Planning 13b single turbo swap this winter.

I've read all the old threads and I would still like some more info.

I have an 88 reg cab short bed.

I understand that I need to buy the motor mounts and trans x member.

I'm looking at buying engine/trans combo with wiring and ecu. Do the motor mounts go in the stock location, and also will the driveshaft be able to work still? How hard is it to wire up this engine? Has anybody ran across particular challenges while doing this swap?

Looking to do this swap within a short period of time once I have everything I need. Please give me any info you may have to help this go smoothly.

Thanks for all the help.
E

I would think that since your getting the engine/tranny/wiring/ecu the wiring issue if staying with the oem should be pretty much plug & play, you may have to interconnect some of the wiring from the trucks harness to the rotarys, I'd get a wiring schematic from both the truck & the rotary doaner & go over them both, if you have basic knowledge of how to read a wiring schematic, it should be fairly simple.

As far as the engine mounts & driveshaft q's, I belive that you will cut off the original motor mounts from the frame, and weld the new mounts for the rotary onto the frame.

Is this 13b out of a turbo car, or non-turbo...if it is from a non turbo car, then the tranny is the basically the same as the 2.0 & 2.2 liter trucks less the bellhousing & tail section, if it is a 13bt then it is basically the same as the 2600's tranny less the bellhousing, but not sure if there is a difference in the tail of this tranny & the 2600 trannys.

since your truck is a 2200, it would be easier if the doaner was a n/t engine as it is more likely to not need driveshaft mods. either way, I would lower the engine / tranny combo into the engine bay, and see where it lines up with the driveshaft and the shifter location. The only down side to this is the ecu isn't for a turbo application, so you could install this setup in a short period of time, and get it running, then at a later date, come back & install the turbo and a standalone ecu.....

I'm sure one of the other guys that have or are doing this swap can enlighten you a little more as to the ins & outs of the whole process....good luck with the swap!

Thanks for the good info. The engine I was considering is already stock turbo. I guess worst case scenario I could have a driveshaft made or shortened if needed. Any suggestion on what rear ends people have used or will the stock handle it fine. I would be able to read the wiring schmatics and throw that together so it mainly looks like gettin the mounts in and seeing how the drive shaft lines up. Seems very doable. Anyone that has done this personally please share your experience.

Thanks,
E

ok get (2) driverside mounts , the ones that bolt to the new motor, and get the 2 cup thingys that go on the frame from mazda.. you will have to cut and rework one of them to center your engine in the chassis. then there is actualt a hole in your chassis to put the cup thinngy in already..if your bagged you will have to trim the cup a lil cuz it will interfere with the lower a arm.. then do yourself a favour and build yourself a tranny crosmember or find someone that can weld and have them do it for ya.. ...ill snap some pics either this week or next its really simple man and i had no problems claring the crosmember under the oil pan

ok get (2) driverside mounts , the ones that bolt to the new motor, and get the 2 cup thingys that go on the frame from mazda.. you will have to cut and rework one of them to center your engine in the chassis. then there is actualt a hole in your chassis to put the cup thinngy in already..if your bagged you will have to trim the cup a lil cuz it will interfere with the lower a arm.. then do yourself a favour and build yourself a tranny crosmember or find someone that can weld and have them do it for ya.. ...ill snap some pics either this week or next its really simple man and i had no problems claring the crosmember under the oil pan

oh yea and the reason my engine looks like its mounted really high in the picture is cuz im bd. to the doors

thanks a lot for the info man. I'm tryin to get all I can cuz the trucks about to go down for the winter and I'll probaly pick up the motor within the next month. not bagged or body dropped yet but I might as well prepare myself. Can't wait to see the pics. How does the truck run with the motor in it, probaly a beast right?

E

btw what did you do about the trans? which did you use. The motors I was lookin at come with trans but is there anyway to use the 2.2 trans or no? If i use the rx7 turbo trans how hard is it to make it fit up to the drive shaft.

no...i used the rx7...where is the motor from....and im a slacker mine has bene unter the knife for over a year and it stll dosent run...by spring though

^^lol haha, I've got ya beat there southern! mine has been getting knifed for 3+ years now......