Engine swap

RICH BRAUN

MEMBER
1990 PONTIAC SUNBIRD
180,000 MILES

Is it possible to swap a distributor motor for an electronic ignition motor. Both are Pontiac 2L 1993 motor into a 1990 Sunbird?

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 3:33 PM

7 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

The problem being is the different computer engine wiring harness and possibly the engine itself being different.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 3:53 PM

RICH BRAUN

MEMBER
4 POSTS

The engines look identical except for the distributor and coil. Could I possibly convert the newer motor by swapping coils and distributor. Its an overhead cam and the distributor is horizontal off the end of the cam shaft. There is a cover plate where the distributor would be.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 4:42 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

How is the engine harness not going to be different? Now you have a coil pack and crankshaft position sensor to plug in? Also the computer has to be different with the different wires? Hope you see what I am talking about now?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 5:09 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Also whats size motor is it? Give me that information and I have a source that should tell me if the engine will work.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 5:10 PM

RICH BRAUN

MEMBER
4 POSTS

I have a 1990 Sunbird convertible with a motor plagued with problems. It has a 2L turbo. The car I found on Craig's list is a 1993 2L. Both are overhead cams. By what you are saying it sounds like I am biting off more than I can chew! Maybe I should keep looking.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 5:19 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

I tried to look up the years and models engines that fit your car and it does not list them for your car on my information.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, April 23rd, 2016 AT 8:52 PM

RICH BRAUN

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thanks very much for trying, saved me from more grief than I already have. I may try to fix this one, temperature gun shows me 250+ degrees at one bearing real not the camshaft while the ones next to it are a 100 degrees cooler. Probably means a new camshaft and a warped head. To top it all off GM has pretty much discontinued everything. I will keep an eye out for a similar motor. At least I can still drive it out of my driveway. So I can get my bike out. CHEERS!

Image (Click to make bigger)