Please Advise on Motor Swap

[robert.huller]

Ok, so I have a 1997 240sx, my engine has finally bit the big one at 235k miles. I am now trying to decide which engine to put into the car. I have been browsing the engine tech forum here and reading about the installs and the different engines put in by other people and I am leaning towards the SR20 or the RB25. I know there is a difference in the cost of install. I found a guy who will sell me a long block RB25 for $600.

I was trying to figure out the remaining costs associated with the parts necessary for this install. I know I will have to source a transmission because my stock 240sx trans won't work. I know I will need the crossmember from a R33. I know I will need a new driveshaft. I will have to source a turbo as well as a turbo manifold. I will have to get a whole new turbo kit for all the piping and exhaust tubing. I read that I need to get a wiring harness from a R33 and have it grafted into the 240sx harness. Do I have to acquire a R33 ECU or would I be better off with a standalone system?

I realize this is a lot of noob questions that I probably just didn't look hard enough to find all my answers, however I am running out of time on my Staff Duty shift and figured I would throw this up and let you all take a gander and see how much I am missing. First thing I did was checked the RB FAQ and it seems like that just became a arguement. I am just looking for a few answers. Drift Freaq, I will probably be contacting you regarding some of your products if I do buy this motor from this guy.

If you have a good parts list or something close, please send me a message.

Thanks for your time.

Rob Huller

[Biggamehit]

No ones swap goes the same. many variables. After you gather your research do whats in your ability and wallet range.

Use this search engine and other alike. google is loaded with information.. some good some not so good.. but its out there and everything has been done brother.

some things to take into consideration.

-hard parking
-weekend racing
-track only
-quick response

etc goes into motor type, turbo build etc.

If you want my opinion build suspension first then add more power.

[robert.huller]

Thanks for.the response. I guess I was heading to engine bay because I had this RB25 literally fall into my lap if I want it. I got some rebuilding to do to.the front end meaning headlights and hood and fenders (previous owner hit a deer) but I was thinking that if I get the engine in while doing the cosmetic rebuild it would go smoother. Hopefully

[Biggamehit]

take it!!

i love my Rb25 has been solid for 3 years now... driving it daily and drifting it all over Japan.

[robert.huller]

I would love to get stationed there. But Army usually gets Koreaif we try to go that direction. If you got the RB25 already I might be hitting you up for some other info too. The one I am getting is a long block. No manifolds and no turbo. First turbo car. Don't worry not going to tune it myself. I always hear horror stories about tuning the cars.

[Biggamehit]

No horror stories just need the right hardware and do research. I Tuned my Rb to 433chp 383whp with a slipping clutch on the dyno. I now got a Ogura Twin Im very very sure that number is higher. I will dyno right before going to my next setup. I'm reducing power to prolong things. I snapped an axel about a month ago... no good lol.


I run Power FC with FC dataloggit.. great combo for me.

[Promise Land]

would a rebuilt KA with forged internals not be cheaper in the long run than having to swap all the pieces for an RB or SR or LSx? The KA would at least bolt straight in to your existing car without an issue.

I am going the rebuilt KA with internals, then turbo in a year or two, for the simple reason of cost and it bolts right in.

[robert.huller]

would a rebuilt KA with forged internals not be cheaper in the long run than having to swap all the pieces for an RB or SR or LSx? The KA would at least bolt straight in to your existing car without an issue.

I am going the rebuilt KA with internals, then turbo in a year or two, for the simple reason of cost and it bolts right in.

Ok I'm intrigued by the idea of the KA-T. You talked about redoing the guts and all. Is the T3/T4 still designed to give low end torque and high end power?
Thinking it might be cheaper to go that route for now and maybe not stick too much into the Kouki right now.

[Promise Land]

I believe the hybrid T3/T4 is what most people are using for a basic setup. I haven't looked too much into it yet. My plan was to rebuild my motor next summer with forged internals (same compression ratio) which will run fine for a year or two before I add the turbo kit.

AMS used to have a complete rebuild kit with forged internals, gaskets, etc. for $1,700. I don't see it on their site anymore but I'm sure you could piece together a similar kit with some research. Maybe $3,000 or less into a capable motor that can handle plenty of boost (machine work, labor, and materials). i have seen people on the various forums claiming to run 500hp on a built KA-T without worry of it going boom. Add another $3,000 for a good turbo setup and you could have a reliable 350-500hp car for $5,000-$6,000 depending on what deals you can find, parts you add, etc. That is what I am targeting for my S14 over the next couple years.

[SLiDe_WaYz]

Idk if I would go RB, its alot more costly than a SR swap is. You need a new driveshaft, crossmember, if I'm not mistaken mckinny mounts, radiator, hoses, heater hoses, tune up parts I mean the list goes on and on. You can do a SR swap for 3500-4K bc I just ordered a engine and swap package ( this including the auto to manual swap parts ) and it cost 3500. This is for a S14 SR, with some extra's. Everything I've seen on a RB always cost close to double what a SR cost.

So how deep are your pockets? Yes 600 for a long block may be a good deal. But do u have the money for a rebuild? A head? Fuel setup? Ecu? Turbo setup? Ext. There's alot of key factors that go into it. It's all on how flexible your budget is and what YOU want the car for.

Again, suspension/brakes should come first, then engine work, then cosmetics.

SR swap generally speaking -4,000
RB swap again generally speaking 6-8,000
LSX - 6-9,000 easy.

I know nothing of q LSX swap personally I'm just rounding.

This is all using quality parts and I'm rounding, you can give or take a little in between. I know some guys on here have SR swaps that cost them less than 3K because they were smart shoppers and bought 2nd hand quality parts.

[robert.huller]

Promise Land, do you know what a factory transmission is capable of handling.

[GroundPerformance]

I believe the hybrid T3/T4 is what most people are using for a basic setup. I haven't looked too much into it yet. My plan was to rebuild my motor next summer with forged internals (same compression ratio) which will run fine for a year or two before I add the turbo kit.

AMS used to have a complete rebuild kit with forged internals, gaskets, etc. for $1,700. I don't see it on their site anymore but I'm sure you could piece together a similar kit with some research. Maybe $3,000 or less into a capable motor that can handle plenty of boost (machine work, labor, and materials). i have seen people on the various forums claiming to run 500hp on a built KA-T without worry of it going boom. Add another $3,000 for a good turbo setup and you could have a reliable 350-500hp car for $5,000-$6,000 depending on what deals you can find, parts you add, etc. That is what I am targeting for my S14 over the next couple years.

Smart Choice. IMO

[Promise Land]

Promise Land, do you know what a factory transmission is capable of handling?

Not from personal experience, but I have only seen the guys going for 400hp or more changing the clutch/flywheel to handle the extra power. Usually they just make sure the fluid is in good shape and the gears don't grind when shifting (not related to power handling though).

I was going to shoot for 300whp out of mine eventually and the guys I have talked to say just get the clutch kit to handle it. One of my friends has 300whp out of his KA and he also just did a clutch kit. And he beats the snot out of his (IMO). Another guy I know had a 600hp SR and just also did the clutch.

[SLiDe_WaYz]

Promise Land, do you know what a factory transmission is capable of handling.


One of my good friends is using a KA transmission with a SR bellhousing making 650whp on E85 so there more than capable of 400bhp.

[redline racer510]

Such a simple question but a not so simple answer. Depending on your skills,budget, needs there are many options. Really do your research before you make a commitment. BTW I have a rb25 in a s14.

[Biggamehit]

AHHhhh yes yes.. I remember that AMS kit... was suck a steal for 1700.

[ultimateirving]

sr cheaper more reliable then rb.

[tehkmob]

VQ swap ftw

[redline racer510]

The best motor swap for you is the one that never happens, you keep your money and can learn to take the bus, lol JP.

[STEVES14]

Ok, so I have a 1997 240sx, my engine has finally bit the big one at 235k miles. I am now trying to decide which engine to put into the car. I have been browsing the engine tech forum here and reading about the installs and the different engines put in by other people and I am leaning towards the SR20 or the RB25. I know there is a difference in the cost of install. I found a guy who will sell me a long block RB25 for $600.

I was trying to figure out the remaining costs associated with the parts necessary for this install. I know I will have to source a transmission because my stock 240sx trans won't work. I know I will need the crossmember from a R33. I know I will need a new driveshaft. I will have to source a turbo as well as a turbo manifold. I will have to get a whole new turbo kit for all the piping and exhaust tubing. I read that I need to get a wiring harness from a R33 and have it grafted into the 240sx harness. Do I have to acquire a R33 ECU or would I be better off with a standalone system?
I realize this is a lot of noob questions that I probably just didn't look hard enough to find all my answers, however I am running out of time on my Staff Duty shift and figured I would throw this up and let you all take a gander and see how much I am missing. First thing I did was checked the RB FAQ and it seems like that just became a arguement. I am just looking for a few answers. Drift Freaq, I will probably be contacting you regarding some of your products if I do buy this motor from this guy.

If you have a good parts list or something close, please send me a message.

Thanks for your time.

Rob Huller


i was once in your shoes debating on a RB or SR and i want SR for these reasons

1. parts were cheaper
2. i did the whole swap at my house didn't need to go to any performance shops because i don't trust any of the shops here in CT there all HACKS and do shitty work.
3. The power level i was looking for 400whp was easy to make with a SR
4. Theres plenty of parts at your local Nissan dealership that are interchangeable with sr20det motors
5. Not as tight fitting as a RB motor lol

if you want pm me ill send you a link to my photobucket.

[STEVES14]

sr cheaper more reliable then rb.

CHEAPER YES!!!!

more reliable then a RB hmmmmm i would say there both the same depending on how much power you want.

If your looking to hit 600+whp i would go with a RB instead of a SR. I think 600whp is to much power for a 4 cylinder to hold even if the motor is BUILT RIGHT. And yes there are guys with 600whp SR's but how long do they last really? I know one kid here in CT that is making 586whp with a built SR20det s13 engine and he's rebuilt the motor 2 twice in a matter of a year because it blew up on him. He deals with a performance shop here in CT and i don't think they know what the hell there doing and the same shop that built hes car tuned it too.

[josephin510]

Uhm ok wow you should first deposit that money in a bank. Then turn 18 buy cigarettes. Turn 21 booze, clubs, and half drunk whores.

[robert.huller]

i was once in your shoes debating on a RB or SR and i want SR for these reasons

1. parts were cheaper
2. i did the whole swap at my house didn't need to go to any performance shops because i don't trust any of the shops here in CT there all HACKS and do shitty work.
3. The power level i was looking for 400whp was easy to make with a SR
4. Theres plenty of parts at your local Nissan dealership that are interchangeable with sr20det motors
5. Not as tight fitting as a RB motor lol

if you want pm me ill send you a link to my photobucket.

SteveS14 I tried to pm you but it said you weren't accepting messages. If you have some time I was going to ask you a few questions about the SR20 swap.

[STEVES14]

SteveS14 I tried to pm you but it said you weren't accepting messages. If you have some time I was going to ask you a few questions about the SR20 swap.

sent you a pm with my email address ask away bro i've been modifying nissians for a LLOOOOONNNNGGGG time i've been around the block and back i'll share whatever info i have to help you out

[STEVES14]

Uhm ok wow you should first deposit that money in a bank. Then turn 18 buy cigarettes. Turn 21 booze, clubs, and half drunk whores.

^^^^^lololol you can still do that while ur in your s14 with drunk whores lol i do it all the time!!!!!!!!


hahahaha

:lfault: why i blew my turbo lol

[tehkmob]

Again, vq swap...