fuel pump / sending unit and the fuel gauge came back to life and truck starts without issue.
4) Can I swap over the front of the la 3.9 v6 (timing cover, brackets, water neck) and use all existing accessories / brackets? The old R-12 ac still works great and was carefully planning on laying everything over to the side during the swap. This way, if it will work, I can retain the serpentine belt system and just swap crank pulleys.
I intend to use the truck as an occasional daily driver, an occasional light hauler, and primarily for weekend cruising fun or to haul a motorbike around in short distances. This will be my first engine build, first engine swap, and first project vehicle so I hope the experience teaches me well. Please drop by any feedback, knowledge, suggestions, comments, anything you think might help as I'm fairly certain even after late nights Googling research that I'm not considering something or leaving something out. Thanks for the add!
I plan on doing a mild build on the engine before swapping based on a mixture of two popular hotrod.com articles:
Junkyard Jewel:400hp 318 https://www.google.com/amp/www.hotrod.com/articles/318-small-block-build/amp/ and
318 Engine Build – A Parts Book 400HP 318 https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0409-318-engine-build/amp/
I've already got the 302 swirl port heads on my donor 318 so I plan on attempting a home port job upgrading the valves to the larger 2.02/1.60 with a set of Milodon street valves. However, on the bottom end, I plan upgrading the pistons with hypereutectic 318 pistons (KB 167) and moly rings once I take the block to get inspected/ assessed for bore wear, hot tanked, and zero decked. So for this setup, I would zero deck the block as opposed to the head milling. I also plan on using the Comp Xtreme Energy 268, 224/230 degrees of duration at 0.050 with a 110-degree lobe separation angle and 0.477/0.480-inch lift to make some power. For induction I plan on going with a new eddy performer RPM air gap 7576 from summit and a Demon Carburetion Street Demon Carburetor (1901). For exhaust, Hedman Street Headers 79080 leading to Summit Racing[emoji768] Universal Rod Builder Exhaust Kits SUM-670146 with Flowmaster Super 10 Series Mufflers 842515 exiting before the rear tires, out the sides. The biggest issues / questions that I forsee running into:
1) Going 3.9 tbi wiring to carburetor leaves so many gaps it seems like I may be forgetting something.. I've got nothing from the donor truck electronically except for the distributor, which for all I know, might need replaced as well and with a new coil, etc, or ignition system altogether.
2) Will the original 727 behind the old la 3.9 work (linkage and all) or should I roll the dice on the 727 already mated to the 1989 la318?
3) I'm pretty sure I will need a fuel pressure regulator but aside from that obvious bit, any suggestions in routing / fabing up a working fuel system. I've just recently replaced the fuel pump / sending unit and the fuel gauge came back to life and truck starts without issue.
4) Can I swap over the front of the la 3.9 v6 (timing cover, brackets, water neck) and use all existing accessories / brackets? The old R-12 ac still works great and was carefully planning on laying everything over to the side during the swap. This way, if it will work, I can retain the serpentine belt system and just swap crank pulleys.
I intend to use the truck as an occasional daily driver, an occasional light hauler, and primarily for weekend cruising fun or to haul a motorbike around in short distances. This will be my first engine build, first engine swap, and first project vehicle so I hope the experience teaches me well. Please drop by any feedback, knowledge, suggestions, comments, anything you think might help as I'm fairly certain even after late nights Googling research that I'm not considering something or leaving something out. Thanks for the add!
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