2.8 to 2.5 swap thread?

[carnuck]

My room mate wants to put the 2.5 we picked up in place of the 2.8 in her '86 4x4 (motor was gone when we got the truck)

 

Motor mount issues? (on the frame)

I already have a 4 cyl rad.

 

I know we need exhaust. Any other gotchas?

[dasbulliwagen]

The 2.5 is injected and has an in tank pump, the 2.8 doesnt. Also to make the 2.5 work, you would need the entire engine harness, and dash harness, guages and computer for the 2.5 to make it run with its original setup. Also the exhaust downpipe to the converter.... the radiators for the 2.5 and the 2.8 are exactly the same... just a different fan shroud. I would say if you had a complete donor, to go for it, but if you just bought the engine and wanted to bolt it up and go, It looks like youre going to be dissappointed.

[Automan2164]

I'm going to say that you guys should just find another 60 degree GM V-6. 3.1, 3.4... It will still be GM junk, but less junky that the 2.8. Oh, and it will bolt right in.

 

Rob L.

[dasbulliwagen]

you say the motor was gone..... does that mean not there, or just "bad". If its just bad, re sell the 2.5, and find a camaro 3.1 or 3.4, swap all the 2.8 parts onto the camaro engine with the exception of having the flywheel nuetrally balanced by a machine shop, and drive it. Much easier than trying to make a 2.5 work in place of a 2.8. Any more questions feel free to ask! :thumbsup:

[carnuck]

Not there as in removed before she got the truck. She hates the 2.8 (I had one she didn't want, so it went to the shredder friday)

We have a good running 2.5 with Weber carb. It's just for commuting to work and back this winter.

[dasbulliwagen]

As long as the 2.5 has its flywheel and clutch and pressure plate with it, it should work. Youll need a low pressure electric fuel pump to feed the weber, and somehow to tie in the ignition and starter, other than that Id say youll be mostly fine. Might need to tie some of the sensors into the original harness, like oil pressure and water temp, but if thats all you want to do, should work. But this job isnt far a novice mechanic..... you need a really good understanding of all these systems in order to make them work with each other in non stock form. I wish you luck.

[carnuck]

Understanding the systems is not the prob. Just wondering about any gotchas on the mounting to the frame difference.

It's a temp motor to run the rig to get the other bugs out.

 

Next spring it's planned to get a Toy diesel swapped in.