I've been tossing the idea around in my head, since starion/conquest donor vehicles have been far in between within a reasonable price tag. What are the major hurdles folks have encountered while pondering this swap. I did a search and there was a member by the name 777 IIRC that did the swap and also Oyaji_Jon but scrap the project. Discussion, criticism welcome so i can have a successful swap if i go that direction.

If you want a chevy engine the swap won't be hard but if you keep stock mitsu axles and less than 33's don't plan on the chevy engine lasting too long due to the high operating RPM's of the Montero. So go 35's or bigger to keep your RPM's lower than 3k while cruising. That's my 2 cents

Measure twice... Cut once. <--- words of wisdom. ;^) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

The Gen I Montero / Raider engine bay is about 25" in length. I would begin my measurements, figuring the V8 Chevy with no fan clutch.

Nick, there are some swaps that will be much easier to get done. The Eclipse engine will work, Toasty did one, or something similiar. And then another AZ guy, Pa_jero and Toasty (again) dropped in a 3.5 in a Gen 1. Still waiting on pics on that one, but they do have video of it running. The V-8 thing is doable but will cost a bunch of dinero, Wouldn't the swap go easier out there in Cali with a configuration closer to stock?

I vote 4G63T with the proper 2wd trans (narrow block from a D50 iirc)
Remove it's tailsection and replace with a KM145's t-case, and you should net 100hp easily.

Toasty are the LS engine series prone to failure with high RPM's or just American engines in general compared to the import engines. Does anybody remember what axles the guy that did the cadillac 6.0 swap was runing?


The 2.6L engine is toast, regardle$$ I'll have to spent some dinero to get it back on the road. A rebuild with a new head will be around $1,500 and still lacking power. A turbo swap $1,200 for a donor vehicle (if i can fine one),plus another $1,000 - $1,500 into the engine. Then I'll need to address the manual tranny with the added HP of the turbo. The 3.5 engine is the same has the turbo, I'll need to purchase a donor vehicle and put some money into the engine and rebuilds for that engine go for 2K <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> around here.