Insensitive warning to swap buyers.

[Fenris]

While i am fully aware that it is an ongoing disaster over in Japan.

I want to warn everyone about the upcoming influx of super cheap engine swaps.

Flood damaged SR20's and other parts are going to come flowing in as they start picking up the pieces. Someone is going to make a heap of dirty money off this, just be careful.

[OutToWinPAHC]

I was thinking about this considering most motors come from North Japan. It falls back on where you buy from, you can be cheap and order a cheap motor on what is posted. Or you can order from a place that buys whole cars, inspects them completely, chops them and sends them to the us with the inspection report.... IE Elite JDM

[Lobo240sx]

Good thinking. Whatever JDM swap you decide to go with, I would be extra careful and stay away from Japan right now too. Order through Canada. It is a shame that somebody is going to make a killing off of this.

[simmode1]

Well there go any thoughts of doing a VQ30DET swap... If those motors were rare to be imported before, I'm pretty sure it'll be almost impossible now. And I don't even wanna think about the possibility of having to rebuild such an uncommon motor... Altima VQ35 for me now...

But speaking of motors needing rebuilding, what kinda work goes into rebuilding a flood damaged motor? And at what price point would it be worth it to buy an SR, RB25/26 or 1JZ knowing full well its gonna need a rebuild?

[Chaluska]

if the motor was not running while it flooded, just do a really good oil / coolant flush and all electronics..

if the motor was running.. rods, crank, pistons, and possibly block, and all electronics.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Salt water sucks. Iron block will rust quick, aluminum will oxidize. As for health, the electronics will be shot as well as most wiring due to the copper sulfate from the oxidation. If the motor is cleaned inside and out before oxidation or rust its not an issue. I'd stay away unless your picking up a motor for like 500 or less and you just want to build a short or long block.

[Lobo240sx]

Well there go any thoughts of doing a VQ30DET swap... If those motors were rare to be imported before, I'm pretty sure it'll be almost impossible now. And I don't even wanna think about the possibility of having to rebuild such an uncommon motor... Altima VQ35 for me now...

But speaking of motors needing rebuilding, what kinda work goes into rebuilding a flood damaged motor? And at what price point would it be worth it to buy an SR, RB25/26 or 1JZ knowing full well its gonna need a rebuild?

Well expect them to be dirt cheap because fixing it won't be. I wouldn't buy a swap unless I know for sure that engine was on this side of the water before the disaster. IF you buy a flood damaged engine, I hope the vendor is aware as well as the buyer. Man what a freakin' mess!!

Don't get discouraged about the VQ30DET/VQ35 Swap because of this. Still a bada$$ swap and rare in 240's IMO. Keep it in mind since I talked you into it. Hehee.

[simmode1]

Don't get discouraged about the VQ30DET/VQ35 Swap because of this. Still a bada$$ swap and rare in 240's IMO. Keep it in mind since I talked you into it. Hehee.

You talked me into the VQ30DET swap? lolwut? Sorry, I don't remember that.

I've been talking about the turbo VQ since '09...
any-vq30det-experts-around-t426629.html

But yeah, the N/A VQ is no slouch either. I figure it would be about the same amount of work/money to do either motor the way I want, so I may as well go with the one with the most displacement, aftermarket support & not likely to be flood damaged. But I certainly will miss the idea of a USDM S13 with VQ30DET swap...

[C3Sierra_S2000]

All the more reason to go with LS power.

[simmode1]

LSx is great, but not for me. Its overkill for my needs. Plus, I prefer my swaps to be brand specific.

[Lobo240sx]

LSx is great, but not for me. Its overkill for my needs. Plus, I prefer my swaps to be brand specific.

I like to pick up the weight of a SR long block by myself. Good thing I got a spare SR20 in my possession.

[simmode1]

Yeah, I don't like the idea of the weight of the LSx or VH in a 240 either, but didn't want to comment intially since I haven't driven either. And I don't wanna hear any LS/VH is lighter than a KA bs either, cause that ain't true. But a 6spd 330lb VQ pushing close to 300whp N/A & sitting almost totally behind your strut towers? I like that Idea alot.

[Lobo240sx]

Yeah, I don't like the idea of the weight of the LSx or VH in a 240 either, but didn't want to comment intially since I haven't driven either. And I don't wanna hear any LS/VH is lighter than a KA bs either, cause that ain't true. But a 6spd 330lb VQ pushing close to 300whp N/A & sitting almost totally behind your strut towers? I like that Idea alot.

.

Brian that had a 4th gen Super Charged Maxima w/ "Stillen yo wallet" Bodykit tried the VQ35DET and blew it up. Think that was more tune related though. Then he moved to the VQ30. Seemed to hold up fine. There was another guy around here in a total Sleeper stock Alloys 96 Maxima pushing like 390 to the wheels. When I first drove my mom's 96 Maxima 5 spd on the way back to Austin from San Marcos for the 1st time, OMG that thing was smooth and quick. Looked down and was going 75 like nothing. 0-60 in 6.8 sec is not bad for a car that size stock. VQ DO IT!!

[OutToWinPAHC]

Yeah, I don't like the idea of the weight of the LSx or VH in a 240 either, but didn't want to comment intially since I haven't driven either. And I don't wanna hear any LS/VH is lighter than a KA bs either, cause that ain't true. But a 6spd 330lb VQ pushing close to 300whp N/A & sitting almost totally behind your strut towers? I like that Idea alot.

OEM 497# fully dressed in fbody gear with T56. 127# transmission, 24# oem flywheel and unknown clutch weight. Not bad really most of that is on the rear. 2/3's of the block and all 150+ transmission weight.

Where a KA engine alone is 371#
240sx-ka24de-engine-weight-t299879.html

[Fenris]

LS1 and KA24DE both come to about 385lbs. But im sure there must be something that makes one better than the other...

[simmode1]

Not bad really most of that is on the rear. 2/3's of the block and all 150+ transmission weight.

Oh, I never said it was too bad, just more than I want for my needs & uses. I've seen pics of fully dressed KA's and LS1's weighed on the same scale and the KA came out to 385lbs and the LS1 came out to 425lbs.

ultimate-engine-weight-thread-t425965.html

And that's not even including transmissions on either, and we all know the T56 is a heavy sonvoabitch. Now, if you add in the weight of turbo components to make a KA comparable to an LS, then yeah, the weight difference become negligible, but reliability skyrockets with the V8.

But If I do a swap, I want a motor that is:
-lighter than what I started with.
-more displacement than what I started with
-more powerful than what I started with.
-well supported by the aftermarket.

The 330lbs VQ35 fits that bill just fine for me. I'm a middle of the road type guy. The LSx or VH are just too extreme for my tastes.