Any down fall to putting an S13 SR into an S14

[MattS14]

Any down fall to putting an S13 SR into an S14, besides power output and other engine changes? Because an s13 motor is 2400 and an s14 is 3500.

[tnord]

i'm pretty sure that's what most people do. i don't have the swap, nor do i know anyone who has.  but just so you get a response; i'll tell you what i've learned from the boards.  

S13 SR20DET is known as the "Redtop" because it has a red valve cover. puts out like 205 hp maybe.

S14 SR20DET is known as the "Blacktop" for same reason. 220 hp maybe?

i'm pretty sure people put in the redtop, take the 1000 dollars you save as you mentioned, and spend it on other modifications, and end up with well over the power from the blacktop.

remember, i might be wrong about this. just tryin to get you an answer.

[DrDubbleB]

Actually there is a Blacktop S13 also, and I think they have slight HP differences also, but I can't remember how much (because I'm going S14 so I never really paid that much attention...sorry : ( ).  Anyways, I heard that the S13 swapped into an S14 is actually slightly easier than swapping an S14 into an S14 because of the wiring.  There really are no downsides.  One is a newer engine, the other is not.  One has variable valve timing (VVT) the other does not...that's all I can think of, if you can call those downfalls.

[zephyr]

i thought only the s15 had vvt?

The S13 silvia came with either the CA18DE/DET,SR20DE/DET, the turbo version was a redtop.
The 180sx came with the CA18DE/DET,SR20DE/DET.  The Chuuki 180sx came with the redtop and the Kouki came with a black top.
The S14 came was the first model with the VVT blacktop motor and the S15 has the same motor with beefed up injectors and turbo to allow more poweroutput.

Also, if you're not going to be making a full drag car either the s14 engine would be your best bet, but the s13 engines are not in anyway a POS.  If you are going all out with the engine the redtop is recommended.  I don't know why personally,but I have heard that when you build a high horse power sr20 you have to take out the vvt so they use the redtop whick doesn't have that to begin with.

[crazycuban]

VVT is just something else that can break at high hp levels.  I have the S14 SR in my car, but I've never driven a car with a red top, so I can't really compare.  What VVT does, though, is make the powerband a lot flatter and longer (the engine is less peaky than the red top).  It makes a better street machine/daily driver, but if you're thinking about a 500hp monster, go with the red top.