2017 MT FA20 engine swap into 13 BRZ - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

noautobrz · 01-28-2023, 09:05 PM

Just picked up a 24k ODO 2017 engine out of a totaled BRZ. Reason being is I threw a rod in my 13 FA20 a few weekends ago and settled with swapping after I got a great deal on this engine.

I've read a few threads on here from years ago saying the 2017 engine wont swap to the 2013 because of harness compatibility. I would just like to know how true this is. I have a buddy with a 2017 FA20 in his 13 BRZ and claims its plug and play but a shop did it for him and I'm choosing to do the swap myself.

Any info/tips would be great.

finch1750 · 01-28-2023, 09:54 PM

Read through this. Its not as simple as a harness swap

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119729

soundman98 · 01-29-2023, 09:56 AM

not impossible, but a lot of small pain in the butt changes. the block is stronger though.

noautobrz · 01-29-2023, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch1750

Read through this. Its not as simple as a harness swap

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119729

You dont have to swap the harness at all. Its should be plug and play at least thats what i was told from a buddy who has a 17 engine in his 13. The only thing im unsure about is if he used the 13 ECU or the 17 ECU.

NoHaveMSG · 01-29-2023, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noautobrz

You dont have to swap the harness at all. Its should be plug and play at least thats what i was told from a buddy who has a 17 engine in his 13. The only thing im unsure about is if he used the 13 ECU or the 17 ECU.

You didn't read the thread he linked it all, did you?

Sasquachulator · 01-30-2023, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch1750

Read through this. Its not as simple as a harness swap

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119729

sounds like a complete pain in the ass vs just getting a working engine that matches the year.

With that said...no one seems to know whether or not doing a complete transplant (17+ motor and 17+ ECU and harnesses) if that would just completely bypass all the trouble getting a 17+ motor to work in a 13-16 car.

x808drifter · 01-30-2023, 03:04 AM

OP asks for info/tips.
Tells us were wrong when we try to help.

finch1750 · 01-30-2023, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

sounds like a complete pain in the ass vs just getting a working engine that matches the year.

With that said...no one seems to know whether or not doing a complete transplant (17+ motor and 17+ ECU and harnesses) if that would just completely bypass all the trouble getting a 17+ motor to work in a 13-16 car.

Pretty much. I file it in the more trouble than it's worth until junkyards run out of zenki engines. Then itll be time to buy a salvaged kouki and see what happens lol

Grady · 01-30-2023, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x808drifter

OP asks for info/tips.
Tells us were wrong when we try to help.

It cost money to learn, I see an education coming for OP.

NoHaveMSG · 01-30-2023, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

sounds like a complete pain in the ass vs just getting a working engine that matches the year.

With that said...no one seems to know whether or not doing a complete transplant (17+ motor and 17+ ECU and harnesses) if that would just completely bypass all the trouble getting a 17+ motor to work in a 13-16 car.

You have to bypass the immobilizer from what I have read. From what I understand from steve99's post, the ECU isn't actually different hardware wise, but the ROM's are not compatible with the older cars immobilizer.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show...2&postcount=45

Quote:

This car fired up for the first time TODAY "properly", however I am still convinced it isn't possible now, without the bulkhead harness too. After swapping back, and having to purchase a bunch of new 2017 parts(the old ones were not provided back to the customer, minus the ECU, which we obvisously had to bypass the immobilizer in)

From this post.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show...7&postcount=31

NoHaveMSG · 01-30-2023, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finch1750

Pretty much. I file it in the more trouble than it's worth until junkyards run out of zenki engines. Then itll be time to buy a salvaged kouki and see what happens lol

I think the easiest way to do this swap is to run the CPS out of the older car and use a degree wheel to index the old reluctor to the new engine and run that, or have a new one built. That is what solidsnake did to run his K24 on the stock BRZ ecu.

macuser27 · 01-31-2023, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noautobrz

Just picked up a 24k ODO 2017 engine out of a totaled BRZ. Reason being is I threw a rod in my 13 FA20 a few weekends ago and settled with swapping after I got a great deal on this engine.

I've read a few threads on here from years ago saying the 2017 engine wont swap to the 2013 because of harness compatibility. I would just like to know how true this is. I have a buddy with a 2017 FA20 in his 13 BRZ and claims its plug and play but a shop did it for him and I'm choosing to do the swap myself.

Any info/tips would be great.

I have a 2013 BRZ with a 2019 engine in it. The engine was installed by the previous owner. It has 2013 wiring harness, coil packs, ECU, and sensors.

NoHaveMSG · 01-31-2023, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macuser27

I have a 2013 BRZ with a 2019 engine in it. The engine was installed by the previous owner. It has 2013 wiring harness, coil packs, ECU, and sensors.

I am dying to know what the reluctor wheel looks like

My guess is reindexed 13'.

Edit: and it may not need reindexed or anything, I am pretty sure crankshafts are the same

Sasquachulator · 01-31-2023, 10:36 AM

Is it safe to say dropping a 17+ motor into a 13-16 car is basically a poor man's engine swap?

Seems like the amount of trouble to get it to work is almost the same, except you don't have to do any custom fabrication to get it to fit.

01-28-2023, 09:05 PM	#1
noautobrz noautoBRZ Join Date: Jan 2023 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited MT Location: Chicago Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s)	2017 MT FA20 engine swap into 13 BRZ Just picked up a 24k ODO 2017 engine out of a totaled BRZ. Reason being is I threw a rod in my 13 FA20 a few weekends ago and settled with swapping after I got a great deal on this engine. I've read a few threads on here from years ago saying the 2017 engine wont swap to the 2013 because of harness compatibility. I would just like to know how true this is. I have a buddy with a 2017 FA20 in his 13 BRZ and claims its plug and play but a shop did it for him and I'm choosing to do the swap myself. Any info/tips would be great.

01-28-2023, 09:54 PM	#2
finch1750 Undisputed El Presidente Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Zenki 37J ZN6 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 11,597 Thanks: 9,405 Thanked 9,414 Times in 5,272 Posts Mentioned: 374 Post(s)	Read through this. Its not as simple as a harness swap https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119729 __________________ "Just like how a strut bar somehow enables you to corner 20MPH faster around a cloverleaf on-ramp, when the reality is, you can do it already but you just don't have to balls to do it." - CSG David

01-29-2023, 09:56 AM	#3
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,327 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,677 Times in 6,782 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s)	not impossible, but a lot of small pain in the butt changes. the block is stronger though. __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

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