SR Swap Questions

[gounc14]

I've done a good amount of research on the topic, and a couple months ago I bought a 93 s13 hatchback, and I really want to get an SR swap. I looked up prices for the s13 red and black tops, as well as the s14 and 15 engines, and I've got my head set on an s14 blacktop because of the variable valve timing and the stock ball bearing turbo. Well I've narrowed my choices to Heavy Throttle and recently discovered http://www.total-boost.com via a post on the forums. Here's the run down

Total-Boost- $2,399Items Included with the Swap: Hydraulic Transmission Engine Control Unit (ECU) Wiring Harness Distributor Intake Manifold Exhaust Manifold Alternator Igniter Chip (Extra) Maf Sensor (Extra)

Heavy Throttle- $3,600Items Included with the Swap Top Engine Harness w/ coilpack harness ECU engine harness with ECU and Ignitor Chip Lower Engine / transmission harness Power Steering Pump Starter and Alternator Turbo Turbo inlet pipe and outlet pipe MAFS Cam Angle Sensor Bell housing bolts Motor mount brackets

Does anyone have any experience with total-boost, and what do I still need to buy from either shop? I would be having someone else put the engine in, just need to get all the parts together myself. Anyone know a good budget just for parts for the s14 swap? Your help is greatly appreciated guys, and I did do a lot of searching, just need a little more information =)

[Onizuka]

Well, I cant comment on total boost, but I'll plug heavythrottle because the motor they sent me was soooo clean. The only thing I *had* to buy was getting my wire harness done profesionally, because I wanted it to work right the first time and I don't feel confident in my wiring skills. Also a SMIC. Other than that, it was a complete package that came with all the accesories and little doodads nessecary to install it.

EDIT: oh yeah and a downpipe.

[gounc14]

So from heavy throttle all I need is the SMIC or FMIC and a downpipe?

[Onizuka]

yeah, all the other stuff like heater and radiator hoses are easy enough to get locally (or you can get them from HT with your motor), and if you can do wiring, your set.

[gounc14]

Cool I pwn wiring, done too many systems, though I guess I'll need a diagram from somewhere...thanks man I owe ya one.

[gounc14]

For those of you that did the SR swap yourself, how hard was it? HT quoted me at 6000-7,500 for the engine parts and install, and they said it would take them three weeks...I don't know if I'll be able to make the money for the engine and install and also be able to be without my car for three weeks. So I guess I'd like to know how long it took you to do, did you have help, and how much did you pay for the install parts? Thanks

[loudbay]

i did it by myself..... it took about 2 months, but i didn't have 100% of the parts sitting in my living room befor i started.... i checked out my c.c. statement, and (including the car) i've spent about $6700 (maybe even less!) and i've got it all! so if you can drive your 240 until you have 100% of the parts at your house, i say DIY. i probably only have 14 man hours of actual labor on the car, and that's for everything done to it so far.... (kyb gear climb struts, rsr springs, apexi gt spec exhaust 3.75", tubular header, hks 2540R, fmic, greddy int man, greddy oil pan custom pipes from projectnissan.com, 44000km redtop (yes really 44000km) apexi afc and avcr, apexi t.timer, m300 wideband 02 sensor with analog output to fool the stock ecu, upgraded ecu for z32 maf and 740s, 740s, z32 maf, homemade 3" intake, hks intake filter, z32 ignitor chip, new wiring harness, and s13 front end conversion-though still not painted, but installed... boost gauge, egt gauge and oil temp gauge, and sealed battery for the trunk.... so far the only things not installed are the intake manifold and the wideband 02 sensor, but those should be in by early next week... oh and a greddy front strut bar, and a no name rear strut bar.... i think that's it.... just some inspiration for the DIY guys....

[loudbay]

damn that's why i never made a profile for this page, it would be LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!

[yellow_jacket]

Personally I bought a front clip for $2400. Spent another $100 for various fluids, hoses, and some exhaust piping. Installed it myself over the course of a year and a half. But that was mainly because of the whole AfterDark fiasco. The actual install only took a day or two. I did the wiring myself. Very easy to do.

[loudbay]

what was the afterdark fiasco? i sold my lex to afford all of that stuff, so i was sharing a car with my gfriend and bumming rides.... can you imagine if it took me a year and a half..... my screen name would probably be 'bummin-it"

[RMiller]

i probably only have 14 man hours of actual labor on the car, and that's for everything done to it so far....

I don't believe you and I never will.

[I_eat_hondas]

The swap is easy for anyone with a little bit of mechanical know how. The only thing that can be a little hard is the wiring, but you can find all the wiring instructions at http://www.srswap.com I suggest that you buy a clip. Although you pay a bit more for shipping, you have everything you need for the swap. I bought mine form night7 it was super clean and he has definetly taken care of me. I had my engine in and running with all the bugs worked out in 2 weekends worth of work. good luck!!!

[loudbay]

I don't believe you and I never will.

have you ever done an install? i'm sorry you don't know how to work a wrench..... you can ask your mom, she's probably still sore from 'helping' me for 14 hours........ hater^

[loudbay]

man, if i had all the parts, i could do it in a weekend. i'll do yours, and if your mom helps again..... the install will be on the house.... jealous hater ^

[loudbay]

i just noticed...... you drive a mustang........ it probably took you 5 hours to install your xpipe, you can't judge labor by how long it takes a monkey to put poop on a stick........ we should race..... you'd probably win....... WAIT..... I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'D WIN, AND I NEVER WILL...................... HA!

[f150intally]

I would guess that it took me and my friend less than 20 hours total labor to get the car swapped. Now that 20 hours was spread out for quite some time. I outsourced my wiring to heavythrottle. Do it yourself if you have any mechanical incline. And do you lots of research. I bought my motorset from them and would do it all over again if I needed to. There customer service is second to none, for real. I bought an S13 blacktop.

-Jay

[loudbay]

amen

[RMiller]

Sheesh, I thought when you said 14 man hours it was a typo, or you didn't know what a man hour is, so I thought we'd all have a good laugh and that would be it. It's not necessary to insult my family. It took me about 1 hour to install my x-pipe when it was all said and done, by myself. It took a half hour for the intake. My friend and I installed an Eibach Prokit on his Jetta and it took 3 hours (6 man hours). Seems like a long time, but compressing springs is tedious work. And stuff doesn't always slip off/go on like you want it to. So, now I have a serious question: you installed all the things you listed, including the redtop, turbo, etc. and tuned it in under 14 hours by yourself, or 7 hours w/ a buddy? Or maybe you're like some Bio majors at UCI that say they only studied for a midterm for 14 hours so they can brag when they get 2 std. deviations above the mean.

[yellow_jacket]

If you know what you are doing and the motor and all parts are on hand, the swap really should only take about that long. If you don't have to do the wiring, it is extremely quick to pull the KA motor and transmission together. It is extremely easy and quick to drop the SR motor/transmission assembly in and bolt everything back up.

My actual times(not just days for the swap) were 2-3 hours to pull the KA stuff all out. It took about 6-7 hours to have all the SR stuff bolted in and wired up. What killed me on the swap was having to do the wiring, and having to pull the swap out of the front clip.

And tuning should not be neccesary if you are just dropping in a stock swap.

[gounc14]

Hmms so you guys definitely reccomend the front clip so I don't have to get any extra parts for the install but fluids?

[loudbay]

the wiring took me no more than an hour on my living room floor.... i didn't push out the pins in the electical connectors, i just got new connectors saved hours probably (pins are FRUSTRATING).... the instructions on the net are almost all perfect... i just did a lot of research.... RMILLER: i was only taking what you said personally, so i apologize if you took what i said personally too. the springs were already installed on the struts (you're right, alot of time was saved here).... i put the manifold and turbo on while the engine was out... much easier..... as for tuning, my ecu is reprogrammed for my injectors and my maf, so tuning is limited to fixing my rich, no wait, so way beyond rich condition, and setting/learning the avc-r.... i've used afc a million times... my friends seem to think that i'm better at it than them, so i just agree and let them take me for a ride..... i took out my ac and put my bottom intercooler 'feet' into the ac condenser 'home' and i planned out the piping before i ordered it, so i already knew what was going on..... i have a dremel tool.... that saved me hours of wondering how to do something, with the dremel, you can just do it...cut pipes, bumpers, bumper supports, radiator supports, headlight brackets and the walls behind the headlights were all cut a little to make the tubing fit, but my tubing has 1 bend and is much more efficient (according to me) than the long tubes in the big expensive kits.... i made my intake with 3" muffler pipe and 3" i.d. radiator hose (for now, cheap).... i had to make another bend in the hotpipe, so i used another piece of rad hose, and clamped both sides to a scrap 2" piece of exhaust tubing..... and my beast still runs a little rich, but i feal rich driving her too.... and don't worry about me, i ride the mean, or stay just below it's radar.... ( i just graduated UCF psych major and 2 minors )

[loudbay]

i also didn't count internet hours...

[RMiller]

I need to start working on Japanese cars. But hey Mustangs aren't that bad. Yeah, the chassis is from 1978, no there's no IRS, but it's fast and it responded well to cheap mods. But it is such a pain to work on. I'm pretty sure they use both metric and standard bolts & nuts, or neither. Ha, it's ridiculous.

[loudbay]

i used to have a 93 gt vert.... it was red with white leather.....BIG PIMPIN!

[gounc14]

Hmmm another question...what do you guys know about nightsvevyn racing? Their clips seem relatively cheap as well.

[nismostate]

I just checked up on total-boost, and their prices seem very reasonable for a redtop. especially since its coming from Canada. I plan on purchasing from either of the two sources i know located in toronto ontario but I think total boost has their prices beat, and they include a good warranty. I'll check into it more this week. I hope they are located in Toronto also because I plan on going up there mid march. If I can actually see their motors and warehouse that'll be awesome! I'll take a bunch of pics to show proof of how legit this place really is. my other two sources are A1Jdmmotors and a member, "slipperysilvia", of son240sx.com