Engine Swaps

[Luminis]

Hi guys,

so, I recently stumbled across an intersting poll on Speedhunters. The question is what you're thinking of engine swaps - whether you're more of a purist or whether you're enjoying the wilder, more unconventional approach.

Dunno, but I guess it would be an interesting debate to have around here.

My personal opinion is that form should follow function. A good engine is a good engine and should go into a good car... Also, there's a bit of "LSx into anything" in my head

 

[Jet Badger]

A BMW engine in a Lada is awesome. A big murican v8 in a car like S2000 is wrong on every single level. Engine swaps are meh anyway. Try drivetrain swaps My idea someday was a car like Renault Twingo with a 2,0l-or-so motor behind the front seats.

 

[Dennisch]

If it fits, pop it in.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

If you can make it work, then all the more awesome, go as crazy as you want.

 

[Luminis]

A big murican v8 in a car like S2000 is wrong on every single level.

I wonder why people think that way, though. A turbo charged F20C (for example) shouldn't be much lighter than one of GM's aluminium V8s... Let alone the beloved RB26 and 2JZ.

 

[TheBook]

Probably because it's unoriginal. In my opinion, it takes away from the character of the car, too. I've nothing against engine swaps (one of my coworkers has a 347cid-equipped Ford Ranger, and it's pretty cool), but it has to be done right.

 

[Slash]

I prefer it be from the same manufacturer

 

[Swara]

A BMW engine in a Lada is awesome. A big murican v8 in a car like S2000 is wrong on every single level. Engine swaps are meh anyway. Try drivetrain swaps My idea someday was a car like Renault Twingo with a 2,0l-or-so motor behind the front seats.

Whoo! An N54 in a Lada! That would be amazing

 

[Tornado]

A BMW engine in a Lada is awesome. A big murican v8 in a car like S2000 is wrong on every single level.

I'm not seeing any difference between the two.

 

[Jet Badger]

I'm not seeing any difference between the two.

1. Making something that would usually go to the scrapyard road worthy.
2. Taking a perfectly good car and replacing it's character with a mullet.

 

[Tornado]

So, nothing in particular, then?

 

[HELLAFLUSH240SX]

I personally don't find anything appealing about putting a LSxx in lets say a 240, or a S2K, or something else along those lines.

Sounds ugly compared to say, a SR20, or hell even a KA-T(in the 240)

 

[Ibonibo]

Well my opinion isn't in the poll, so...

I believe it should still be a logical upgrade, not negatively influencing the behavior of a car and still be safe.

I don't see how putting a V8 in a S2000 or miata, is good for the driving behavior or safety. Now putting a more modern 2liter engine in a S2000 or miata, maybe with a turbo, is a more logical upgrade in my opinion.

My 2 cents

 

[Anna+Reece]

I think some swaps are alright. An LSx into a 240 is fine by me, an LSx into an S2000 or Miata is not. I think putting a V8 into a small, nimble car like that completely ruins the feel of the car. It's just not right. Now, a J30 into an S2K would be alright, a 2.3 from a Mazda 3 into a Miata would be alright, even a Rotary in a Miata would be alright. Now, a 1J or 2J into something like a 240 or FC RX7 is one of my dreams. Even an RB. So, swaps from the same continent are alright, but there are some crossbreeding exceptions.

 

[Bopop4]

Blacktop 4-AG into an 86 is good, rotary into a Miata is better, but nothing bests a V8 powered Miata.

The balance isn't affected, and you get supercar performance.

 

[Tornado]

I believe it should still be a logical upgrade, not negatively influencing the behavior of a car and still be safe.

I don't see how putting a V8 in a S2000 or miata, is good for the driving behavior or safety.

I think putting a V8 into a small, nimble car like that completely ruins the feel of the car. It's just not right. Now, a J30 into an S2K would be alright, a 2.3 from a Mazda 3 into a Miata would be alright, even a Rotary in a Miata would be alright. Now, a 1J or 2J into something like a 240 or FC RX7 is one of my dreams. Even an RB.

You guys do realize that the weight and size of an LSx engine makes it so putting one into a car like that wouldn't make the driving characteristics change appreciably, right? Certainly not when you are talking about adding turbochargers and all of the relevant weight-increasing parts that go along with them to the engines already there; let alone the heavy and large iron block I6s that are supposedly more "correct" in such cars.

 

[Anna+Reece]

You guys do realize that the weight and size of an LSx engine makes it so putting one into a car like that wouldn't make the driving characteristics change appreciably, right?

Yes. Though starting up a Miata and hearing the LSx, wouldn't feel right at all.

 

[Bopop4]

It would feel right the first time you stood on the gas.

And according to Flyin' Miata, a swap adds about 200lbs, with a third of that in the rear because of the upgraded rear end.

 

[Tornado]

Yes. Though starting up a Miata and hearing the LSx, wouldn't feel right at all.

Fair enough. That's quite a different thing from claiming that it would change the driving behavior of the car to the extent of being unsafe though, as Ibo did.

 

[JAHHAJ]

Anything goes the crazier the better because I like seeing RB26 engines in normal cars that don't have it but obviously it has to fit the engine bay.

 

[HELLAFLUSH240SX]

There is nothing wrong with a LSxx per say, but I see as it as kind of easy way out.
Cheap power and torque, and when it comes to cars I am always against the easy way out.

I guess I am a hipster.

 

[KookiBirb]

There is nothing wrong with a LSxx per say, but I see as it as kind of easy way out.
Cheap power and torque, and when it comes to cars I am always against the easy way out.

I guess I am a hipster.

Well said. 👍
They're incredibly high powered V8's, don't get me wrong, but most of the people that I've met that have done LS swaps are just so big on power. Instead of having a car with the proper setup to get even weight distribution.

 

[Ibonibo]

Fair enough. That's quite a different thing from claiming that it would change the driving behavior of the car to the extent of being unsafe though, as Ibo did.

You realize I said or.
I don't say a ls swap is unsafe. It depends how it's done, on which car,...
A V8 in a fiat 500 might be cool, but highly unsafe.

 

[Tornado]

You realize I said or.
I don't say a ls swap is unsafe. It depends how it's done, on which car,...

You specifically named two cars, saying that you couldn't understand how an LSx swap could be done to them without negatively affecting them in terms of handling and safety. What else is supposed to be taken from such a statement?

 

[Zenith]

There is nothing wrong with a LSxx per say, but I see as it as kind of easy way out.
Cheap power and torque, and when it comes to cars I am always against the easy way out.

I guess I am a hipster.

Yeah I guess a powerful, lightweight, versatile, reliable, and well supported engine is just too easy.

Well said. 👍
They're incredibly high powered V8's, don't get me wrong, but most of the people that I've met that have done LS swaps are just so big on power. Instead of having a car with the proper setup to get even weight distribution.

Bigger displacement =/= heavier. Toronado covered this already. Even in an MX5 the weight distribution is not significantly changed especially compared to less "easy" power modifications.

 

[Luminis]

You guys do realize that the weight and size of an LSx engine makes it so putting one into a car like that wouldn't make the driving characteristics change appreciably, right? Certainly not when you are talking about adding turbochargers and all of the relevant weight-increasing parts that go along with them to the engines already there; let alone the heavy and large iron block I6s that are supposedly more "correct" in such cars.

Precisely... A lot of people seem to forget that one of the beloved, Japanase iron block I6s are not any lighter than a Chevy V8. I mean, I don't have the igures handy right now, but I tink even an LS7 isn't heavier than one of those - and they mke huge power and torque from the factory.

I've yet to see someone bitching about turbo chargin an S2000 - which would arguably be more detrimental to the car's handling than swapping a 'big, Murrican V8' into it.

 

[Endless-Wilso]

A I6 is also longer than most V8s so that can impact you weight distribution.

 

[Dr1ft3d]

I love seeing RX7's with chevy 350 small blocks. Just makes me warm and fuzzy inside XD

 

[Tornado]

Precisely... A lot of people seem to forget that one of the beloved, Japanase iron block I6s are not any lighter than a Chevy V8. I mean, I don't have the igures handy right now, but I tink even an LS7 isn't heavier than one of those - and they mke huge power and torque from the factory.

An LS3 weighs between an Nissan SR-series or Mazda 13B and a Nissan KA24, and it is about the same size as them (somewhat taller and obviously wider, but the former can be taken care of with combinations of parts from other things in the LSx series, like the LS2 oil pan). According to this magazine project build, that's around 440 pounds ready to go (the difference between a 13B or SR20DET and an LSx engine would be 40-60 pounds, and any weight distribution difference could be made up simply by moving the battery). An older LT-series engine would weigh in the 550 range, depending on how you built it (with the LT5 from the C4 ZR-1 weighing 600 and being much larger).


When you get into the 2JZ-GTE or RB26DETT... you're looking at over 600 pounds from an engine (with turbo ancillaries installed) that will sit considerably farther forward.

Yeah I guess a powerful, lightweight, versatile, reliable, and well supported engine is just too easy.

I can understand where he is coming from, though. An LS3 would be better in pretty much every way than, say, an LT5; but I would still rather have the latter.

 

[niky]

It's pretty hard to argue against an LS swap except in terms of aesthetics... and yet, it's hard to find anyone who doesn't find the aural signature of an uncorked V8 pleasing.

Sad for import lovers, but the US drift scene is slowly but steadily heading towards LS swaps. They're light, powerful, torquey and reliable... especially at the high-stress low-speed workouts they get in drifting.

Time attack is still the domain of 4G63Ts, though...