Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

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Rata Road
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Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by Rata Road » Mon May 23, 2022 4:35 pm

I have a 23 depot Hack and a 26 speedster and I want to put the engine/trans from the speedster into the hack.
I was thinking of removing the engine trans from each and swapping. Only main difference without going into it is the coils on the motor.
Both cars are right hand drive and the 26 speedster looks to have an earlier trans going by the pedals and the brake drum isn't the larger type so that might prevent some issues.
Question is - was there any changes in design that might prevent a complete body swap without making engineering modifications?
Also is there any traps doing just the engine/trans swap over?

Thanks


jeffstag
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Re: Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by jeffstag » Mon May 23, 2022 4:42 pm

Either one isn't super tough. Take a look at body bracket locations. There may have been bracket modifications for either the speedster or the hack or both. It doesn't need to have been done, but people do weird thing.
23 Touring
23 Fordor
25 TT
27 TT


jeffstag
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Re: Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by jeffstag » Mon May 23, 2022 4:43 pm

Radiators are different between the 23 and 26 (different thickness), so remember to switch those if you do the engine swap
23 Touring
23 Fordor
25 TT
27 TT


speedytinc
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Re: Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by speedytinc » Mon May 23, 2022 4:45 pm

American cars: swapping engines would pose no issues. Swapping bodies might. The rear frame cross-member's ears are wider on the 26 frame & with a higher bend for the spring. Body mounts likely different in back.

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Rata Road
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Re: Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by Rata Road » Mon May 23, 2022 7:26 pm

Some good tips, Both radiators work perfectly so if just done the engine swap I would have thought the Hack radiator would work with the different engine as that car is heavier and shows no signs of over heating now but I could always monitor and consider that later.
I'll get under and have a good look, its just the speedster has the large drum rear so the handbrake is brilliant.

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Dan Hatch
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Re: Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by Dan Hatch » Tue May 24, 2022 4:44 am

Is pedal spacing the same? May have floorboard issues with the pedal spacing.

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Rata Road
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Re: Which is easier, swapping bodies or engine/trans?

Post by Rata Road » Tue May 24, 2022 5:16 am

Thought about that but that's not a major to rectify if they are different. But both cars have the same close lever set up, I suspect the trans on the speedster is an earlier version.

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