Recently had my 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5 lock up. Long story longer, I had a piece of cast aluminum come up off of I-4 and put LBJ into office after magic bulleting my oil cooler. It caused cylinder wall, cam and crank damage that I will eventually rebuild but I was thinking;

What engine can I swap into my Santa Fe that will allow me to tow and haul like I have been but still fit without (too much) fabrication. I don't want to do another crazy LS Swap or any Diesel engines and I'd like my motor mounts to line up. Other than that is there a good engine to swap in that wont cost me hundreds of hours?

 

The days of swapping different size engines are GONE with newer vehicles. The parts may fit physically, but the electrical sections just don't permit doing that anymore.
There immobilizer systems to consider, engine operating parameters,and particular engine characteristics you now have to contend with..
Not to mention the PCMs (computers). If you need to change an engine the best thing to do is install an EXACT replacement.. Something as simple as crank sensor reluctors are different and you might not ever get the engine started.
Incorrect info to the computer will not allow the coils to fire correctly nor permit the fuel injectors to work.

 

So I have the ability to reprogram and even write programming. Im looking for the least amount of fabrication possible. as far as computers and functionality, I am willing to do quite a bit of work as this is now a project and not a daily.

 

All the power to you. If you can do it and get it all to work correctly great. If you would we would like to know if this can be done, thanks.