2wd/4wd

[JPOne]

Will the 2WD 4.3 W series engine line up to the 4WD 4.3 W series transfer and transmission without some extreme degree of difficulty?

[Blue Bowtie]

AFAIK, the engiens are identical. The mounts attached to the engine are considerably different, but the engines are the same. If you're performing a swap, make sure the years are the same between the donor/receiver, or you may have some other connection issues. You NEED to use the PCM from the AWD chassis for an AWD vehicle, so mixing them is not an option.

[JPOne]

Yes, it is a swap. The donor motor is 2WD 95, the receiver is a 4WD 94. As near as I can tell without actually doing it, the connections are the same also. The engine mounts I assume are interchangeable. This appears to be the only reasonable priced solution, as any 4WD motor runs about 3 times the price here. Thanks for your help. Any other suggestions from anybody?

[brcidd]

I did that exact swap last summer- but both were 2wd- the only problem- was--- the egr valve is different- must use the one from the 94- the 95 has the connector at 90 degree and plug is different- also there may be a crank sensor in the timing cover of the 95- but just don't use it- other than that it is plug and play!!! I got a great deal- found the 95 for $500 with only 87,000 miles!!! my 94 had 318,000 when it spun the rod bearings...

[Blue Bowtie]

Only 318,000? I wonder what went wrong. Should have lasted a half-mill or more. Must have been defective. Too bad you didn't have a Honda. It might have lasted longer (on about the second replacement engine, sixth transmission, and new wire harness).

[brcidd]

It was fine- wife was pulling a stock trailer- with no tachometer- she accidently was in second gear at 70 mph- instead of 3rd- talking to her girlfriends- didn't realize it- poor engine ran its heart out- never did burn much oil- heads were original-never had an engine problem till then- did change trannys at 242,000- a $350 salvage yard- plugged right in as well---I was trying to get to 500k- the only other I'd heard of went 330k- but now with the '95 motor- I have reset the clock- look to go a lot longer......

[Blue Bowtie]

Why do I suspect there was just a bit of "discussion" about that incident?

[brcidd]

She had waited a couple days and asked me "what if" it was in 2nd gear instead of 3rd- I had to meet her with the Dually to pull the trailer home- while the flatbed got the van- she sat along the interstate for 2 hrs- with her niece and nieces, 2 and 4 yr olds- so she learned her lesson- only 90 degrees out- engine was seized- then it actually started once it coolled down- but boy did it knock- my mechanic buddy wanted me to rebuild it- or buy rebuit- nearly $2500- I used the internet salvage yard search- found the engine only 45 miles away- the day it went online- called them- they pulled it on a wednesday- I got it on thurs- was driving the van- pulling the trailer on Sunday night- now has noticeable increase in power- sometimes you win once in a while......

[Blue Bowtie]

HAA! LOL

Not laughing at your pain/trouble, but that's a good story!