Looking for somewhat of a wow factor, maybe. Evaluating my options as it looks like I'm going to go ahead ad body drop my truck right after I bag it. Won't be driving it til the spring time, so I am debating doing my motor swap in the process. Looking at my options, I am leaning toward one of the three. My concern, is, I want to keep a stock hood and don't want to section my oil pan. My three options are as follows 1. Rebuild stock 22re. Reliable, Decent on gas, but no WOW factor. 2. 1.6 VW Turbo Diesel. Super fuel economy, no off the line umph, but awesome sound and head turning ability. 3. Vortec 4.3. Probably ther most complicated, becuase I'd want to keep a stock hood. I don't know the height of this motor at the very front part, which would contact the hood first. Could someone help me out here? I'd want to keep fuel injections too. So these are my options. I plan to keep my stock auto tranny, so any of the three will work, just want something different, but on the other hand, I still want reliability. I still have all intentions of driving this truck!
pretty sure vortec 4.3 is outta the question with stock hood. they don't fit under a bodied s10 which can stuff 22's. the toys can barely take a 20 when bodied..
craigslist find on 4.3 swap equipment Chevy 4.3 vortec in a mid 80's Toyota 4x4 pickup! conversion parts
Don't want a 350, and rotary motors are a pita to work on. A vortec v6 is actually shorter at the most forward point than the Toyota I4, because of the v shape. The reason you can't fit 20s on a yota and 22s on a dime is because of the edge of the hood and top of the fenders, nothing to do with the center of the hood. I've built a few dimes and fullsizes. I think I'm going to be leaning toward the diesel. Advanced adapters make adapter plates to bolt any Chevy or Ford small block motor to the stock tranny. Some guys just need to do research before posting, or if you don't know, don't post. Not bashing anyone, but I know all three options are very possible, just trying to figure which would most people like to see done.
My favourite engine back in Europe was the 2.5 five turbo diesel fitted to my old 1996 250td c class mercedes wagon 150 bhp 40mpg with a 5 speed auto
OM602.... maybe OM603 ( i cant remenber ) great engine i would have swaped one of those if i could have afforded it but i rocking the OM617 from the older 80's 300SDL ( mine engine is a 85) i would love to see your build with a VW diesel if you choose that route will you bee trying to use the older 1.6na/1.6turbo or the newer 1.9 tdi ?
It's going to be a 1.6 Turbo ifI decide to go that route. My only concern is that the heighth of the motor and oil pan looks really tall. I plan to body drop my truck all the way to the rocker and keep a stock hood. The shortest of the options I have listed is the v6 only because of the way it's got the V shape so it's not like 4 cylinders standing straight up and down. I am in the process of bagging the truck and then going to bodydrop it. The engine swap will come at a later date, but I am going to get all my research done before I even start to attempt anything.
Ok guys. I think I have come to the conclusion I am just going to finish re-bagging the truck and drive the piss out of it. While I am waiting for the almost 300,000 mile engine to blow up, I am going to be collecting parts for the LS based truck motor swap. I will be putting a Camaro or Corvette intake manifold on it, and I am quite certain I will be using a 4L60E trans, as I want to keep the auto. I hate manual shifting. I have figured out that a LS1 is 25 inches from bottom of oil pan to top of intake. I think I can stuff that under the stock hood. The trans is my main concern whether it will tuck up about the frame rails like I hope it will. Exhaust will have to be custom, but maybe be able to use the stock manifolds off a truck motor to keep it tigt up with the engine and have my exhaust guy build something and run true duals and just have my mufflers dump right in front of the needed Explorer 8.8. The Explorer 8.8 will most likely come with an LSD and 4.10 gears and disc brakes. I am pumped about the motor swap more so than I am the bag job. I can't wait until my motor goes caploohey. I think once I start driving it, I won't ever change the oil to speed up that process!
Shame you did not persue the VW 1.6 Turd-Bo route I have been down that road alot in recent past. Good for 220hp with fair torque for a diesel. The best way to gain hood clearence is to use a VW vanagon oil pump and pan. Their engines laid over at almost 45 deg. to make them fit the space for a flat 4. Golf intakes have the best flow and they respond well to a T3/T3 that has been clipped with an AR of 92 or better, feed it a healthy shot of NOS with a propane fuel boost and WOW!!!! Tires do not have a chance.
