DIY swap question(s)

[Drakon]

Is it reasonable to expect to be able to do the swap with some help but mostly by myself.

This would be a sr20det redtop into a s13 fastback. mostly stock setup.

I've never swaped an engine or done anything major on a car.

A guy at a performance shop around here (Orlando) said its posible but that he gets alot of buisness from people bringing in DIY jobs that dont work right. And that if i want everything to work " like it was meant to be in that car" I shouldnt really DIM.

I'm going to get enjuku to do the wiring harness splicing and all that jazz. And was hoping:) some guys from around here could help me out with the drop in and hard stuff. ( i dont have a cherry picker but i have a garage to work in.)

The difference in price almost makes me wana try and do it myself and rough through the tough stuff but is it gona end up costing just as much fixing stuff done wrong?

Well, i'll wait for some answers and see if i need to add anything

thanks, Mike

[goldollar]

I would say its very reasonalbe. Do you have any kind of automotive knowledge what so ever? I have never swaped out a motor before , but im alwasy tinkering with my car and fixing other peoples cars. I plan on doin the swap myself hopefully with help from some buddies of mine. Alot of people on this board have done it themselves. Also when talking about motor swaps alot of people would consider it one of the more easier swaps to do. Oh and another thing ive learned is that you really shouldnt listen to other people too much, because they dont know what your capable of, or they just try to bring other people down cause they didnt do it themselves or they are just to lazy. And a mechanic will tell you that cause thats how they make money, but dont get me wrong it is good to be able to pay a professional to do something. I say do the swap yourself, in the long run youll have more pride in the car cause you did the work your self.

[MojoMan]

If you dont do it yourself you'll never learn. The only thing about that is it can cost you a lot of money when you have it on a cherry picker, and you will need one, and all of the sudden the motor slips or the chain snaps etc, and smashes your front end.....thats when your screwed. But I think many first timers are capable. If you have ever helped a friend extensively swap a motor than you hava a good idea. The swap is pretty simple but I suggest you put the motor and transmission in at the same time or you'll cost you a lot of time. Here is a good idea. Do a search on all of the threads using the search button of course on all of the s13 swaps and follow all of the links and print everything off and go over and over everything. This will give you the knowledge to start with. You'll be more prepared.

[Drakon]

Has anyone done this from kinda the same position i'm in or maybe can tell me the troublesome stuff you ran into?

I'm gona look around and maybe post somewhere else but is anyone here in orlando doing a swap i could maybe watch? I'll help in any way i can or not at all whatever you want.

[goldollar]

Took the words out of my mouth MojoMan. Thats what ive been doin. Also a good thing for anyone doin there first swap, is to read all the "SR Wont Start" threads. Cause when you finally do the swap if it wont start, you'll know how to trouble shoot it.

[Drakon]

Ya I try and read those whenever i see em but its kinda hard to know what they're talking about most of the time cause its usually electrical. and i plan on getting alot of help with that part.

Anyone thats done it could comment maybe?

[Onizuka]

yeah i mid SR swap myself and all i have to work with is a K-mart toolset, pepboys engine hoist, and the most cramped garage on earth. I have never done anything major with my car before and im only 18. It's alot of fun once you get started!

[RobDET]

I had very little knowledge before i swapped my first motor. It was a honda and i had to chagne more than you change in the 240. Especially if you get it wired. It was a learning exprence and once you are done you will never ever fear the engine bay of the car again. The most trouble i had was just lining up the motor mounts... i had zero help so it was pretty tough.

[RefriedNismo240]

hey J-spec, so did u get your motor in from daunt yet? I remember you saying u hadnt gotten it yet. Was kinda wondering if anyone has gotten their motors yet and if anyone has had him install their motors at his shop?

[Drakon]

ya I'm 18 too. Ok so i guess i shouldnt worry to much about being able to work on it. I wont be doing much alone anyways. These guys at this shop keep saying that its not a Honda swap and its alot more difficult. but i cant see why it would be so much harder. especially with the heavy throttle guide and a few people to watch over what i'm doing.

[goldollar]

see what im saying. F-ing mechanics will tell you anything sometimes to get you in the door. I used to be into hondas alot until i came to my senses. Just kiding but naw really that mechanic, most not know to much cause honda swaps can be very hard. Wiring harness, obd this and obd that, ect. Just because someone works in a tunner shop dosnt mean nothing, man theres this shop up the street from my house , and they have the worst rep in town, they **** up alot of cars that go in their shop.