Ok, I'm gonna be putting in a used motor in my truck here in the next week hopefully, and just wondering if there is anything I should do to it before I drop it in. I was thinking of helicoil'ing all the plugs since I know this style has so few plug threads, and don't really want to take a chance of having to replace a head in it or dropping the price of a head for one plug. I was also considering new gaskets like oil pan, intake, main seals too? I've never done a swap by myself and just looking for a easy way to insure that very few to no things will go wrong with my motor. Any and all help is appreciated, even if you think what I want to do is unnecessary. Thanks!

 

I think you are doing good and real on target replacing those gaskets as it is something I would not have considered. However, I don't think you need to do a heli coil on the plugs unless you know that the threads are bad. I would just change the plugs, torque them down, and, if all is well, you are good to go for at least 50,000 miles. If you should later find one that loosens up, you could first try a little thread locker.

If you do have to do a heli coil, only the ones in the back will cause you problems. As long as you don't over torque them you shouldn't take out the threads and you should not have problems putting in new plugs.

 

It might be better and easier to do the things you listed with the motor out. I would try and do as much as I could before the motor goes in, just because it would be easier than working on it in the engine bay.

 

As long as you have the spark plugs torqued to 28-32 ft/lbs with no anti seize you will have no problems with them blowing out

 

I would not mess with the plugs. If it aint broke, then don't try to fix it.

If you just HAD to "fix" the sparkplug blowout, time serts are a much better fix than the helicoils. But in regards to the new gaskets, that is an excellent idea. I would spend the money in that area. I'm sure other members will chime in on some good things you can do before dropping in the motor.

 

I had a plug blow out before and just seeing the heli coil set up is not what I wanted to do. This is what I put in



By far a better choice than a coil

 

All depends on the km's on the motor, the condition it is in and your budget. If you want you can completely rebuild the motor since its all ready out. If you have limited budget then do you gaskets for sure, new plugs and wires, I would not bother heli coil unless damaged.

 

I am on a very limited budget, after the motor I might have like 150, tops. Motor, according to oil change sticker has ~135k.

 

If you are on a budget, do the rear main (because you either have to pull the trans or engine to replace it otherwise) and maybe the front seal on the crank. If it is dry there, I would leave it alone. I'll bet it is damp tho, they usually are. The water pump would be a consideration. Other than that, just make sure that there are no leaks, and that everything is tight. You should be good to go.

 

While you are in there. Remove the convertor (automatic only) and replace the front seal on the transmission. You'll be glad you did later.