well after me getting a bit carried away in a particular thread im sure you all know about, i'm back from my ban...on a better not, while i was away i got my car back with the 3.5 engine.

i love the feel of the new engine and it feels so much better to drive. there is a lot more low end power and i think anyone else that has to do major engine repairs really should look into this.

anyway glad to be back and give me any thoughts on the new engine or any questions.

thanks

total costs? any snags people should know about? i expect i will have it done within the year, because if anything at all breaks on the engine ill be instantly going this route as opposed to spending money on a 320,000km old 3.0L.

Any advice and help is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Damon

Did you need to replace the gearbox and ECU, or did it just drop in and work?

My 3.0 is getting it's heads done ATM, but I've been thinking should have got a cheap 3.5l out of a TH instead... but as the mechanic is paying, then beggars can't be choosers.

Regards, Tony

total cost = approx $1700

this included: Engine (1999, 90,000k's, installation, full 100k service inc. timing belt, water pump, spark plugs etc.

snags: didn't need the new ecu. had to put my old manifold on to fit the computer due to the harnesses being different. needed to change a bracket and CV shaft to fit with differences between the TE and the 99 model. also part of the exhaust. because the engine is long the front end of the 3.0L exhaust touches the sump of the 3.5L.

not sure if anyone else found these problems but thats what my mechanic told me. i got these parts for free anyway except the exhaust which i got for 80 bucks from a wrecker.

i'm pretty happy with it considering it cost me less than i would have probably have had to spend on it anyway and i have a 90,000k fully serviced engine.

if you wanna know anything else i'd be happy to let u know.

thanks

sounds good mate, hopefully ill get mine done these uni holidays, which bracket did you have to change? and was it the exhaust headers?