Anxiety about 240sx sr20det swap.

[synik]

Well if you didn't read my introduction let me just reitarate something from it.

"backround/intro:When I say "starting from scratch" I mean litterally SCRATCH. As in I am 18 years old and know the concepts/ideas behind how everything in a car worx, BUT have never owned a car... or much less gotten my hands dirty working on one (well except for changing tires and oil on my family's '91 volvo 740... yes we are the proud owners of not one brick. BUT TWO BRICKS!) I've been doing research in the form of finding a car that is affordable, cool (but NOT 'honda' ricey, and also strong. (The affordable and strong aspect idea arrived at the strategy of buying a cheap car and doing an engine swap. Good idea from such a newbie as me??! eh?) Ultimately I arrived at the decision that I would get a '91 240sx and swap in a sr20det redtop (much better than a celica/3sgte swap???? Fwd limitations you know) . "

****And now my questions Assuming I can get the money for the car/engine, assuming that the two actually get to me somehow: ---First, how hard do you think this project would be for an able-bodied/bright college student with little or no car experience?---Secondly, what would you suggest me to do in getting the tools for this project. I could probably get most tools from friends but the one thing that bugs me is... none of my friends have something that deals with lifting an engine or car for the engine swap. You know... that sorta thing isn't just lying around ever.

p.s. I'm planning on doing all the work myself with friends and such(realistic?? NO... possible... maybe). Why??? B/c I'M POOR AS ALL HEL|_!! (plus I have the time If i can get the car/engine mid-way through summer.)

[synik]

I notice the rating thing says "driving mom's car" .... that is just about on mark for me!!! LOL! C yaz... i need to get some sleep. Might just help me for tommorrow morning.

[S15_silvia]

buy an engine lift as for doing the swap yourself you could prolly pull it off just take your time and use common sense and study dont forget to find all the info you can on a swap and maybe even find some instructions of some sort that will help you along?

[ItzGenX]

As poor as you may be, you might want to consider a KA-T. Many people lay down 350-400s with the KA-T in many cases and proper tuning.

[synik]

ya... but if I can get the sr20det. It's soo much more worth it. Even if it is $2200-3000 . I might end up using the ka tho.

Ka t?? Is that the turbo model for the ka? I didn't know there was a turbo model.

[I H8 UR DSM]

No, it means the KA with a Turbo as a power adder....there is no manufactured turbo ka motor in the 240.

[Samabra]

Yeah I think you could get it done by yourself, or with friends, the actualy dropping the engine in isn't too hard, the wiring itself is the hard part, allthough once that is done, its essentially plug and play, assuming you don't run into any sort of problems, which sometimes you do when you do an engine swap, like my main problem is tuning right now, but the engine runs. And if you have basic tools, then you should be ok, but you will need an engine hoist, you could prolly rent one, or mooch and try and find one that some one will let you borrow. My .02 Chris

[Samabra]

Oh yeah I have an engine for sale, PM if interested. Chris

[projectsr]

the swap is so easy the wiring is the "hard Part" for the swap. This was my first swap and I did it with some friends. If you arent confident in the wiring process then at least drop the motor and let a shop handle the wiring. They'll cut down on the labor if you go that route.You cant go wrong with the wiring diagram from HT though.

[the_invisible]

Realistic?Okay, you rarely work on cars and you want to do the swap? It is very complicated. It is more than just pulling the engine and drop in a new one and replug all the wires. Also, just removing the engine requires a ton of prep work. Even those prep work are tricky for professionals. Removing all the wiring and hoses is difficult.

If your friends really know what they are doing, then sure. I guess its not too bad.

[synik]

hmmm well thanks for the encouragement then! The actual drop was the part that sorta worried me and all b/c I'm least familiar with that sorta thing and the tools involved.

The wiring aspect of the car I imagine is akward to get all those wires and move them in the crevices... but hey I've built some computers so... that shouldn't be too bad. Comparably.

p.s. I dont mean to go off topic but... if you need a new computer... I'm all for building it urself. Saves you a **** load! (and you can make it look kewl if you want)

[Silviagirl79]

I notice the rating thing says "driving mom's car" .... that is just about on mark for me!!! LOL! C yaz... i need to get some sleep. Might just help me for tommorrow morning.

If you have no hands on experience with cars....please DONT do this swap yourself.

[synik]

You gotta learn somewhere. And plus the worst that can happen is that it takes more time than expected over summer. Time that I will have.

On the other side of this issue is the fact that I will only do the swap IF I believe I'm capable of it. As it sits, I'm not that comfortable with doing it... but that's why I'm doing all this research. Hopefully when time comes around for the actual swap I will have: some people that I can contact about technical issues (either online or by phone or mechanic/friend) ; and I will hopefully find a good INDEPTH guide that covers the nuances of doing the swap... not just the theory. (Like explaining the swap as... 'Well you just drop in the engine and then wire up the harness'... these sorts of things will not neccesarily help me... thats why i'm searching for more indepth stuff)

[Holisticbeatz]

If you have no hands on experience with cars....please DONT do this swap yourself.

Don't listen to her! The only way you'll learn is through trial and error. Just invest some $$ in some good reliable tools and the rest you can rent or borrow.

[Silviagirl79]

You gotta learn somewhere. And plus the worst that can happen is that it takes more time than expected over summer. Time that I will have.

On the other side of this issue is the fact that I will only do the swap IF I believe I'm capable of it. As it sits, I'm not that comfortable with doing it... but that's why I'm doing all this research. Hopefully when time comes around for the actual swap I will have: some people that I can contact about technical issues (either online or by phone or mechanic/friend) ; and I will hopefully find a good INDEPTH guide that covers the nuances of doing the swap... not just the theory. (Like explaining the swap as... 'Well you just drop in the engine and then wire up the harness'... these sorts of things will not neccesarily help me... thats why i'm searching for more indepth stuff)

Come on an engine swap for someone with no hands on experience!!!???? You gotta be kidding me, it isnt as easy as just dropping the motor in, and if you dont know anything about wiring it wont be a sinch. Either get a knowledable friend to help, or take it to a shop and pay the 1k everyone else does.

[synik]

When I said "capable of it" I was not specific. What I meant to say was that: I would only do it if I felt that I had the technical knowledge and resources at hand to do it. -The technical knowledge can be found out through research. That's what I'm doing up until and during the swap. -And the resources at hand I'm looking into (i.e. tools, engine lift, mechanics, friends, diagrams.)

Not everyone is a sell out who says "ohh I can't do it... it's TOO hard. So I'll just sell out and pay someone else to do it and get charged up the a$$ for labor just like 'everyone else does' " (1k??? for a random mechanic?? ya right. Its probably 1k for a specialist like daunt/afterdark-tuning. But then there is the matter of: how the hell do I get some guy a million miles away to get my car... and put in the engine. Then send the car back. Then the 1k becomes more like 1.5-2k and you are raped by the charges again.)

Oh yes and did I mention that you don't learn sh1t from paying someone an a$$load of cash to do something that you were too lazy/ambitiousless to look into.

(did u notice that i said "look into" that is ANOTHER key word. It means i MIGHT NOT do the swap.)

Well one such example that I found was a person who did an engine swap

[synik]

Well girl, I'm just full of it right?

How bout we take a look at an actual example:http://www.sourcechannel.com/c...shtml

Hmmm this example outlines a person with limited cash flow options, like me... AND the person has limited mechanical knowledge, just like ME. Yet despite those issues he did an engine swap.

I'm not saying that his and my case are the same EXCACT thing. All I'm saying is that with the right ambition, hard-work, and RESEARCH you can do a lot.

:naughty :naughty

[Holisticbeatz]

...or take it to a shop and pay the 1k everyone else does.

Everyone else doesn't. Speak for yourself! We know girls don't do engine swaps, leave it to the boys. The only time I would allow anyone to touch my car is when they wash it. Actually, come to think of it, I'd rather wash it myself and save a buck.

[Holisticbeatz]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by synik "]Well girl, I'm just full of it right?

I think you're full of it too. LOL..

[synik]

True. Very true Holistic. I'm thinking that most of the expensive/rarer tools will be borrowed. MAYBE rented. lol.

Where you at in Boston?? Also is that a halo, the game, reference for your profile pic? We got some players on our floor for halo.

[Samabra]

Yeah I'd have to agree that not everyone shells out the $1K to get it done, you just have to have courage that you can do it your self. Honestly the worst thing that could happen is you forget to tighten down some hoses, fuel starts leaking, and the car explodes.....J/K

Check out zilvia.net and heavythrottle for some info, also if you can get ahold of the silvia swap article in Sport Compact Car, and I know people around here dis the mag, but its actually a good article, and will give you an idea of what you are going to need to do. Chris

[projectsr]

Everyone else doesn't. Speak for yourself! We know girls don't do engine swaps, leave it to the boys. The only time I would allow anyone to touch my car is when they wash it. Actually, come to think of it, I'd rather wash it myself and save a buck.

:Werd

Like you said synik you can learn alot by doing the swap yourself with somebody who is mechanically inclined. I changed belts,alternator,starter,etc. before my first swap. The swap is not that hard like people who spent over1-2k on labor by a shop. Hell I used my drive shaft for a cheater bar LOL. It worked great. Basic metric tools, a few wobbles(adjustable extension for those bolts on the manifold) , jack, jackstands is all you'll need along with the engine hoist. Plus by doing the swap yourself you need to take some carb cleaner to the turbo, Manifold and clean all that gunk out. There are advantages in doing the swap yourself. Saves you $$$, learn, and you know EXACTLY what you did to your own car.

EDIT- Now I got to figure out why my car is hesitating and bucking at 6-7psi got a leak somewhere

[I H8 UR DSM]

Probrobly from spraying that carb cleaner into your turbo, lol...

Possibly also a MAFS problem, or fuel.

JESSERPI

[Silviagirl79]

Well girl, I'm just full of it right?

How bout we take a look at an actual example:http://www.sourcechannel.com/c...shtml

Hmmm this example outlines a person with limited cash flow options, like me... AND the person has limited mechanical knowledge, just like ME. Yet despite those issues he did an engine swap.

I'm not saying that his and my case are the same EXCACT thing. All I'm saying is that with the right ambition, hard-work, and RESEARCH you can do a lot.

:naughty :naughty

You know what? I hate posting on forums because things can be conveyed in so many different ways and people perceive things always the way you did not intend it to be perceived.

For 1. you were very unspecific about your automotive knowledge...making others perceive you had little experience, and only have done things like change tires etc. What was I suppose to think?

2. OF COURSE I want others to learn, hell if I could do the swap myself I would of course..but 1. I have no experience working on cars, no experience with engine swaps and 2. Have no TOOLS...NO LIFT, NO ENGINE HOIST ETC.

I do not recommend you going out and buying all these expensive tools, without A LOT of knowledge regarding this swap. The wiring is the hardest part...do you have any wiring knowledge or experience. Do whatever you want though...it's your car...maybe it'll all be fun trial and error. But I wouldnt do it..I dont have the time, resources, tools, knowledge etc. If I could I would though. Do you have knowledgeable friends? If you do then go for it.Also, EVERYONE that gets there car swapped at a shop who knows what they're doing pays an average of 1k. I am paying 1500, and am doing an auto to manual as well. My car is at an experienced shop.

Just my .02 cents, but of course it's your life! If you think you can do it nd have the tools etc...go for it my friend!

I just want to make sure my swap gets done perfectly.

PS. Also that guy in the link had a Honda engine, Honda engines are much easier to swap. I'll bet it wasnt a JDM engine either.

[projectsr]

Probrobly from spraying that carb cleaner into your turbo, lol...

Possibly also a MAFS problem, or fuel.

JESSERPI

I dont think spraying carb cleaner like 8 months ago would do that besides we let it dry before we put everything back on.

I'm thinking bad gas or or MAF problem. I looked and took off the piping and nothing is wrong with it. Funny though I went through a 1/2 tank of gas and all of a sudden last night it started doing that. GRR.

[synik]

Sorry to act petty and keep replying but. What did you expect me to say silviagirl when you said: "If you have no hands on experience with cars....please DONT do this swap yourself."

All I want to say is that I think it's rude when someone tells another person what to do. (Especially if that person doesn't have any right to tell someone else what to do i.e. doesn't know who that person is and judges off of circumstantial info).

No grudges here though, k silviagirl? -----------------------------------------------------------------

You're doing an auto to manual conversion? Ugg, too bad you weren't able to get a manual straight off.

If I don't get the swap done this summer for any number of reasons. I'll have learned a lot and plus I will have time to work on it again during next summer or christmas break. Hopefully that won't happen though. =) I mean what else am I gonna do with the money I earn?? save it?? hehehe j/k.

[Silviagirl79]

No hard feelings whatsoever....I just misunderstood I suppose. You created a thread to receive input...so I gave my input. Sorry I misunderstood.

[projectsr]

Hey mang its all good I researched 2 years before purchasing my motor and doing the swap. Sometimes Time makes a world of difference.

Fixed my problem intake from the throttle body was loose bucking stopped

[Squirrel]

I just came across this thread and am new to the forum but am in almost exact same position as synik. 18 years old little money and would like to do an sr swap myself. I think I have little more experience than him from what he's said and have quite a lot of experience with wiring but I say go for it.

[chezina]

Like Nike said, Just do it !It is possible to swap it yourself, maybe not easy at certain parts of the swap but doable and like someone said in this thread before u will learn a lot about your car.