Tranny swap ???

cougar190 · 01-08-2008, 07:08 PM

Here's a good one ! I have 2 trucks (well more actually) , 1st one is a wrecked 1987 that has a 3.0 V-6 and a 5 spd, and I've recently purchased a 1979 that has the L20B and a 4 spd .What I'd like to do is put the 5 spd from the V-6 behind the 4 banger !!! Has anyone done this or can anyone tell me if it will work !? I'd love to bang 5 gears instead of 4 and the shifter in the 4 banger has a lot of play but it's still drivable ! Any help would be appreciated !! Thanks in advance !!! cougar

75K30 · 01-09-2008, 12:35 AM

That is a good one, but here is a better one. I have to look to actually see what is involved with this swap. Aside from the fact that I believe the ratios are wrong for any "L" engine, and that the advantages of an overdrive are simply not worth it in a small "L" engine. Pretty sure unless some mods have been made, like steep gears, or batter compression, or even an SSS head, that you will not be very satisfied with how poorly the truck would pull in 5th gear. Alright, to the good stuff.
Why not put the entire VG 30 engine and trans in the 79? That would be a craxy cool ride. Imagine almost 200 hp in that little truck? Have seen these engines in 510's, and they haul the mail jack! If the later model truck is wrecked, and you still have a decent drivetrain, then this would be a very simple swap, and you will not have to worry about adapters, or whether or not the input shaft fits the crank or not. Think this is a problem, but I am not 100%.
Anyway, the complete wiring harness, and all of the components could easily be installed in an early truck, and you will have th epower and reliabitity of the later injected engine, with the fun of having the 5 speed.
That VG engine was boasted as the lightest V6 engine in the world, and did make reasonable power, and has decent aftermarket support.
Someting to think about. I bet the tank and all of the stuff required would go right in, and you would only have to make engine mounts, that you actually already have. Just need to attach them to the 79 frame, which is very similar, so this would be easy.
Now that sounds like a "good one" to me.

01-08-2008, 07:08 PM	#1
cougar190 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	Tranny swap ??? Here's a good one ! I have 2 trucks (well more actually) , 1st one is a wrecked 1987 that has a 3.0 V-6 and a 5 spd, and I've recently purchased a 1979 that has the L20B and a 4 spd .What I'd like to do is put the 5 spd from the V-6 behind the 4 banger !!! Has anyone done this or can anyone tell me if it will work !? I'd love to bang 5 gears instead of 4 and the shifter in the 4 banger has a lot of play but it's still drivable ! Any help would be appreciated !! Thanks in advance !!! cougar

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01-09-2008, 12:35 AM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,628	That is a good one, but here is a better one. I have to look to actually see what is involved with this swap. Aside from the fact that I believe the ratios are wrong for any "L" engine, and that the advantages of an overdrive are simply not worth it in a small "L" engine. Pretty sure unless some mods have been made, like steep gears, or batter compression, or even an SSS head, that you will not be very satisfied with how poorly the truck would pull in 5th gear. Alright, to the good stuff. Why not put the entire VG 30 engine and trans in the 79? That would be a craxy cool ride. Imagine almost 200 hp in that little truck? Have seen these engines in 510's, and they haul the mail jack! If the later model truck is wrecked, and you still have a decent drivetrain, then this would be a very simple swap, and you will not have to worry about adapters, or whether or not the input shaft fits the crank or not. Think this is a problem, but I am not 100%. Anyway, the complete wiring harness, and all of the components could easily be installed in an early truck, and you will have th epower and reliabitity of the later injected engine, with the fun of having the 5 speed. That VG engine was boasted as the lightest V6 engine in the world, and did make reasonable power, and has decent aftermarket support. Someting to think about. I bet the tank and all of the stuff required would go right in, and you would only have to make engine mounts, that you actually already have. Just need to attach them to the 79 frame, which is very similar, so this would be easy. Now that sounds like a "good one" to me.