Looking to do an SR20 Swap

[nickw14]

I have been considering doing an engine swap in my FRS for a while. I first looked into a 2jz 6 speed swap, but have recently been considering an sr20det.

The difference between these two considerations boils down to whether or not a swap with that engine has actually been done (a 2jz has already been swapped into an FRS, and the guys who did it actually put a basic guide up on how they did it). I have searched around briefly and cannot actually find any completed swaps of an sr20. I myself have never swapped an engine, much less ever even pulled an engine. I know quite a few people around here who have much more experience than I do, one of whom has pulled, rebuilt, and replaced an engine in his old truck.

My question for you guys is what you would suggest for me to get started. I planned on getting the engine from JDMEngineDepot. The things I pretty much know I will need are:

- Engine Mounts
- Wiring harness(es)
- Possibly a new driveshaft

I guess the things I am still worried about are the transmission mounts (the 2jz swap required that they be cut and re-welded a couple inches back) and the driveshaft (I just don't think a toyota driveshaft will bolt right on to a nissan transmission).
As you can see, I am kinda shooting into the dark here. Like I said, I know people who have some experience with this stuff but really wouldn't be able to help until we got the engine and transmission and actually got to work. I'd rather not put the money into it if it will end up costing me more to start replacing things than the cost of the engine itself.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

[gramicci101]

You've got no experience pulling engines or modifying cars to fit different engines, you have a vague idea of what needs to be done to make it work, and you want to do a swap that no one has ever done before.

You're in over your head. At the very least, you would need custom-made engine and transmission mounts, custom driveshaft, some sort of ECU, and the ability to mesh the existing wiring harness with the new engine harness. Assuming that the transmission fits into our transmission tunnel and lines up with the shifter hole without modification, and that the engine will sit low enough to clear the hood without affecting the steering rack or underbody clearance.

You had better be an excellent fabricator and have deep enough pockets to buy your engine several times over, because that's about what it will cost.

[fz6r]

This ^

[Takumi788]

I LOVE the SR20DET. However. Swapping it into the FRS would be....trying to think of a nice way to put this....unrealistic.

Why!? The engine in your twin is fantastic. It's reliable and entertaining. Stock the SR20DET only makes 202hp....yah with a boost controller you can up the boost 4lbs and get more but all that work for maybe 30 extra hp!? No thanks.

Also, i'm not trying to troll, in the first post when listing off the parts you may need, you haven't even scratched the surface of swapping an SR20DET into a S13 240sx! If the 240 is auto you need a new trans mount and drive shaft. If it was originally a SOHC you need a longer throttle cable, radiator, a DOHC power steering pump and longer PS lines. You also need to cut holes for an inter-cooler and route the piping. These are just the things I can remember! Again...this is a few things to consider if you were swapping an SR20DET into a 240sx...a car that was DESIGNED to have that engine.

Check out NicoClub.com for more information. Most of the users on Nico are trolls but there is some good info on there.

[s2d4]

o boy..

[nickw14]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

You've got no experience pulling engines or modifying cars to fit different engines, you have a vague idea of what needs to be done to make it work, and you want to do a swap that no one has ever done before.

You're in over your head. At the very least, you would need custom-made engine and transmission mounts, custom driveshaft, some sort of ECU, and the ability to mesh the existing wiring harness with the new engine harness. Assuming that the transmission fits into our transmission tunnel and lines up with the shifter hole without modification, and that the engine will sit low enough to clear the hood without affecting the steering rack or underbody clearance.

You had better be an excellent fabricator and have deep enough pockets to buy your engine several times over, because that's about what it will cost.

See this is part of what I was looking to get out of this thread. The engine comes with an ECU and a wiring harness, but you're right I would need to get the existing harness to mesh with the one the engine comes with. As I mentioned in the thread, I have little experience with mechanics, especially engine swaps. I do know several people who do have the experience and even the tools necessary to do so. It would definitely be a learning experience, and I've got to learn some time!

Originally Posted by Takumi788

I LOVE the SR20DET. However. Swapping it into the FRS would be....trying to think of a nice way to put this....unrealistic.

Why!? The engine in your twin is fantastic. It's reliable and entertaining. Stock the SR20DET only makes 202hp....yah with a boost controller you can up the boost 4lbs and get more but all that work for maybe 30 extra hp!? No thanks.

Also, i'm not trying to troll, in the first post when listing off the parts you may need, you haven't even scratched the surface of swapping an SR20DET into a S13 240sx! If the 240 is auto you need a new trans mount and drive shaft. If it was originally a SOHC you need a longer throttle cable, radiator, a DOHC power steering pump and longer PS lines. You also need to cut holes for an inter-cooler and route the piping. These are just the things I can remember! Again...this is a few things to consider if you were swapping an SR20DET into a 240sx...a car that was DESIGNED to have that engine.

Check out NicoClub.com for more information. Most of the users on Nico are trolls but there is some good info on there.

The main reason I want to do a swap is to be able to hold more power. A friend of mine told a story of a guy he knew who turbo'd his BRZ, had Dynosty tune it to around 400whp and very shortly after cracked his casing. He said that the moral of the story to him was that the FA20 simply cannot hold that kind of power (there's still room for other explanations, the biggest being a bad tune).

As for the comparison of a 240 swap v.s. my FRS swap, most of those considerations are legitimate, if you're swapping it into a 240. But I'm not. While I will still have to take most of that into account, those are questions that can be answered rather quickly for my car.


Thanks for all the suggestions and considerations so far!

[aznatama]

You better know how to weld properly as well, since you'll likely be doing some cutting/grinding into the stock frame and welding things to it to fabricate mounting points... Possibly even cutting out the transmission tunnel and welding a new one to fit the transmission desired, etc.

In short.. NO. it'll be cheaper for you to just go buy a S15

[s2d4]

Bad tune will crack any motor.

[gramicci101]

Full Blown showed that the motor could handle up to about 600 or so before it started getting really untrustworthy. Both Full Blown and MAPerformance offer built motor packages. You would end up spending a lot less and having a lot fewer headaches talking to them, getting a built block, and running a turbo.

[Takumi788]

Originally Posted by nickw14

As for the comparison of a 240 swap v.s. my FRS swap, most of those considerations are legitimate, if you're swapping it into a 240. But I'm not.

I get that you aren't swapping it into a 240. The point I am trying to get across is that you need all the things I mentioned to swap an SR into a car that was designed for it (the 240sx). Engine swaps aren't all rainbows and lollipops. You're going to need WAY more fabrication and parts to swap the SR into a twin. It isn't going to be cheap.

[nickw14]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Full Blown showed that the motor could handle up to about 600 or so before it started getting really untrustworthy. Both Full Blown and MAPerformance offer built motor packages. You would end up spending a lot less and having a lot fewer headaches talking to them, getting a built block, and running a turbo.

I will search around for that research by FBM. In my opinion, $6k for 350whp is pretty steep. And even then our motor (I was previously told) topped out around 400 stock and then around 500 with some forged internals.

[Takumi788]

Swapping an sr into a twin would be like trying to build the Knex roller coaster with legos. I'm sure its possible, but why not just make it from knex in the first place?

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by nickw14

The main reason I want to do a swap is to be able to hold more power. A friend of mine told a story of a guy he knew who turbo'd his BRZ, had Dynosty tune it to around 400whp and very shortly after cracked his casing. He said that the moral of the story to him was that the FA20 simply cannot hold that kind of power (there's still room for other explanations, the biggest being a bad tune).

This engine is stonger than you think you just need the right tuner. Theres a blown motor thread, go read it. Theres a good amount of members here with 400+ to the wheels. Hell @woode has 412 to the wheels on 93 pump gas. Albeit probably looking to build his engine soon, it still hasent blown up yet. Same with @Sportsguy83's brz.

An engine swap would cost you more. Alot more than building this engine.
-motor
-custom motor mounts
-transmission
-custom transmission mounts
-custom ECU mesh
-upgrades for the SR20 (dependant on how much power you want)
-driveshaft
-clutch
-diff (making any power to the wheels over stock you will nees to reenforce things)
-tuning time
-instal time
-all the nuts and bolts and clamps youll need

Vs
-An fbm turbo kit (4.5-5.5k)
-a tune ($varies)
-supporting mods ($3-4k)
-clutch($600-$1000)
Anything else you feel like youd need.

If your going to do a swap, put in an engine with known power above the fa20's so far. Like an LSx or 2j or rb26 (which hasnt been attempted b/c $$$$$$$$$$$)

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by nickw14

I will search around for that research by FBM. In my opinion, $6k for 350whp is pretty steep. And even then our motor (I was previously told) topped out around 400 stock and then around 500 with some forged internals.

You need to do some serious research. That 6k will vary the horsepower because boost.