Will a FWD engine drop into an Alltrac?

[KevinH]

Sorry to bring this up again but I would like to know for sure. I got a 91 Alltrac with a blown engine and when shopping for a replacement the mechanic at the dealer told me I had to find an engine from an Alltrac and that a FWD will not work because they are two different blocks and he mentioned something about accommodating the transfercase. I also called an import place and they said they were different according to their books. If anyone knows for sure if there are any differences or not I would be interested in their comments because the engine import place says that they don't see the Alltrac engine very often and maybe never will again.

[zythr]

Shoudn't be different. If I'm correct the engine for the All-Trac is the same as for the FWD. They're both 4 cylinders. I think the only difference between the 2 is the engine the All Trac has a second catalytic convertor

[white90dx]

The casting for the two blocks should be the same. There may be a few extra holes drilled and tapped on the back of the block for the transfer case brackets - but the transfer case itself will clear the block.

With a little work, I'm sure you could get a FWD block to fit just fine.

-Charlie

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by white90dx

The casting for the two blocks should be the same. There may be a few extra holes drilled and tapped on the back of the block for the transfer case brackets - but the transfer case itself will clear the block.

With a little work, I'm sure you could get a FWD block to fit just fine.

-Charlie

Thanks White, I still would like to have someone come along who has actually did this so there are no surprises.

Even if I find out for sure I still have to make a decision. I have a running Alltrac parts car with 235k on the engine. I could use the engine out of this car but the compression on it tests out from 140 to 145 which is getting rather low according to the book. Now I can rebuild this engine but I think it would be more expensive and a lot more work than buying an import engine from a FWD. What would you do?

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by KevinH

What would you do?

I'm swapping to a 3s-gte.

If you have access to a decent machine shop and can do the engine building and R&R of the engine, it would be cheaper to rebuild it yourself.

New pistons+rings+bearings w/ overbored block. Refresh head and all new seals/pumps. You should get at least another 100k if you do it right...

I really just can't imagine what's different about the blocks that would be problematic to put a FWD motor with the AWD trans. I have both engines, but haven't looked closely enough to compare the two blocks (and I haven't taken the Alltrac 3s-fe out yet).

-Charlie

[zythr]

Originally Posted by KevinH

Thanks White, I still would like to have someone come along who has actually did this so there are no surprises.

Even if I find out for sure I still have to make a decision. I have a running Alltrac parts car with 235k on the engine. I could use the engine out of this car but the compression on it tests out from 140 to 145 which is getting rather low according to the book. Now I can rebuild this engine but I think it would be more expensive and a lot more work than buying an import engine from a FWD. What would you do?

Cut my losses and sell