I don't have a donor vehicle yet, and this is just a thought at this time. What obstacles would need to be considered to plan the swap? The driveshaft, motor mounts, exhaust, oil pan, gas pedal, gas tank and lines, and radiator don't need to be mentioned, I've thought those through pretty well. My main concern is electrical. Electrically speaking, what would need to be done, or not be undone to make the swap work, or would the computer and engine harness pretty much be removed and be installed as plug and play. I hope I don't sound too retarded, but when it comes to electrical, I kind of am, pretty retarded. What things do I need to consider before starting a project like this? Like I said before, this is just a thought for now.

What year truck are you make the swap to?

It's a 75 D100 Short box Step side.

Check out Holley: Holley Gen III Swap

If you are staying stock engine use the new Edelbrock Pro flow 4 system,I had to modify the Holley mounts for my 1987 install

Ok, let me try this again. I would love to go out and buy a $10,000 package that has everything that I need to make the swap happen, but that's NOT going to happen. So, "ON A BUDGET", what has to be done to make a donor car work? I'm not sticking $5 or 7K into a swap, after buying a donor vehicle to keep it cheap. I realize that there are some things that have to be done and some money will have to be spent, but bankruptcy should be able to be avoided. I have no white privilege to pay for everything. Can the original engine and transmission wire harness be (reasonably easily) made to work? Will the original computer work or will it need to be replaced or reprogramed, or is that not even a thing?

All stock items can be used, you will have to send the PCM out to get flashed to remove all the excess items you will not be using. Pending o the year motor will give you a direction to take. Read, read, read, search on this site and all other sites that offer swap info. I did one relatively cheap a few years back and have slowly upgraded as I have gone. I started with an 06 had the MSD hemi 6 box and a Fast efi system. worked well. I have upgraded the computer since to a MS gold box, rebuilt motor and did the heads with cam change and it runs really good.

your budget is all predicated on how far you want to go. there are many options to go.

what i did was made a road map on what i wanted the car to be first, then made my wish list of where I wanted to be a few years later.

If you plan it out search and read you will find answers to all your questions. look here and for A-bodies only and B-bodies only.

It worked for me

Be patient and only bite off what you can chew. I completed my swap in just under a year, doing one thing at a time. and I have a very tight budget. my biggest cost was headers at the time.

good luck and PM me if you want more detail info.

Kiddart

https://youtube.com/c/DIYHEMI

Kevin

In all fairness, you didn't say CHEAP.........

Good luck with your project! Maybe you can keep us up to date with it (good, bad, or otherwise) by starting a thread over in the Member Projects & Survivor Pictures section?

some guys have chronicled their work in trying to use all the oem computers and wiring and sensors as is. And then that not working and trying to unpick the things they don't need. And then going to hotwireauto to get something that works. Or buying Holley stuff.
From all I've read, you would have to be very dedicated to the cause to make the OEM stuff work - so much so that you could legit go use your vocational skills to make the money needed to go buy the holley system and maybe be happier.