3.2 swap questions

[tysonfrk101]

i am planning to do a swap in the spring. I'm new to shos and have some questions. First do most of the mods relate to the transmission or the engine? For example y-pipes, the computer (xj2) and the new wavetrac diffs. Also, i know that replacing the 3.2's cams with the 3.0's cams will show a hp gain, but would it be more of a benefit to get shonuts? And if so which ones? Thanks alot

 

[SuperHO]

aside from bore size, the 3.2 and the 3.0 are essentially the same block. just swap all the crap from the 3.0 to the 3.2 block. concerning cams...the difference between stock cams is about .015 lift on the intake side...make your judgement from there.

 

[38SHO]

that really depends on the budget you have

if you have money, I would get a set of cams from them for sure if you want more power

also I assume the 3.2 is going into a manual car? if so its not that hard, you don't need to change any computers, wires or the like..... you use what is on your car now.......

keep this mindset for keeping it a bolt on operation: aside from the rotating assembly and shortblock, the fuel injectors and oil pump... it is best to use everything from the 3.0 mtx setup if possible

 

[Sho Amo]

i think you need to be more specific. by 3.2 swap it sounds like your putting the 3.2 into an mtx car. the only thing you really 'need' to swap from the 3.2 is the block and heads.

3.0 parts needed.
oil pan
oil pump
mtx tensioner and stud
alternator and p/s brackets
motor mounts
water pump
timing covers
and all the accessories.

if you use the 3.2 heads you will need to cut a notch in the front head. it is not very hard to do.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

i think you need to be more specific. by 3.2 swap it sounds like your putting the 3.2 into an mtx car. the only thing you really 'need' to swap from the 3.2 is the block and heads.

3.0 parts needed.
oil pan
oil pump
mtx tensioner and stud
alternator and p/s brackets
motor mounts
water pump
timing covers
and all the accessories.

if you use the 3.2 heads you will need to cut a notch in the front head. it is not very hard to do.

You can use the 3.2 pump, I have on all my 3.2 swapped cars. All you have to do is build a little timing cover out of sheet metal or something to cover up the extra gap in the middle timing cover. **** I know people that don't even bother, but I did on all of mine. Also the 3.2 pump flows more, so if given the choice, I'd use the 3.2 pump.

 

[operdot]

Technically all the 3.2 accessories are superior to the 3.0 ones ..... I ended up using the computer wiring and all the accessories from my 3.2. My car is an atx and the computer thinks its an atx but it has a 5 speed bolted to it.

 

[SHOtime2511]

^ wow you did it the hard way.

 

[operdot]

^ wow you did it the hard way.

I wanted to keep all 3.2 accessories. IMHO the single belt system is much better than multiple belts.

So for me this was really the only way to do it. And it only took 30 hours to fabricate.

 

[firebat45]

If I had a welder when I did my swap, I would have kept the 3.2 accessory setup. I'm kicking myself for dumping all the 3.2 stuff, now I can't even go back to it. 1 belt > 2 belts.

 

[38SHO]

the 2 belts really aren't bad... in fact, I prefer them due to the simplicity and I can tension the belt myself, and from what I can BARELY remeber from my old ATX, the MTX was easier to work on with the belts and had more room...the ATX tensioner belongs in the garbage pile

please give me ONE fact that proves me otherwise

I'm on the fence about which altenators are better.... I say all 3 are equally BS.... so in this case the better one is the one more readily available and cheaper... in this case that is the early design MTX altenator... I referenced rockauto prices and it is the cheaper altenator....

the water pumps are about the same damn design minus a couple measurements, in fact a 3.2 water pump goes onto a 3.0 and causes you to blow off belts... thats how similar they are, someone who doesn't know what they were doing put one on my car before I owned it...

the PS pump is the same, the pulley is not.. but is interchangeable, people use ATX pullies on their MTX setup to underdrive the pump

the AC compressor is the same

and if im not mistaken, isn't the ATX timing belt tensioner now not available? thats one good reason to use the MTX setup right there........ also the ATX setup has an extra idler pulley, just one more thing to screw up.... yeah yeah I know that idler and the hydraulic tensioner make the timing belt change interval go up slightly... but the reality of it is, most people don't drive their SHO that much, I DD mine and still put about 7k a year on it... I highly doubt I would even wait 10 years to change my timing belt anyway..... so this is a BS point about longevity....

are you worried about having to manually tension TWO belts when you service the front end? LOL..... wow that takes about 30 seconds... you did 30 hours of fabrication to save you 30 seconds later on down the road..... anyone else see whats wrong with this picture? I applaud your work and making stuff work together, but that is not nessecary, when you use the proper parts, this is a bolt in job with absolutely no modification required.

if your so concerned about working on the 2 belt setup, then really your time spent should be on relocating the battery.... as that has to go everytime to work on the front of the motor........

 

[operdot]

In the end of things its a matter of preference. I prefer a single belt and its a unique thing to see b.c. most 3.2 mtxs are done the "easy way".

Besides I love to fabricate things so this was an excuse to get my grinder and welder out and go to town.

 

[SHOtime2511]

what ever floats your boat man.
I applaud your work and fabrication skills though.

 

[Phoenix]

In the end of things its a matter of preference. I prefer a single belt and its a unique thing to see b.c. most 3.2 mtxs are done the "easy way".

Besides I love to fabricate things so this was an excuse to get my grinder and welder out and go to town.

Then that's 2 of us. To the OP: This is not the easiest route though.

 

[operdot]

GOOD JOB! There is another guy in Buffalo NY (Mike93) that did the same thing.



And I know its not the easiest route.

IMO the challange is part of the fun and the rewarding feeling of driving these cars. For me it is not just about opening the secondaries, I have just as much fun building parts for my car as I do driving it. I guess this is why I became a mechanical engineer .

 

[ckinney89sho]

so all these mods arent nessesary for the 3.2 swap.
all i have to get is the heads rite?

 

[SHOtime2511]

so all these mods arent nessesary for the 3.2 swap.
all i have to get is the heads rite?

you have to swap all the accessories from a 3.0.
the heads from the 3.2 will work but you need to cut off a chunk of metal.
do a search,this has been covered in detail many times.

 

[speed95]

so all these mods arent nessesary for the 3.2 swap.
all i have to get is the heads rite?

No you will need to swap the blocks.