Upgrading the Versa engine

[Blue_street_racer]

So everybody knows that the Versa engine is the MR18DE (this is the 1.8 liter). The Nissan Sentra motor is the MR20DE, which has 20 more hp and torque than the MR18. This is accomplished through the change of just a few parts in the two engines. Besides those parts, they are exactly the same. What I wonder is what are these parts and what do us Versa owners have to do to get them into our engines?

[Promise Land]

pistons and camshafts.

[gtrisfun]

i believe the top end (head) as well, to give the larger displacement.

a very common practice with between honda engines, doing a top end swap. depending on the situation, possible without pulling the whole engine out either.

[Blue_street_racer]

Sweet. Now I just need to find the cheapest way to do that. Does anyone know if the pistons and camshafts from a MR20DE will fit perfectly into a stock MR18DE without changing out the top end?

[#1Tango]

ive already done the MR20DE swap. I'd imagine it would be cheaper just to go buy a used MR20 at a auto wrecking yard. got mine for $850, 24k miles on it. ive put about 5k miles on it and no problems to date, i got the AEM intake and DC exhaust rockn on it. its awesome.

[bobybackqc]

Can i have some picture of your swap please?

I already swaped à Tiburon 2.0 engine into my 1996 Accent

So later looking to swap de MR20 in the versa when my engine and my warranty will be out

THe 6speed trans direct bolt on MR20

[Promise Land]

The MR20 looks identical to the MR18. The engine internals are different, so there is nothing externally different. It's just a matter of changing the engine out.

[#1Tango]

like Promise Land said, they look identical.

[PyroTrigger]

so will the MR20 bolt right up to the MR18 motor mounts and trans or would you change the trans as well and if so will it bout up and plug and play with the wires

[chompsticks]

AZhitman has swapped his cube engine MR18 auto with an MR20 manual.

If I am correct he has it running. Said there are lots of little set backs he had. There is still something he has to replace that you can't get anywhere.

[chompsticks]

According to him the trans are the same for the MR18 and MR20, but I am not exactly sure since he did an auto to man swap also.

[AZhitman]

The transmissions for the MR18 and MR20 are different, but I believe it is ONLY at the axles, not where it mates to the engine. So, the engine swap isn't the issue - the trans swap is where you'll run into misery.

I'll be doing a full writeup on this, but if you're considering going from a CVT or auto to a 6MT, DO NOT even attempt it unless you're well-versed in dealing with can bus wiring interfaces and pinouts. There's no schematic for these cars, and it's far more complex than a 240sx or something from the 90's.

I still have a couple more things to research, and plan on spending another $1000 - $1500 in other parts for this swap (just guessing until we get a detailed breakdown).

The engines are fully interchangeable - easy swap from MR18 to MR20.

[PyroTrigger]

Ok but I have the 6 speed man already in my car with the MR18 so all I wiuld need is just the motor of the MR20 then

[PyroTrigger]

And would I need to tune my ecu or get one for the mr20

[AZhitman]

Nope. Same ECU.

[chompsticks]

bugger... wish the auto to manual swap would be easier

[AZhitman]

It's an absolute nightmare.

If I could go back in time 3 months, I'd drive mine to the dealer and tell him to find me an identical one with a manual.

[PyroTrigger]

so i get to keep the same trans as i have now since i have the man trans

[AZhitman]

Correct.

The MR20 WILL bolt up to your trans. Therefore, you have a fairly easy swap on your hands. Go find a wrecked 07-11 Sentra 2.0 and getcha some!

p.s. The ECU will take some time to adapt to the new engine. Don't panic, it'll run like crap for a few days. Just drive it, and keep an eye on your gauges.

[silverarrow27]

Looks like a very nice option for Versa owners looking for a little more power if their stock engines ever take a dump. It's definintely on my list.

[Neo Xian Wu]

So the MR20 is a direct drop-in for the MR18 6speed? Is there anything I would need besides the motor? Harness, ecu, axles, mounts, etc etc?

[PyroTrigger]

Thanks AZhitman and Neo Xian Wu no all u need is just the mr20 motor every thing elese is the same

[Neo Xian Wu]

Well that's pretty awesome. Thanks for the info.

[#1Tango]

So the MR20 is a direct drop-in for the MR18 6speed? Is there anything I would need besides the motor? Harness, ecu, axles, mounts, etc etc?

don't need anything else. its a direct swap no different ecu, axels or mounts. mr18 to mr20 is a direct swap. the mr20 i put in was an auto, and my mr18 is 6spd, all we had to do was take the thrust bearing from the manual and put it on the auto. ive had no problems with my swap, about 20k miles on it now.

[mitchellhuth]

Does the 2.0 make enough of a difference in the Versa to make it worthwhile? How about MPG?

[AZhitman]

A 20-hp increase in a car with 122 hp is significant... it's 17%.

Mileage should be the same as a new Sentra 2-liter.

[monkey92]

i would love to switch to an MR20 but kind of short on cash but i have the auto MR18 4 speed so i don think i can without making a whole mess on the trans right...and not only that i want a manual car but that would be even more pain in the rear right?

[AZhitman]

Correct.

I wouldn't advise a trans swap unless you have an extra $1500 to blow AFTER you buy the engine and trans, AND you're good at fabrication.

Just swapping to the MR20 and keeping the automatic should work, though.

I'd just save up and go trade in yours for a 6MT.

[VersaSrb1.8]

So has anyone tried using the 2.0 cams and putting them in 1.8 or swapping heads? thanks in advance

[AZhitman]

Unlikely that they're any different (at least not enough to justify the hassle of swapping the head).

The difference appears to be strictly displacement, which means bottom-end.