(to be taken seriously please..... )

Basically, an engine transplant isn't too tough a job, BUT, to be kind of more sure footed on the day or two it'll be being done I'd like a quick step by step (not that much detail needed) as to the way an engine SHOULD be removed & replaced. Kind of an order of work, perhaps? Things to look out for?

The mechanic doing the work has done engine swaps before, but not in such a modern car (last one was an XJ6, but he did remove the block from crashed Fabia)

So, can anyone sort of help me out a little bit in my quest? Would be damn cool if so!

Keep everything..

if the donor engine is out of another car, ancillerys may be different.. eg boost control valve locations (on the bulkhead on most cars, on the susp turret on the furby rs/ibiza

Never heard of a boost control valve location. Take it that's not a dump valve. Ultimate Q is then: Are they the same in PD100 as PD130, so its a case of detach wire from (assume turbo ) and re-attach to "new" turbo?

Its not a wire.... its a vacume hose that attaches onto the VNT actuator.

IIRC they should be the same. on golfs/octys they have the N18 and N75 and on the fabia size they are both intergrated into that black box on the drivers side suspension turret, just behind the coolant header bottle (does your car have one there?)

Biggest tip I can give you for any project like this is to get a camera and camcorder and take some good pictures and footage of the engine bay beforehand and as you disconnect stuff. Label up every single wire and hose that you take off with numbered tags and mark on the old engine what came from where.

Get a third person to help who's job it is just to do this and nothing more. If they are paying attention they will have a better idea than you what came out.

That makes it so much easier to put it back together later on , and even allows you to go back to how you started if needs be.

Biggest tip I can give you for any project like this is to get a camera and camcorder and take some good pictures and footage of the engine bay beforehand and as you disconnect stuff. Label up every single wire and hose that you take off with numbered tags and mark on the old engine what came from where.

Get a third person to help who's job it is just to do this and nothing more. If they are paying attention they will have a better idea than you what came out.

That makes it so much easier to put it back together later on ' date=' and even allows you to go back to how you started if needs be.[/quote']

If labels aren't available white insulating tape and an indelible marker works wonders

Make sure you replace any bolts that mount the engine and gearbox to the body, these are one time use only.

Do you have seperate valves as Colin mentioned or do you have the black unit on top of the o/s turret?

Make sure you replace any bolts that mount the engine and gearbox to the body' date=' these are one time use only.

Do you have seperate valves as Colin mentioned or do you have the black unit on top of the o/s turret?[/quote']

Hmmm - Any chance you know exactly which bolts these are? Good idea!

I know there is a black unit above the o/s tower as it gets in my frickin' way every time I remove/refit my sturt brace and its damned awkward to get my socket set between all those tubes/wires there.

Hmmm - Any chance you know exactly which bolts these are?

They are green in VW's.

Same as on Skoda's Gary. anything that is basically covered in a light green dye should be changed.