Project: Lil Red (Bagged & V8 88' B2200)

Nice looking engine. I'm not trying to highjack your thread, but her is a link to my 302 build, maybe it can help with things like the motor mounts, tranny mounts and such.


If there is any advise I can give feel free to ask, and I will tell you what I can, or if you need a pic of something let me know, and I will try to get it for you...........

No worries on the hijack!. Thank you very much for the link! I'll read through it tonight/tomorrow. I have a whole slew of questions that I have been trying to research, but it's incredibly helpful to have guys like you who have done this swap before. I am new to this whole engine swap thing... so I'm learning a lot...

I really appreciate it. I'll get in touch with you soon!

-Mike

Sure, anytime.

Got some more progress done on the engine today. Mounted the intake manifold, distributor, and thermostat housing. Also put in new spark plugs and a chrome oil dipstick.

Can't wait to see this thing out this year.

Maybe it'll make me wanna do a v8, so I finally have a lil power
lol

no do a kia swap or the mazda miata swap ... hehe ,,

Thanks for keeping up with the thread! I can't wait to have it out this year too!


I got the valve covers installed today. Also put the motor mounts on. They are from an 87-93' Mustang. I put the alternator bracket on, but I ordered a new alternator, and polished aluminum pulley kit for the crank, water pump, and alternator. I'll try to get them installed next weekend.

Honestly, the motor is about ready to drop in there, but I have a lot of cleanup and paint work to do on the firewall and frame horns before I put it back in.

I got the new underdrive pulley kit on. Also running a shorter belt due to no power steering, smog pump, or A/C.


I opened up the T5 transmission to check all the gearing and make sure everything was ok... it looks good. But now I am having a hell of a time reassembling it. I might need to take it to a transmission shop. I can't get the shift forks lined up correctly when putting the top cover and extension housing back on.

I rolled the truck out of the garage this weekend to hose off and degrease the firewall. Turned out a lot cleaner than I expected. It doesn't even really need painted that bad, but I am going to paint it in black bed liner anyways. I'll tape off certain things like the brake booster and some other components, but the misc. lines are just going to get painted.
I also removed the front fenders because there is some rust that was under them letting water into the cab at the corners of the firewall. I cut the rust out and I will weld in some sheet metal patches and seam seal it.

Don't let these pictures fool you. I am a total novice when it comes to engine work. It's a pain in my ass to struggle through this project asking friends questions, reading multiple forums for answers. Somehow or another, I will get through it.

Well turns out that cool MSD cap I bought for the dizzy is useless. I needed a new distributor that is vacuum advanced / mechanical. The one on their now operates from a computer (for EFI)
So I ordered this awesome one from Summit that has the coil built into it. Only 1 12V wire to hook it up. No ignition box, no external coil.



I also ordered the exhaust headers. I'm going to wrap them with black exhaust wrap. This will help reduce engine bay temperature and cab temperature. I don't have A/C in the truck!