Engine swap parts/tools list?

[alkalinetaupehat]

I'm planning on changing out the 7MGE in my Supra for another one in the coming months and want to get ATG's advice on what I will need for this. The idea so far is to get a used 7MGE from an importer, refresh it, and install it. The list so far looks like this:

- Used 7MGE - $810 shipped
- Engine Hoist - $150 shipped
- Spark plugs, NGK wires, thermostat, water pump,
oil pressure switch, O2 sensor, Felpro head set,
oil pan gasket, and a timing belt kit - $450 shipped.

I have a 100pc toolkit, a timing gun, torque wrench, access to the service manual, and a friend also has a toolkit he'll let me use.

Anything I'm missing? Thoughts?

P.S. - I'm getting a new heater union and an O-ring for the distributor also. Alternator, cap, and rotor are ~6 months old, they'll be transferred over.


(7.15.12) UPDATE IN POST #56

 

[Howard]

It can be useful sometimes to have two wrenches of the same size. Of course, I can't tell you if you'll be wanting that, or in what sizes.

Air gun and impact sockets will be handy too.

 

[manimal]

Get a 7MGTE

is your current engine blown or does it have low compression?

 

[Bignate603]

A 100 pc toolkit sounds like a bunch but it can be pretty limited. What exactly is included in your kit? It always seems like you need the one tool that you don't own.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

Get a 7MGTE

is your current engine blown or does it have low compression?

Send me $800 and we'll talk
Actually I'm thinking of taking the current motor and rebuilding it into a beastly 7MGTE. This swap would allow me the time to do that.

Current motor is a BHG recovery victim and is suffering complications from the PO's headgasket replacement. Rod knock sucks, block might have warpage from overheating before I bought it. Additionally it is consuming/leaking oil, and the heater union at the back of the motor is leaking coolant. I also want the stamp on my man card and to add a build thread to ATG.

 

[jlee]

Floor jack, jackstands, breaker bar?

 

[Meghan54]

Good torque wrench, engine stand in addition to the hoist.



And remember about that "100 piece tool kit", probably half or better of the tools will be taken up by hex wrenches/keys....not exactly a bunch of tools you'll use a lot. I almost think you'd be better off buying the smaller kits that you'll really need, like a 3/8" and 1/2" socket set, set of deep well sockets, combo wrench set (open/box end, or better yet, a set of open/box end wrenches and a set of ratcheting wrenches---love mine), etc. Don't waste your money on a huge set of tools that'll have mostly crap you'll never use.


The suggestion of a good air compressor and impact gun is a good one. I'd also look into an air socket wrench.

 

[Rifter]

I literally just finished a engine swap yesterday in my pickup. The parts list was large since the engine swapped in was of unkown origin(sitting in barn for years, but stored with oil in cylinders and turned over freely by hand)

I replaced:

Distributor/plugs/wires
Oil pump
Oil pan gasket
Timing chain
Timing cover gasket
Front and rear main seals
Intake gasket
Thermostat and thermostat gasket
Frost plugs
Temp sensor
Oil pressure sensor


I had a toolkit with 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets/sockets/extensions and universals. I found that during the teardown and reassembly i needed a few tools i didnt have on hand. A good pair of pliers and vice grips come in real handy. Also i would consider purchasing extra extensions and universals as they always come in handy, i persoanlly find the air tool universals much better than the u joint type. Also a good set of thin wall deep sockets was very handy.

The shop i used at work had a solvent tank and a bench grinder with a wire wheel which came in handy numerous times for cleaning old gaskets off.

I used a tow truck for a engine hoist/stand when needed.

Good luck with the swap and i hope you learn alot though the experiance.

Oh and a big ass 1/2" or 3/4" drive breaker bar is a good idea.

 

[Bignate603]

And remember about that "100 piece tool kit", probably half or better of the tools will be taken up by hex wrenches/keys....not exactly a bunch of tools you'll use a lot. I almost think you'd be better off buying the smaller kits that you'll really need, like a 3/8" and 1/2" socket set, set of deep well sockets, combo wrench set (open/box end, or better yet, a set of open/box end wrenches and a set of ratcheting wrenches---love mine), etc. Don't waste your money on a huge set of tools that'll have mostly crap you'll never use.

I agree. I typically buy tools as I need them. Each time I do a job I end up buying another set of wrenches or sockets. While it's sometimes annoying to run over to the store in the middle of a job it means that I don't have a ton of extra junk that I won't use.

By the way, I got a set of ratcheting wrenches for Christmas. Those things are awesome!

 

[JCH13]

Every size you need in ratcheting wrenches, both flexy and fixed head. GearWrench is awesome.
Super-nice ratchet drivers.
Flexy-head and bent-handle ratchet drivers.
Piles of different ratchet adapters and extensions.
Breaker Bar and cheater bar.
Some sort of torch, I like my Lenox self-starting propane torch with the hoses to connect it to a 20lb propane tank.
3/8" or 1/2" allen key drivers if your car has any allen head bolts
6-point sockets and combo wrenches in every size you'll need, 12-point = sad face
A nice 1/2" impact gun (or bigger) and sockets/extensions/u-joints.
Nut-cracker tool.
Engine leveler for the hoist.
Long-Reach needle-nose pliers.
Vise-grips.
4-5lb hammer.
Rubber mallet or other 'soft' hammer.

I'm sure I forgot a few things...

 

[jlee]

Every size you need in ratcheting wrenches, both flexy and fixed head. GearWrench is awesome.
Super-nice ratchet drivers.
Flexy-head and bent-handle ratchet drivers.
Piles of different ratchet adapters and extensions.
Breaker Bar and cheater bar.
Some sort of torch, I like my Lenox self-starting propane torch with the hoses to connect it to a 20lb propane tank.
3/8" or 1/2" allen key drivers if your car has any allen head bolts
6-point sockets and combo wrenches in every size you'll need, 12-point = sad face
A nice 1/2" impact gun (or bigger) and sockets/extensions/u-joints.
Nut-cracker tool.
Engine leveler for the hoist.
Long-Reach needle-nose pliers.
Vise-grips.
4-5lb hammer.
Rubber mallet or other 'soft' hammer.

I'm sure I forgot a few things...

All the ratcheting stuff is fantastically handy, but typically not mandatory. It'll save a LOT of time and frustration, though.

 

[JCH13]

All the ratcheting stuff is fantastically handy, but typically not mandatory. It'll save a LOT of time and frustration, though.

Precisely, you can probably make it happen without the nicer stuff, but I do not regret for a second spending a couple hundred bucks on good ratchets. When I'm in a really constricted place it's nice to have that "80 clicks per turn" ratchet resolution, so I get a few clicks out of my nice drivers where I may or may not get one click out of a shitty driver. The flexy head stuff and lots of extensions make manifold work a breeze.

 

[DietDrThunder]

- Engine Hoist - $150 shipped
.

Don't buy an engine hoist, borrow/rent one. My local Napa auto parts loans out their engine hoist for free, you just have to leave a deposit. All you do is borrow it when you're ready to pull the engine, pull the engine, return it to the auto parts store, then borrow it again when you are ready to install. It may take a little more time, but you don't have to store it or buy it.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Don't buy an engine hoist, borrow/rent one. My local Napa auto parts loans out their engine hoist for free, you just have to leave a deposit. All you do is borrow it when you're ready to pull the engine, pull the engine, return it to the auto parts store, then borrow it again when you are ready to install. It may take a little more time, but you don't have to store it or buy it.

He can just resell it when done.

I second the air/impact driver. It saves so much time and busted knuckles.

 

[yhelothar]

My friend who did an engine swap said you can loan an engine hoist for free from kragen/autozone. That was ~6 years ago though.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

Well I'm definitely missing impact tools, a torch, hammers, breaker bar, and some sockets. Probably should mention I don't have a garage to work in either. Got a big private parking lot.

Since I'm getting the feeling that I'm under-equipped to properly swap the motor, is it a bad idea to consider just getting a sportbike and put off the swap until I have the tools and facilities to work on my car (~1 year)? This way I can put the miles on something without what sounds like rod knock and also enjoy drastically better fuel efficiency?

 

[jlee]

Impact tools are not necessary (though nice). Hammers are cheap - if you have a Harbor Freight nearby, go spend $15 and get a box of 'em. Breaker bars aren't too bad either.

Doing a motor swap in a parking lot isn't something I'd want to do (I like a roof and walls) but it's certainly possible.

 

[bbs lm-r]

I was looking at a couple Mk3's the other day, and started reading up on them. Apparently from the factory, their motors had head gasket issues from improperly torqued head bolts. Spec was increased to 75ft.lbs.

Just an FYI. Lookin forward to a swap thread

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Best tip I ever received (from Jlee and JCH13): Ziplock bags for all the nuts and bolts. Also a sharpie to mark on the bag where exactly you pulled them from and a page number from the manual. Its a lot of added time, but believe me, itll save you time - especially when you get to the end of your build and are still holding a couple of bolts :awe:

PB Blaster.

Bent Needle Nose Pliers: these things are awesome.

Some sheets of cardboard. Put them under the car and lie on them. Much more comfortable than concrete. If you spill oil on it, just throw it out.

Lots and lots of clean rags and degreeser. Clean everything as you pull it off. Also clean the engine bay once the engine is out. This will make it easier to spot future leaks.

High Temp Paint. Make that engine shine!

I'd also replace the oil pump. Check the distributor to make sure it is in spec as well.

The last thing I can think about: be prepared to spend a ridiculous amount of money to Toyota dealership for those random washers and small parts. There is one single copper washer on my MR2 that costed me $16. ouch.

 

[IcePickFreak]

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned is a buddy to help. Seriously, an extra set of hands (and sometimes eyes) are a big help.

Doing a motor swap in a parking lot isn't something I'd want to do (I like a roof and walls) but it's certainly possible.

I think it depends on how old you are. When I was in my teens, we did motor swaps in a gravel parking lot behind a buddies aunt's bar. These days you couldn't pay me enough to crawl around on gravel or work outside in the cold. Just got to be sure to keep order of your parts & tools, and have somewhere to store stuff if it's going to take more than a day.

 

[jlee]

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned is a buddy to help. Seriously, an extra set of hands (and sometimes eyes) are a big help.



I think it depends on how old you are. When I was in my teens, we did motor swaps in a gravel parking lot behind a buddies aunt's bar. These days you couldn't pay me enough to crawl around on gravel or work outside in the cold. Just got to be sure to keep order of your parts & tools, and have somewhere to store stuff if it's going to take more than a day.

"Couldn't pay enough" does not mean "impossible", though.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Plastic baggies and sharpie to label bolts and parts that come off

 

[IcePickFreak]

"Couldn't pay enough" does not mean "impossible", though.

Definitely not, I guess I've just been spoiled with having a garage and access to shop space after a years of working in those condition. That and my back isn't as young as it used to be either (in fact it's going on 36 next weekend

)

 

[manimal]

Plastic baggies and sharpie to label bolts and parts that come off

And Dexter gloves

 

[AMCRambler]

Everybody is saying SAE sizes but this car is Japanese. Doesn't that mean he needs metric? Not a Toyota mechanic so I dont know for sure on that.

Only other thing I havent seen listed yet is a drain pan for fluid.

This Supra isnt your daily driver is it? One thing i wouldnt recommend is doing your first engine swap on the car you have to drive to work Monday. Especially on an older car. Stuff always breaks that you don't have a spare for and the parts stores arent open at 10pm on Sunday night.

If you got alternate transpo then yeah go for it.