Total costs involved

[LEMHEAD16]

I am seriousl considering doing the sr swap in my 89 hatchback. I am a qualified mechanic and was wondering this. For those of you that did this DIY what was your total cost involved. including new mounts, FMIC, exhaust, intake all the fun stuff. I am budgeting about 3000 dollars for the swap and was just wondering if this would be enough

[Ace]

Nope. I did my swap with my dad who is a mechanic. The cost for my swap with all the goodies like 3" full exhaust, FMIC, FP, clutch, BOV and the rest for about 6 grand. It can be done for much less if you keep the SMIC and budget. But SR20 motors aren't going for cheap these days. But just look around and maybe something will turn up. BTW save your pennies.

[240_Keyy]

yes you will need more than three grand. My swap with motor, greddy pan, Blitz FMIC, Nismo mounts, walboro pump, hotpipe, bov, fluids, filters belts and hoses has so far run me like $7 grand.

This stuff is expensive, make sure you have hella dinero...

[BuudWeizErr]

if you don't mind going with an almost bone stock sr20 swap, you may just squeak by with 3000. That is the minimum i would recommend someone to have that wants an SR swap. Get a good 3" downpipe, some crushbend 3" exhaust welded up, whatever muffler, air filter, and replace seals, gaskets, filters, fluids, hoses, to bearing, belts and clutch on the engine.

[slw240sx]

get a Ca18det, my cars at about 4g with alot of goodies, but of course its fought me the whole time and still isnt running so hot !!

[LEMHEAD16]

Thanks for the input I guess I didn't realize how much it was going to cost. I read in a magazine that it would cost around 3000. I think it was SCC. But then again they pretty much went bone stock. I think I can get a deal on the engine because I used to work for a company that imports JDM engines so hopefully that will save me money. What are the absolute MUST DO modifications for the engine to run.

[LEMHEAD16]

one more question and I pretty much already know the answer. Is it worth it?

[slw240sx]

you wont gett off doing a properly running Sr swap for 3g !!! remember Scc used there magizine status to get hooked up !! motor 2500-2600 plus shipping and that 3G right thereclutch 200+ power steering retro fitt since you have a 89 50-100$ tune up crap 50-200$ water pump possibly ! new hoses and belts gauges oh gauge cluster from a DOHC car since you have an 89!!there is alot of stuff that you need to give allowances too that you may not consider first hand.. if you dont the swap will i repeat will nickel and dime you to death !!!!

id say 5-6 grand would be a safe amount to have aside for a basic swap !! with 3 g get the motor prep it for like 6monthes then swap when you have extra cash !!!

also is it worth it ??? depends on its use !! i think my swap was totally worth it even if i blow it up tomorrow i learned a ton of stuff !! and it was worth the experiance and lesson in it self !!

[KudZU]

Jeez I was under the impression that the SR was an easy on the pocketbook swap From the figures you all are coming up with it seems it would be cheaper to get the clip + install deals some of the shops who advertise around here are doing. I see Afterdark is listing $4,225 for a redtop + install and the most being around $6000 if Heavy Throttle does it. And yes I see the SR's and RB's rising in price due to increased interest in the swap by the general public.

[I H8 UR DSM]

that article was also researched over 2 1/2 years ago...that compnay they listed in credits still gets calls asking for 3000$ swaps, lol....

you can put it in for 3k...but its not going to run.

please start w/ a budget of around 5k atleast

[240_Keyy]

my budget was originally $5,500 but I overshot that by at least $1500 to $2000 thus far...

[BuudWeizErr]

my budget was originally $5,500 but I overshot that by at least $1500 to $2000 thus far...

werd.

I'm up to almost 8. Looking to spend more though!

[Nathan]

My budget was originally 3,000 for a CA18DET swap...but then it got raised to 4,500 when I realized I needed a FMIC, went standalone, got an upgraded turbo...and now I need new wheels...and new tires...and a LSD...and guages...you see where I'm going with this, its at about 6500 now. Of course, I COULD have done a barebones CA swap for 3,000 probably. But we all get carried away

[driftk2000]

what about them Sr clips w/SMIC and 40-60k miles on them?? what would be a typical spending cost on them?

[Samabra]

A complete SR clip (assuming you get an S13 redtop) is going to set you back about $3000 shipped at least, I'd say more towards $3200. Cause shipping that front clip is a b****.

Then you have to decide if you are going to any upgrades. In my eyes you should at least change hoses, and put in a new clutch while you have the engine out. You should also put in all new fluids, and replace belts. So Clutch $250~$300 Various hoses $50 Fluids $50~$100 (it's true I spent about $100 getting all synthetic fluids) Belts $50 Wiring converted:$100 So for a bone stock SR front clip and such your looking at a budget of around $3800, but I'd round it up to $4000 just top be safe, I've spent a ton of money on little things, like you forget that you need an airfilter, and I needed a bunch of silicone hose to run all my gauges etc I think all said and done I've spent about $7000 on my swap, prolly more though Chris

[slw240sx]

Quote »you can put it in for 3k...but its not going to run. [/quote]

perfectly said!! lol

man dont cheap out on this if you do it!!!! and dont go buyin any stolen motors either!!! and if your thinking 5G on a swap is lookn like alot of money then you cant afford the swap.!! and save for another year or so!! yeah that article was written along time ago and they also mislead the reader on the costs of doin this !! you might have found a Sr motor set for 1500$ back 3-4 years ago before the hype has begun !!

[Drakon]

Hmm this stuff is intresting me. I was try to add up my costs on doing this thing too..

So after the engine ( if its DIY)

I need a good exhaust..plus clutch and all the other replacement parts that are wear and tear. But if its gona be mostly stock i can do it for a little over $4,000 right? I just need a car i can make run for around $5,500 so i think this is still doable. I wana upgrade as I go but i'm not gona have a budget for more than that at first. Can i count on that being a decently reliable car?

[Nathan]

I think it's definitely doable for that, as it was my original goal and I know I could have met it. Sure you'll run into some small stuff but I'm certain you could get it up and running for 5500, including the price of a cheap car. Look for a 240sx with a blown engine

[ZERO]

Sambra:

Is that your car on the sig? If it is, how much did it cost you to get that front end installed? Im thinking of going with the coupe and getting that same front end.

[Samabra]

Hey ZERO, yeah that's my car, I knew a guy who got the Silvia front end conversion, and then didn't end up using it, so I got the whole front end for about $800, then I had the shop that installed my engine the first time install the front end as well, and that was about $250, because they had to mod the bumper suppost we got, which was a 180SSX bumper support, and not a silvia bumper support. If you want to see more pics of it, they are all up on http://www.sr20detinfo.com/myswap.htm Hope this helps Chris

[Drakon]

Just a side question, How important is it for me to get a 90+ DOHC model? I know the SR swap is a little more difficult if you're doing it on a SOHC 89. Should I pay more for a 90+ to save the trouble or does it not matter that much. Its easier to find cheap 89's than a 990 or up.

[slw240sx]

89-90 are the same! you would need a 91+ or just the power steering lines from a 91+ not hard at all i think it took 15mins to change the lines over!

[Drakon]

SO a 89-90 is the sohc and has diff power steering lines? I read that the gauge cluster has to be changed if its the SOHC model cause it doesnt work right with a SR.

[SET240SX]

Its the tach that doesn't work right in the gauge cluster. 89-90 cars are single sohc and 91' up or dohc. I just changed my cluster. Or you can go with a tacky aftermarket tach.

Don't forget the power steering resivoir you would need that to go along with the dohc powersteering lines.

There are alot of little things you don't see mentioned that add up in doing the swap. $5 here and $10 there can add up pretty quick when on a budget. $5500 would be real tight budget if done right. I am about $9k into my swap and still do not have a running sr. It will be soon as UPS can deliver me a non-crushed fmic. Had to send the first 1 back that they crushed during delivery.

[Drakon]

wuw wuw...see your saying 9k like your using stock stuff. You could have easily had a running SR at 6k.. but you decided to get aftermarket stuff. We are only talking about mostly stock stuff. 5500 i dont think would be a super tight budget....unless you mean controling myself in buying extra stuff i dont need. I can do that its easy when u dont have alot of money.

[SET240SX]

No not like stock stuff. Didn't mean it that way i was just making an example of how easy it is to go over budget.

[Cattalbus]

so everyone agrees that 6000 is the recomended minimum for a safe swap budget?

[I H8 UR DSM]

i think its fair to say that 'everyone' will never agree totally

[Drakon]

Well we were saying that assuming everything goes well it can be done for 4 and some change....The 5500 was the total for the swap and car and getting that all running good. I'm gona set my goal for between 5 and 6 thousand.

I just added up all the actual cost figures i could get and added a little more for things than i think will cost and i get to $4270... Now thats not bad and if i'm even $800 off then its still around $5k. (Thats including ACT street stip clutch and JUN flywheel) I got a few more aftermarket parts to add but its not looking like its gona be over 6...(BUT I KNOW, unexpected things come up) just trying to show some actual figures.

$4270 is (Engine from AfterDark, 240sx fastback, ACT clutch, JUN Flywheel, Estimated cost of hoses, fluids, Tune up, Turbo Timer, shipping for all parts and DIY install)

[solid]

hey, well im getting an offer for a whole s13 blacktop front clip for 2300, and the install will be 1g or less. and i want to keep it stock. Now i know i will need to get a 3" down pipe and exhaust so that will run me another 400 or so. Do i really need more and how much would everything cost?