Thanks for the information Merrill, helpful as always. Picking up mounts to move the engine forward, and having the driveshaft modified to match isn't an issue. Fabbing up new mounts to move the engine forward, is an issue. I don't have the tools at my disposal to do that. I can cut, and I can "Weld" (Small, non supporting things. I have a cheap Mig and do not having professional balancing tools.

I don't want a junk yard build, but I also don't want a $30,000 build. I want something I can reliably daily drive, that has some power and handling for the back roads. The truck will never see a track, unless I'm just down there for fun with some buddies or whatever.

This is the planning stage. I have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week free to do this project. I don't have a lift, but I have most basic tools. Jacks, stands, cherry picker, engine stand, compressor tools, hand tools, cheap welder, spray guns and sand blasters. I have mechanical experience. I've done many swaps in the past, I was a helicopter mechanic for a good while. What I want is something a good small time mechanic (Not a specialist) can do in his garage, with your standard tools. Not a machine shop. Running some wires, getting some diagrams, fillings some extra holes, modifying the body slighty, turning wrenches, this is all awesome and totally doable.

I've set a $3,000 budget on just the turbo swap. I'm trying to get feelers on the most reliable, most efficient (Money wise) was to do this swap.

I do plan to do suspension, wheel/tire, body, and interior work as well, which I have a separate budget for. Entire truck finished minus paint I have a goal budget of $10,000.

In doing my research on this swap, I'm getting the same answers that I'm getting here. Everybody has a different idea on what is cheapest, most reliable, easiest to source parts. I wish that I had done this project before, because currently, I am quite confused on what direction to take with this.

Slapping a DOHC head on my engine is technically less work that putting in a new engine and transmission. Perfect. But, will it be a less reliable swap than dropping in a 2.3 out of an eclipse or the like?

If I'm pulling the engine then I'm pulling the engine. I want to do it once, and do it right. Would you recommend getting the piston and rod setup that is advertised for putting a 2.0 head on a 2.4 engine? If I do that, what else should I replace when I do that?

I'm not expecting to pull 20 lbs of boost out of this project. 10-12 would make me happy. 15 would be incredible. But I don't want to put my trucks life at stake in the process. That's why I'm asking questions, doing research, and trying to know as much about this swap as I can before I start throwing money at it. If it takes me another month of 16 hour a day web searches and planning to put together a solid plan before I can finally pull the trigger, then so be it.

I will read your swap post once again, and search for your head swap guide in this section Merrill.

If it comes down to having to calculate the compression ratio myself with parts in hand then I guess that's what I'll have to do. I would just hate to get it together, find out the compression ratio is 12:1 and end up having to order new pistons and rods, waiting a month before I can reassemble the engine.