Engine Swap - how difficult?

[The Disapproving Brit]

I've got a donor bike, tested it and it runs OK. I've got the service manual, and based on what's in there, it looks like a straightforward enough job.

Are there any gotchas I need to be careful of when I'm doing an engine swap? This will be my first crack at such a big job. The only significant difference is that my bike has a different exhaust (single instead of dual exhausts), but if I'm not swapping the carbs, that shouldn't make any odds, should it?
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[SteveZZR]

If its a different exhaust setup then really you ought to be changing the carb/carbs as they'll be jetted to suit their respective exhausts.

just remember to drain coolant, remove clutch cable, disconnect crank breather and take your chain off!

[_Iain_]

What bike?

Would be inclined to leave the current carbs on - pop em off the rubbers with throttle cables attached & then pop em onto the new motor when it goes in.

Take photo's every step - it'll help you spot where "that" goes when you cant figure it out later on
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[The Disapproving Brit]

The exhausts are staying on their respective bikes, its just the engine thats getting swapped, hence the carbs staying where they are.

The bike is '83 VF400.
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[dydey90]

It's actually not as big a job as it looks, the most difficult bit is trying to hold the damn lump steady while you slide the first bolt in.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Blue_SV650S]

The V4 engines are a pain as the frame is tiny and exhaust system is complex.

On a different, but related note, do you have the exhausts off both bikes yet? When removing an engine, the exhaust studs can have a tendency to snap off, which can cause problems in disassembly and the inevitable having to sort out stud extraction before re-assembly.
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[SteveZZR]

Ah right, that's ok then.

If the bike is running in its current state is there any reason not to build that one up into a full bike using all your "best bits"?

[The Disapproving Brit]

[27cows]

Certainly be extremely tricky if you intend to do the job alone. As mentioned, V4s are very 'snug' fit, as a rule. They normally come out of the frame fine...but getting them in the other way can be fraught. Definitely need the help of a mate, ideally a big lump with arms like tree trunks
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[yampug]

not a hard job like other poster said only bit that might be a pain is exhaust studs, if it was me i'd be coating them in wd40 for a few days before.

[fatjames]

[yampug]

[P.]

People removing engines need plus gas, a hammer and a spare set of hands, minimum

[yampug]

i did my fj1200 engine on my own so a 400 shouldn't be to hard. trolley jack and nice flat floor is very helpful. at one point i did wonder if it was bolted to the floor when i thought i'd see just how heavy a 1200cc engine was to lift using just brute force and stupidity.

[Timmeh]

A lot of people say that it's not a good idea to drop the V4s onto the sump; building a wooden frame of 4x1 so the case takes the weight is usually the done thing.


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GSXR400 x2 | '94 RVF400 | '93 TZR125 4DL (again)
20:22:30 BLUEX5: i would love to be forced to undergo a**l plugging with different sizes
20:48:18 Temeluchus: comp you hunk of smouldering homos3x you