hot-air to intercooler motor

[derrick]

i have a 85 gn that i want to put a 87 gn motor in to. i have the 87 gn motor, my question is do i have to swap the whole motor or just the top end of the motor, like the intake,exhaust header, and other stuff. if so could i get a list of parts i have to swap?

 

[my85grandnation]

It would be easier to just pull your 85 motor out and put the 87 in. The reason being is that the 85 block is not drilled and tapped for the oil return line like the 87's are. Granted you can do this to your 85 block but you have to pull it out to do it anyways. The swap is just not a simple pull one out and put the other in it takes a lot of time trying to find parts, unless you have a 87 right there that your taking the parts from as you need them. As for the parts you will need, that is a long list that just keeps going on and on. You need a different wiring harness, different brackets, ECM, fuel lines, oil lines, relays, sensors, and it just keeps going. There is not much from your 85 that will be used when the new motor is in. Id suggest talking to intercooled88 here on the board and find others that have done the swap before you start.

 

[1QUICK85]

What about running the oil return line from the turbo to the passenger side valve cover? Using a 86/87 valve cover with the breather hole in it??? Or is that a bad place to be returning the oil?
-Nick.

 

[Dwayne]

What about running the oil return line from the turbo to the passenger side valve cover? Using a 86/87 valve cover with the breather hole in it??? Or is that a bad place to be returning the oil?
-Nick.

Better yet, dump the oil in the pan. Drop the pan, weld half a 1/2" npt coupling in the front of the pan and then use AN hose and route it from the turbo, down the front of the block and into the pan....works great

 

[my85grandnation]

What about running the oil return line from the turbo to the passenger side valve cover? Using a 86/87 valve cover with the breather hole in it??? Or is that a bad place to be returning the oil?
-Nick.

Putting the oil return into the front of the valve cover doesnt sound to good as it is basically level with where the turbo sits and I dont think it would drain very good. I do like BigDaddy's idea and have heard lots of people mention doing that as well.