Hey everyone.
I've been planning to rebuild my 3.9. Needs a new head gasket. And valve seals. And timing chain. The works. But it is still a strong engine. Has 197xxxks on it. Runs well even with the above problems.

Now what I though of is that im a 1st year mechanic now at a very nice workshop with heaps of room.
My engine the way it is now should run for another 6 months if im good to it. Wich I mostly am.
Would it be a better idea for me to source a tickford head. and rebuild it so when it comes time for my head gasket to change I put it in.
OR
Should I build a whole engine and just swap them.
Ticky head. Good bottom. Au would be the best to use?
New timing chain and valves and whatever else needs replacing.
I think itd be a good job to learn on.
But I want the engines to be a straight swap in the end.
What do you think?

also anyone know what the go is with an engine swap when your on P plates.

if you buy or get another engine from another car, you have to show the vin number to the transport company or who ever does your rego, so they can check the engine number to see if its stolen or not,

You dont have to tell them, but it is wise you do, incase you have aciddent

Engine swaps the same deal on your Ps or not, its within the capacity allowance of 10% (IIRC) so you dont need to get an engineers cert, and its from the same series of cars (the 4.0).
I'd go the AU motor, you need to grind back the fins on the sump for it to fit unlike EF/ELs that need the K frame or sump cut and modified.
Buy an AU Tickford non VCT motor. Fit it with some heavier crow springs, a cam, new chain and guides. I probably wouldnt bother replacing the valves, but replace the valve stem seals.
Do some headwork to it, mainly just clean up and smooth out the ports and combustion chamber. Shave 20 odd thou off the head which will bump up the comp ratio to 10:1 / 10.2:1, one of the 2 I cant remember exactly now.
You'll need use an AU alternator and hope the wiring and plug is the same or modify the block (chop off a tab or 2, tap a thread) and fit your existing alternator and bracket. I did the latter in my EF.
You will almost double your power at the wheels going from an unhealthy 3.9 to a mildy worked and cammed 4.0...

How much did that cost you?
What I wanna do is basically put a slightly better engine in that is good to go for a while so I can save some cash and when im off my Ps put a blown v8 in....
I don't wanna do that much messing around with cutting wires and swapping plugs and alternators and s**t.
Id be happy with a healty eb xr6 engine. Maybe a regound cam.

Couple hundred I've spent on the head getting it shaved with the new springs, stem seals. I think $300 or so plus bolts n new gasket. I havent purchased a cam yet a but a billet is $450, regrind half that when you factor in postage both ways.

You dont need to swap plugs n wires n s**t, you can retain your EA alternator, but, I'd do a BBM conversion along with fitting a serp belt.
If you dont want to do that then you just fit your alternator to the AU block with a little help from our friends angle grinder, and tap and die set.
Its seriously not hard to do. You just bolt up all your existing gear to the AU block and head.
Or, fit a newer EF/EL bottom end with your XR head.

Either way IMHO its worth spending a couple of dollars and making sure everything is in A+ shape. With the stock cam in my AU motor it was quicker than the EF motor with a 1673, easily. I wont mention the difference in specifics but it was enough to make you go, holy F**k! shoulda done this ages ago!

Wow, a blown V8 conversion on a 3rd year apprentice wage.... much respect man.

It could be done.
Trade costs.
Got my boss to give me a hand.
Full workshop to do it in.
Might cost a bit. But not as much.
Plus blown v8 eb. Yes !