2013 FR-S Budget Swap Help!
 

I'm looking to do a swap on a 15k budget with labor, trying to get around 400hp+, is it a realistic budget? if so, what are the best options out there engine and transmission wise?

I've been reading around on all the different swaps, but all the information is all over the place. I'm new to all this, so thank you guys in advance for any information that is provided!

With labor... Dicey to be sure. I know a shop in Michigan doing 2AZ-FE swaps that might be affordable enough for you. Not sure what another shop would charge for LS swap

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Step 1: sell 86
Step 2: use car money + 15k from project & go on craigslist
Step 3: get a used Vette
Step 4: avoid losing tens of thousands when resale comes

Just my 2c ;-)

If you're not married to the car then this is the way to go for sure

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I think this misses the point of what he is trying to do. The car is awesome and as long as the LS motor does not destroy the car's balance/handling, the finished product would be so much better then an old vette. If I had the money, I would do an engine swap. You might be able to save money by buying a used vette for the motor/parts though. FYI, you will never recoup the money you put into it.

Thing is, for the price. You can buy a pretty new vette. I have an LS swapped FRS. It was very very expensive to put together and I'm still shoveling money into it(I'll never be satisfied). With what I've spent I could have easily gotten a C6, if not a C7. Or built a 1000+hp C5. Swapping is hard and financially irresponsible. If you are dedicated to the chassis and never intend to sell it and really want to build something special, then yeah, go for it. If you want a fast car, you're doing it wrong.

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So you regret the LS swap? Did it change the way the car handles?

I don't regret it. Because I love my car. I don't have a good way to quantify handling because I haven't spent a lot of time on the track before or after the swap. What I do know is that there is no traction with all the torque, so you gotta be really careful there. It's very rowdy.

The swap didn't add that much weight. Move the battery to the trunk to mitigate that a little.

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400+ once vs 400+ for a while is where the real cost difference comes in

That, and keeping a car with stock-like amenities (cruise control, ESP, stock cluster, AC, etc.)

I have everything except cruise control, only because I have cable throttle. It is cheaper if you do away with that stuff though

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Out of curiosity, how much HP/torque is it producing? What have you done to the suspension and did it help at all with traction?

Best bet is a K24 KPower industries swap with a turbo kit and stock trans with full CANBUS integration with Haltech. They will make a BMW tranny swap option down the road. Tf-works offers a CD009 swap with wiring kits for more basic setups. I don’t think they will offer full CANBUS like KPower.

There are plenty of cheap swaps to be done if CANBUS is not required. You could get a junkyard, iron block LS or older smallblock Chevy or Ford with any number of transmissions that directly bolt up, have adapters or aftermarket bellhousings. Aristo 1JZ/2JZGTE with a W58/R154 or a 2JZGE and a turbo kit with the same transmissions.

I was thinking that too. Motec to run all the OE accessories along with EPS and communicate with TC is approaching half his budget before wire harness.