Pulling old 350

[Low82C10]

some what new to this forum, i finally got my c10 running again, i couldnt get it started well it turned out that the mark on the balancer was way off so my balancer had spun. well after getting it running it was running like total crap. come to find out all the cyclinders have about 80PSI compression and number 8 has about 55-60. im planning on buying a rebuilt 350, but the guy wants 1400 to remove it and install it, not inculding the engine. so my question is, how much work is this, ive swapped out a engine in a honda, i know its a lot smaller but i some what know what im doing, i guess just kinda scared to take this project on. i guess im more worried about what are the steps  and what i need to do to prep for this? and if there is a post already about this subject?

[zieg85]

If you have skills it is roughly an 8 hour job.  Biggest pain is going to be the exhaust pipes but if you have access to a torch to heat the nuts makes the job easier.  No AC, easier... no power steering, even easier. 

[HAULIN IT]

Doing an engine swap in one of these trucks would be a piece of cake compared to a FWD Honda. My Two Cents, Lorne

[1980c10]

1400 is way too much to pay. Its all pretty much just nuts and bolts. Take pictures as you go to remember where everything goes. keep your parts oraganized and labeled. You'll be surprised at how well it goes and proud that you did it yourself. If you get jammed up post back here and we'll talk you through it.

[454Man]

1400 is way too much to pay. Its all pretty much just nuts and bolts. Take pictures as you go to remember where everything goes. keep your parts oraganized and labeled. You'll be surprised at how well it goes and proud that you did it yourself. If you get jammed up post back here and we'll talk you through it.

X2 the going rate here is 650 and I think that is too high

[Blazin]

If you can swap a motor in a Honda, this wil be a cake walk!

[1980c10]

Instead of leaning over to reach the engine, you just get in there with it; try that with a honda

[thirsty]

More times than I want to admit I have swapped motors in a day. When we used to do mud bogs I would run whatever motor I could find if I needed one until I finally smartened up and built one. I didn't live near our shop then. Would pull it in late Friday night and start first thing Saturday morning and be at the bogs on Sunday. I might of been a bit younger then. Now I tend to take my time on stuff like that.
If you are on a time schedule get everything done to the new motor you can ahead of time. I used to have it all set and all I needed to do to it was swap my intake and carb and the distributor if I needed that too. Have someone around that is familiar with your tool box to fetch you tools. Stay out of the beer until after you give it test drive and are cleaning up your mess. Have some fluids around to top things off so you don't have to run out after them. You might want to consider new motor mounts while you have it out also.

With the help of everyone here you can get it done in whatever time frame you have.
I agree with the others, pulling a motor out of one of our trucks is a piece of cake compared to front wheel drive cars. Just don't rush it beyond your limits, take your time and be thorough.

Good luck and keep us up to date on it.

[bake74]

Doing an engine swap in one of these trucks would be a piece of cake compared to a FWD Honda. My Two Cents, Lorne

     x2:  Way harder in a fwd Honda.

[Engineer]

$1400 to swap an engine?

I'm in the wrong business.

[BANDOLERO Z-28]

$1400 way too much, here in El Paso you can get it done for like 300 bucks
Anyways I agree with everyone here, do it your self, and like 1980c10 said if you get stuck post pics here and we will all help you trough, (I ain't no mechanic) but these guys are great and know what they are talking about

[1980c10]

I like how everyone here says it would be way harder to swap the engine in a honda. I bet they would say the oppposite on a honda forum. Just sayin...Anyway I agree too; harder on a honda, although I never tried. I've had two foreign cars one an Audi and it was hard to work on almost impossible to diagnose. Now I happen to own a mazda-might as well be a c10-easy, but almost never breaks.

[bake74]

I like how everyone here says it would be way harder to swap the engine in a honda. I bet they would say the oppposite on a honda forum. Just sayin...Anyway I agree too; harder on a honda, although I never tried. I've had two foreign cars one an Audi and it was hard to work on almost impossible to diagnose. Now I happen to own a mazda-might as well be a c10-easy, but almost never breaks.

      I have done both, the trans axle in a front wheel drive car makes it harder the mess with then a rear drive vehicle.  I would rather do a rear wheel drive engine swap any day. 
     After doing a few front wheel drive vehicles you know what to do, just saying that rear wheel drive vehicles over all are easier to remove an engine.  If all you have done is front wheel drive, then a rear wheel drive might seem harder only because you have not down some before.

[Lt.Del]

piece of cake.  i did it over the course of 4 days just for a couple of hours each evening after work.
Got a digital camera?  take pics of everything so putting all back will be easier. I took upwards of 70 or 80 pics when i was removing my engine to refer to to put things back where they belong on my 383 stroker.

take ziplock bags and put bolts/nuts in them and label the bags with a sharpie.  it isn't hard at all.

www.delbridge.net/install

[beastie_3]

Pics are good. For something new, I take a pic at each step and point to what Im trying to take a picture of. Ziploc bags for small parts and bolts all labeled and masking tape labeling wires and hoses.