85sd Engine & Trans Swap

[greazer2b]

I just picked up a 85sd (Federal) with 156,000 to put into my 85sd California.
First I am going through everything and changing fluids etc.etc. I hope after running a few months to get any bugs worked out I can make the swap. The car sat for 7 yrs.

I would appreciate any suggestions have. My other SD has 334,600 and doing OK but getting a little tired.

Please let me know what you think and as always suggestions are very,very much appreciated.

greazer2b

[tiger64]

I did same swap a couple years ago. Make sure oil filter canister and engine mounts are the same. I had to use old ones on new engine. Take pictures of vacuum lines and gauge/ sensor wiring. In my case very different and I could not find documentation that made sense. Example of three water temperature sensors on one engine and two on the other. Also remember to mark drive shaft before removal. Took me a couple tries before I got balanced again.

[jake12tech]

You don't have to remove the driveshaft. Just unbolt the front flex disc from the yoke and drop the shaft and let it hang down. Unbolt the downpipe from the center muffler and you can pull it with the downpipe still in place. Don't forget to remove the rad and a.c. condenser. If those get hit that sucks.

Just some tips I've done it a few times on a w124. Oh and have air tools and a helper... no way you're getting the engine out by yourself you need another set of eyes to see what you're doing. At 334k and how strong these cylinders are in these engines, I'm surprised it's worn besides maybe some top end wear at the valve seals.

[Clemson88]

I took the diesel out of my 84 SD and put it in the 85 SE body in the last year. Over the next few days I'll consider things I had to do, wish I'd done and had to redo to move the engine/transmission assembly from one car to the the other.

Space is the key. You need a garage with a tall ceiling, a first class engine hoist and an engine leveler. I replaced engine shocks, rebuilt shock mounts, cleaned the engine/transmission and engine bay, replaced the oil filter housing gasket, lower oil pan filter, turbo drain tube, transmission filter, shifter bushing, flex disk, carrier bearing, carrier bearing housing, engine mounts and cleaned the ground strap contacts, drained the block of oil and water, and drained the transmission including the torque converter.

I got a little carried away and rebuilt the steering gear box.