Changing out a Previa engine?

Unfortunately I blew my crap up.... something went south with the valve train and it's toast.

I have been looking at JDM engines, (somebody told me they don't actually come from Japan, but other countries) and have gotten a few estimates to make the swap.

My question is, how hard is it to switch one of these out? I'm fairly mechanical with experience on German and old American cars, I know my way around the tool box... but is there anything I need to be aware of, or tricks that would make it easier? 

Besides the water pump and tune-up/belts/hoses anything else I should tend to?

Is there another board with people who actively do mechanical work on these?

It does have the All-Trac....

not to jock your thread. but i think this is the wrong place to ask that question, i doubt anyone here has done it. Why dont u try a dedicated toyota site? i could name a few, but then google would give u the same answer.

mho. no offense meant

[QUOTE=bad egg;272821]Unfortunately I blew my crap up.... something went south with the valve train and it's toast.

I have been looking at JDM engines, (somebody told me they don't actually come from Japan, but other countries) and have gotten a few estimates to make the swap.

My question is, how hard is it to switch one of these out? I'm fairly mechanical with experience on German and old American cars, I know my way around the tool box... but is there anything I need to be aware of, or tricks that would make it easier? 

Besides the water pump and tune-up/belts/hoses anything else I should tend to?

Is there another board with people who actively do mechanical work on these?

It does have the All-Trac....[/QUOTE]

the only problem i see with doing that swap is room that thing just looks like it has a crampted engine bay other than that i dont see were it would be that hard if you have done a swap before

[QUOTE=eyedea;272851]not to jock your thread. but i think this is the wrong place to ask that question, i doubt anyone here has done it. Why dont u try a dedicated toyota site? i could name a few, but then google would give u the same answer.

mho. no offense meant[/QUOTE]

Yeah.. you are probably right. I signed up on the Toyota Nation board after a google search. It never hurts to ask, though. 

Thanks.

I do believe that someone has done it to an Egg here before.  I myself was also looking at doing the JDM motor after I blew my Head Gasket.  Maybe "who ever it was" will chime in.  I wish I could remember who it was.  Don't believe that it was an "All Trac" though.

Sukoshiyoshi

All I know is that I'm not scared to do it, just looking for any tips I might could use.... thanks.

[URL]http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090413234214AAvtaUy[/URL]
 
Here is a start?

[URL]http://www.toyotafans.net/toyota-previa-forum-f110.htm[/URL]

I have two vans: 93 and 94. The 93 is owned by my parents and they replaced the engine less than 6 months ago. My parents own an auto repair shop. I didn't do the work so I will have to get back to you and ask my mechanic. All I know is that our mechanic was annoyed of doing it due to having big hands with a small space. =)

if u have a hoist and a good solid platform cart...then u can do the swap easily....took me 5 to 7 hrs to perform the swap...if your egg is all trac.....there is not much different except remove the 4wd shaft to front diff.....if u don't have a hoist, there is no way u can drop this thing!
 
Note: If u swapping Jdm engine to usdm previa....there is one thing u guys have to notice.......make sure swap oil return hose (near pass engine mount attach from cylinder head to the block) from the usdm version....because when i did my jdm swap (s/c motor), there is no connection for me to connect oil backup reservoir hose!  good luck for your swap!

i think alan did this on his van.. i dont remeber his sn though

[QUOTE=esvipstyle;273115]i think alan did this on his van.. i dont remeber his sn though[/QUOTE]
yeah he did... EstimaStyleWgnClub

See.....ask and you shall receive.  I knew that the Egg Specialists would come to the rescue.  Hope that these guys will be able to get you the info that you need.

Sukoshiyoshi