At least you need some basic skills. I guarantee you this, reading a book with all the step by step is one thing and performing the job is totally different.
The main concern I have if you are a newbie with tools is SAFETY. Try to find somebody who at least has some experience with tools and swap.
Ripping stuff out is easy, the difficult part is putting everything back in. Even if the book says its done in a special order, it depends on each situation on how things go back together. On my first few tries I had to pull the engine out a few times cause I would forget to install this, or after the engine is in, there is no way to access this side of the block, or its physically impossibler to adjust or tighetn those screws if done in a specific way. Dont want to scare you, but its challenging.
About overhaulin its very easy to screw up. Apply the incorrect torque specs or just torque it in the incorect sequence and you are screwed. For example, rod bearings have to be installed in a specific way, piston rings have a specific layout and torque. How about honing the block when installing new piston rings, how to put the pistons in the chambers? Its not as easy as it looks. If I were you, I would not rebuilt the engine yet, baby steps, changin rings and bearings is not very hard from the engine bay.
You know whats going to happen? You are new to this stuff, start ripping the engine, changing this and that, here and there; then after three weeks of major surgery hit the ignition key and the engine does not start...!#@? Where do you start? There will be so many variables on the table its going to be difficult to troubleshoot.
I got a friend who wants me to work on a Honda Del Sol with a CRV block and GSR head, MSD system , ported head, APEX etc, etc. I see the engione and it scares me cause I dont know, so much has been done to the vehicle that maybe is a cable, maybe is a relay, a fuse, etc.
1. Grab yourself a digital camera, take pictures of everything, before, between and after. Label all the cables with durable masking tape and sharpie, A1 to A1, or sensorA to sensor A, mark the plugs, paint them, more pictures.
2. Read and memorize most of the procedure from the Haynes Manual.
3. Write down what you are doing, #1-removed cylinder heads.
4. Get ziplock bags, boxes, and divide parts by cylinder head, engine block, transmission, the key here is orgasnization.
5. Be patient, take your time and try to have a second vehicle, do not exepct to finish on a timeframe if this is your first swap, like the saying;
Hope for the best and expect the worst.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/430130/1
Email or PM if you have any questions. I got some pictures from my build, let me know and I can email a CD with them.
So there's no big hurry, I just miss my mx3.
It's pretty simple, you could train a monkey to do it.
