Considering This
 

Considering doing this.....any thoughts?

http://shop.weaponsgradeperformance....rz-ls-swap-kit

Which would mean I would have a fully built FA20 for sale with 200 miles on it. My main concern is how much the weight balance would be upset

I'd be concerned about ruining the true nature of the car. That's a lot more weight than the car was designed around.

Price isn't exactly cheap either. Your money and your car though, so by all means go ahead.

Rough estimate I would figure close to 20k depending on how you source a LSX and transmission.

i owned an ls-swapped miata for a brief time a while back. everyone said it would ruin the balance. it didn't. the weight bias shifted 1% to the front when it was all said and done.

trust me, when you were driving that car, you weren't concerned about whether or not you had ruined it's 'true nature'. it was fun. cheaper than a turbo for that car, too since we already had the engine laying around.

With all this money spent, why not just buy a more top end car? I don't get it. This is a light, agile, quick around corner 25k car. When you pay the same price upgrading the engine, you might as well get a GT-R at this rate. Like the comment above, your money, your car.

because you can't buy a ~28-2900lb 600hp v8-powered 2+2 for less than the $50k or so you'd have in this. it has it's place in the world for sure.

After building an LS1-powered FD and seeing the kits we used (supplied by Samberg or Hinson being the most popular), I'm not a fan of the design of the WGP setup. The kit looks rather bulky and heavy (reference the tubular setup produced by Samberg) and not friendly when it comes to working on the car.

For anyone that's considering doing this swap, you have to look at the whole picture aside from just the cost and weight. Do you plan to use the factory GM ECU and if so, are you going to rewire the entire car? Do you plan on keeping A/C? Who's going to make the custom lines? What steering rack will you use and how will the position of the motor effect bumpsteer and handling? What differential will you use? I haven't read up on our differentials but I'm going to venture out and say they probably survive very long being abused by torque.

Based on my car, I would bank on easily spending ~$15-20k with a timeline of 1.5-2 yrs, maybe longer, before it's completed. Can you do it for less and in quicker time, sure but for a proper, cleanly assembled setup, it's not a project anyone should rush.

With all that being said, I wouldn't elect this car for this time a build. Find an RX8 with a blown motor for cheap and venture into that. Why the RX8? It has a very neutral handling setup and would be a great candidate for the swap based on completion cost.

**EDIT** After looking at the WGP kit, the larger steel pieces maybe the tooling which makes the kit not as bad as I thought when I quickly view the pics.

do it. I'm planning for this in the future most likely lol.

I think WGP said it added like 40 pounds to the front over the stock setup... I wouldn't worry about it ruining anything.

Plus depending on which LS motor you choose, you would have 400-500 RELIABLE whp...without mods. :bow:

This is one of the few swaps I would do on this platform. Bigest issue for me though is lack of available space ( factory sheet metal )for a large tire. You can make 400+ lb of torque very easily and that end up making a car that has limited traction most the time.

I quickly glanced over your post, regarding the ecu, and interior functions. WGP managed to incorporate both the gm and 86 ecu, even the people running 2js on this car are doing it. So its doable

Anybody saying it ruins the car is just a 86 fanboy with a closed mentality.

This car would be a beast with torque of a cammd, mild head job and sprayed LS. I think it's going to be a tire shredding monster. I personally love 2js but lived with a stroked ls3 to 6.9 with a blower and that thing was fun. If I had the choice I'd put a 2j IF I don't buy a supra in the next year or so,but if I had a supra or wasn't such 2j lover, I'd blindly go for a v8.

Ekanoo has a 2j in his gt86 that weighs 2806 :) pretty stock weighing 86 too me

@SmsAlSuwaidi I wasn't implying that the LSx would ruin the car but the questions I did post are valid points. Like I said, there is more to think about than just the weight difference.

Now regarding the wiring, I'm aware that you can get the 86 cluster and everything to work with the GM ECU (my factory RX7 gauges and everything worked with the GM ECU) but my question was, is this something the potential "swapper" going to tackle the wiring task himself and/or have some else deal with the headache? To my knowledge, this isn't a service provided by any vendor.

What's the point. You can get a used C5 for a good price.

Anyone that advises against this is truly a 86 fanboy. If you have the money go for it! Iv'e been trying to tackle an ls1 swap on my s14 for quite some time now. The lsx is a great platform for any vehicle imo. It isn't as heavy as everyone in here makes it seem. The motor weighs in at about 400lbs dry and a T56 transmission is roughly 150lbs. Granted the fa20 makes decent power with FI and this swap will cost mega $$, so you should probably weigh out the pros and cons of ls swap vs fi.

Why sell the motor? You have spent months building it

Reliable,.....NA.....stock motor.....instant torque....Tremec T56.....I cant see any bad points...plus it eliminates a lot of the glitches and concerns I have with my engine in its current state of aftermarket FI...as far as getting a C5 or another more purposeful built car,..... I see soccer moms driving them now.....I march to a different drummer.....I like the unusual stuff.

A lot more weight? You may not know what an ls swap actually weighs... This is likely barely more if not close to the weight of my current car with a vortech supercharger... yet its NA, stock, and reliable. Not to mention you can get practically every single part at any automotive parts store without waiting on backorder. Which is great compared to the fact I couldn't even get a passenger side idler puller for my car in under 3-4 days.

IIRC bias is shifted ~4%. WGP did have an account but they were apparently banned for "ruining the true nature of the car". Or at least that was what they said the ban was for.

If I don't do it now,....I will in the near future as this car was made for such a swap,...and I whole heartedly believe once these cars see some mileage there will be a lot of V8 swapped FRS/BRZ's out there. I'm right now mulling the idea over with a shop who has done this on a few other cars ( non GT86's) they are very capable, they are presently installing a roll bar/seats and suspension bits on my car....just want some other opinions.

Anyone with a differing opinion is a fanboy? Straw-man argument. The op is asking for "any thoughts". That is not to say that all opinions are based or experience or facts but such are the forums.

Thanks all,....keep it coming. Captain Snooze is correct,....want to hear pros and cons....I'm planning on leaving the LSX virtually stock except exhaust of course.

My opinion is.....wait for it....wait......
I think the correct frame of mind would be to look upon the project as an experiment. That is, you do not know how the final result will turn out or the issues that will arise. (Expect the unexpected ).
Stating the obvious, ultimately it is your decision but if you do go ahead you will (hopefully) have fun in the process.

Yes, as I said the LSx is a great platform. The pros out weigh the cons, if his pockets are deep enough of course. Why did you bother posting in here if you choose not to give your opinion? Your contribution was to state the obvious...

Depending on which LSx you use, the power you can get with simple bolt-on's, cam and tune is incredible. Although the pictures do look like the motor is sitting pretty high up in the engine bay, so you would probably lose that low center of gravity the brz/frs is famous for. Hard to tell though.

sounds like a massive headache but that is just because I don't know much about fixing/repairing cars. However, I will certainly enjoy your "build thread" that I am sure you will post for the community should you conduct this project. I would imagine this is not your DD... if it is then I would say dont do it

Wow! American ingenuity. It's not for me, but very cool. 400+ HP without the threat of popping your motor. This would be scary fast!


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A crate LS1 from GM weighs 409lb's without oil. Add in all the fabricated additional supports, braces (86 frame will twist with a high torque engine), stronger front springs, and all the ancillary stuff and I assure you it's significantly more than a fa20 with a vortech.

To everyone saying it doesn't make sense or ruins the nature of the car... since when did modifying cars EVER make sense :bellyroll:

My friend spends a small fortune on horror movies/memorabilia, and it makes no sense to me... but it makes HIM happy.

Do what you want and don't care about what anyone else thinks. In the end you are driving the car, not them

All the math and logic in the world can prove that something doesn't make sense, but it will put a smile on the face of somebody.

The one thing that I haven't seen in here, though I didn't read everything, is any concerns about the rear suspension geometry. People are already having trouble getting 60' times down to 2.0 seconds from the slips I've seen. Hooking up with an LSx would only make it harder. Are you prepared to pioneer a 3 or 4 link setup?

Like a modern day AC Cobra. Light car + powerhouse engine = WOW!


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Not my DD,....but I cant seem to not want to choose the FRS keys on the key rack when I'm headed out to work. :burnrubber:

Yah,,,this is one of my concerns as traction with my car now is an issue with 245's and FI,...and the fix adds more cash to the equation with fender rolling and or skirts wider tires and wheels.

How do you know its going to twist its frame ?

Ekanoo is launching his 1k hp/800tq 2j gt86 with full slicks, he never mentioned frame twisting



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He never mentioned how much extra steel he put in the car to stiffen it either....what's your point?

Not that much , my point is how do you know this frame will twist without providing evidence :)


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Rather than have $40k+ wrapped up into a frankenstein BRZ with an LS1 motor, I'd just go ahead and buy a C6 Z06 with 505hp or 2010+ C6 Grand Sport with a Dry Sump LS3 for the same price.

The C6 Z06 only has a curb weight of 3130 lbs (about 300 some lbs more than the BRZ/FRS), but much better setup for a high HP motor, and can fit a nice 315 size rear tire out back.

if the purpose was to own a car, that would probably be the smarter way to go. i think anyone considering a swap's idea is to build a car, like a project. it's about the project, not owning the result of it.

Yeah, I get that; it's fun to build projects and make it your own. Just personal opinion, but I have "built" several cars, including a 300whp turbo Civic, 608rwhp Cobra, and a few track cars.

For me, with the first car I built (turbo civic SI), it was frustrating when I had $25k into the thing total (including the cost of the car) and could have bought a bone stock Z06 that outperformed it. I then got an 03 Cobra, spent only like $3-4k extra on bolt-ons, and had a dead reliable 600rwhp monster. I probably spent a tad more in total on the Cobra setup than I had into my turbo civic "build", but I had double the power, and it was much more satisfying.

Personally, I'd rather start with a fast car and do a few bolt-ons rather than a complete build, but like I said, to each his own.

You could always buy this:

Attachment 60145

I sold a 2012 Boss Laguna Seca to do this project,..... It was extremely capable and a much better platform (performance wise) than a ZN6, specially with some Kenny Brown parts thrown at it. I want something different. Like I said earlier,...I love Corvettes,....but they are a dime a dozen.

I'd be concerned about the fuel consumption with a V8 in the 86/BRZ.

A V8 with a 50 litre fuel tank means you're going to be visiting the gas station pretty often.

the ls can be set up to get very good gas mileage. the fuel tank size should not be an issue. Driving non aggressively I would expect low to mid 20's around town and mid 20s to low 30's highway. This is a guesstament.

Ok,.....it's official......have struck a deal to do a LS1 swap on my FRS. The only big issue right now is power steering which will have to be be figured out as no one is sharing and no kit has addressed this yet,....everything LS engine wise will be OEM except maybe stiffer valve springs. Talking with the tech at Track Works at Ft.Worth as far as the balance of the car if anything it should improve,....the weight difference engine wise is negilable,... a Tremec T56 transmission going in,.. which is a great deal heavier than the Aisin but, the added weight is more centered and rearward :thumbup:.....see nothing put positives and no negatives for the swap except the cost. Will be selling a bunch of parts on my current setup piece meal or,. as a package as soon as they come off.....built forged engine 9.5 to 1 compression, transmission, turbo kit, DSS carbon fiber driveshaft, Perrin oil cooler, .....etc....etc....to anyone interested.

Additions that were just installed below.

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...16385551_n.jpghttps://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...47695095_n.jpghttps://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...27784063_n.jpghttps://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...30223318_n.jpg