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Motor Mix & Match


cap86
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Is there much difference between a 1987 EA82 and a later one, like a 90 or 91 (Not sure which year it is.) in terms of emissions and/or computer wiring and junk? I've decided to replace the motor in my 87 SPFI with one from a later car an I'm wondering if the wiring harnesses/computers will match up or are there gonna be issues? Both motors are 4wd/wagons.

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As long as the 90-91 is a Loyale and not a Legacy, it is the same engine. Some of the accessory pieces may be different (engine wiring harness/connectors), but simply swapping the intake from one to the other should deal with most issues.

 

The Legacy 2.2 is a different animal. Major wiring differences, mounting it to your current transmission requires an adapter plate.

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Intake manifold gaskets. Also, if either engine has EGR, that is somtimes a pain to break the fitting loose; and if one has an EGR and one doesn't, well, that is another minor headache.

 

And don't forget to change the timing belts (at least) while they are easy to get at.

 

*EDIT: And, oh by the way, why do you want to dgo with another/newer engine? Obvious engine probs? end edit*

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Like Northwet said, swap the manifold complete, it holds all the sensors/wiring (except the knock if you have one). The trick for that EGR fitting is heat... fire up the torch and get it good and hot and it should come right loose. And watch those manifold bolts they like to corrode (aluminum manifold/steel bolt).

 

Gary

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Ok well, here's the 'Real' story... I have a bunch of Soob wagons I have a 'sweet-spot' for '86 4wd/5spd wagons but a few '85s & '87s. I got into a problem with stripped tensioner bolt holes on this one and since the motor has 201k/mi, and a persistant (100k/mi) "Tick" I thought I'd pull it out & give it a good going over. I have 2 engines to choose from to put in there temporarily the '90/'91 which is a good runner that I yanked from a rusted car last winter, and a really sweet 87 that I'm saving for a nice '86 that I will be bringing back east from Portland OR soon. So I was hoping to just drop the newer engine in and not go trading too much stuff from the original motor because I'd like to keep it all together and freshen it up.

 

"Edit added: Maybe it would make more sense to use that nice '87 as it would be a closer match... but that one is still in the car (which I will be getting rid of because it's rusted to death and it's a 4dr sedan. the newer engine (90/91) is already out and ready to go...

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The GL wagon is the same as the Loyale, except for the transmission. They were both called the Leone in non-US countries and didn't get the name shift in 1990 like we did here.

 

I just got done putting the engine from a '91 Loyale into a '87 GL (SPFI-California car). It was a direct replacement except for two things.

 

1) The plugs for the engine harness are different shapes, so I had to cut the plugs off the '91 chassis and solder the wires onto the wires coming out of the '87 chassis so it would plug into the '91 engine harness. Luckily all the wire colors matched up.

 

2) The distributor uses different colored wires. I just pulled the distributor from the '87 engine and dropped it in the '91 and it fired right up.

 

Now I just have to figure out why the clutch feels so weird..... Seriously wondering if I had forgotten how to drive a stick when I first took it out yesterday.

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The GL wagon is the same as the Loyale, except for the transmission...

There should be no significant difference between the transmissions. The Loyale is basically an "economy version" of the GL (more like DL) to differentiate it from the Legacy. There are electrical differences, but less than between 87 and pre-87 GLs. (Also, slight body differences on wagons.)

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As it turns out that motor that I thought was a '90-'91 is actually a '93 (2wd automatic). Does that change any of the previous advice? Are there any significant improvements between my '87 and this '93 in terms of gas mileage fuel injection system or anything that would make it worthwhile to keep the 93's plumbing over the '87?

Also, what's the deal with the EGR? where is it, what does it look like? does it have to come off?

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That won't make any difference. The fuel system is the same.

 

The EGR pipe goes from the back of the manifold to the head on the passenger's side and must be removed in order to swap the manifold over. It's a direct swap between those two engines.

 

It's REALLY easy to swap the intake manifold and distributor from your 87 to the 93 engine.

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