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maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand UberDork
5/10/23 2:57 p.m.

In contrast to the other thread, list engine swaps that just make sense and no one would ever question the validity of. I'll start:

LS in place of a small-block chevy

DocRob
DocRob Reader
5/10/23 3:24 p.m.

LSx and Honda K-Series into pretty much anything will probably make sense and be non-controversial.

Especially in place of any Italian, German, or British made engine. 

buzzboy
buzzboy SuperDork
5/10/23 3:33 p.m.

BMW S52 into a 318ti. Wait, it's been done?

Seeing that the transmission adapter already exists, I thought my 318ti would have been really fun with a K24 of sorts.

frenchyd
frenchyd MegaDork
5/10/23 3:35 p.m.

Replace the old cast Iron 4.2 liter 6 with the 5.3 liter V12  in a 1972 Jaguar Sedan.  

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
5/10/23 3:39 p.m.

I'm not sure this is exactly what you mean, but a gm 3500 or 3900 can basically bolt in place and use the same ecu and most of the sensors as a 3400.

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand UberDork
5/10/23 3:47 p.m.

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

Ah yes, the stealth swap. No one can question it if no one can tell it's swapped!

Robbie (Forum Supporter)
Robbie (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
5/10/23 3:48 p.m.

I find it awesome that we live in a world where some engine swaps somehow aren't "questionable".

I always admire people who can go for "small" and end up with a finished product that is actually very good. Like the 2.5 into an NC Miata or a better 4 cylinder into their Honda civic. I should try it sometime!

DocRob
DocRob Reader
5/10/23 4:26 p.m.

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Why be normal when you can be abnormal?

(Asks the guy who is K-swapping an LBC...).

Honestly, though, pre-engineered solutions make a lot sense. They can save sanity and money. Two rare commodities when it comes to cars as a hobby. 

 

jmabarone
jmabarone Reader
5/10/23 4:32 p.m.

When the 2.5 pops in my Ranger, I'm going to go to a 2.5 MZR.  Hardest part will be the ECU.  Would love to keep the variable cam timing, but that may be above my budget.

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/10/23 6:29 p.m.
maschinenbau said:

In reply to wvumtnbkr :

Ah yes, the stealth swap. No one can question it if no one can tell it's swapped!

My S60R is technically engine swapped... it has a T5 engine in place of the R engine.  It loses a tenth of a liter of displacement, gains half a ratio of compression, has the same block and crank and rods and head and turbo.  I literally only had to change the flex plate, injectors, and oil pan, and I only changed the oil pan because I like having an oil level sensor.

I don't consider it an engine swap because it needed no work to do, it was just unbolting one part and bolting in another.  Installing a 160a alternator took more work.

wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L)
wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
5/10/23 7:09 p.m.

KLZE into Miata.

Or does this belong in the other thread?

Tom1200
Tom1200 UberDork
5/10/23 7:27 p.m.

Putting the 1500cc Datsun A-series engines in the 1200cc powered Datsun 1200.

The only fab work was modifying the engine mounts slightly........it's a 25% power increase instantly.

earlybroncoguy1
earlybroncoguy1 Reader
5/10/23 7:30 p.m.

7.3 Godzilla (or 6.8 "baby" Zilla) into a new Bronco. I've measured, it fits. Or into an old Bronco - fits there, too. The whole "Coyote" thing is overdone, how 'bout dropping in a V8 that doesn't have the valve covers in different zip codes? 

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa UltimaDork
5/10/23 8:21 p.m.

The 250ci Ford I6 has 1" more deck height than any of the other I6s that were in early Mustangs and Falcons.  Some of the later 250s even had 80% of the bolt housing of the SBF.

I know a guy that swapped a 300ci Ford in place of the TR6 engine, lost something like 50lbs over the front axle?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/10/23 9:51 p.m.

I've got all the parts in my shop to build an LS powered RF Miata. All I need is the Miata. It's a no-brainer. 

Dusterbd13-michael
Dusterbd13-michael MegaDork
5/10/23 9:54 p.m.

3400 in a miata, except nothing off the shelf works.

I really want to do an lt1/4l80 combo in a tbi silverado. Should all fall in place, harness should be simple, and it should make it a way better truck all around. I think the 4l80 would be the only tricky part, as i don't know if theres a factory calibration for that. 

WillG80
WillG80 GRM+ Memberand Reader
5/10/23 10:32 p.m.

Lies! All lies! The "builds and project cars" sub forum proves that such a thing doesn't exist on this site. Maybe elsewhere...
 

I suppose we all have reasonable ideas, but the unreasonable usually prevails. 

GIRTHQUAKE
GIRTHQUAKE SuperDork
5/10/23 10:41 p.m.

The 2GR-FE V6 in any MR2- but especially the AW11- turns it into the angry child of the NSX.

ToManyProjects
ToManyProjects Reader
5/10/23 11:00 p.m.

I swapped 4g63T's into more than one '80's "dodge colt" (rebadged mirage).

1300 spitfire engine into a 1500 spitfire.

327 into 1985 S-10 2wd

 

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand UberDork
5/11/23 7:55 a.m.

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

A guy at work just finished a 5.3 swap into his early 90s GMT400 SCSB. It's just better in every single way now. Definitely not questionable. If you don't know these trucks well, you wouldn't even know it wasn't stock.

3400 Miata is oddball enough to be questionable. I imagine people at shows ask "why not this other more popular engine swap idea..." Even though technically it makes for a great driving car like you've shown.

A Jag V12 swapped into absolutely anything, including cars that came with them, is highly questionable in my opinion.

bmw88rider
bmw88rider GRM+ Memberand UberDork
5/11/23 8:12 a.m.

In reply to ToManyProjects :

Yeah, 4g63 into a 3G CSM is easy. Especially with one of the 4g61T mills. Had it done in a weekend. 

Expanding on that....4G63T into any mitsu or the CSM cousins. 

NOHOME
NOHOME MegaDork
5/11/23 8:29 a.m.

A Fox body mustang with all the good stuff from a  dented 1997 Mustang Cobra bolted underneath. 

 

The Cobra is pretty much a Fox body under the skin, so this is a nuts and bolts swap with all Ford factory parts. 

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand UberDork
5/11/23 9:09 a.m.
GIRTHQUAKE said:

The 2GR-FE V6 in any MR2- but especially the AW11- turns it into the angry child of the NSX.

In that same vein, the newly popular 2AR-FE swapped into a MR2 Spyder seems like a perfectly logical upgrade. 

pres589 (djronnebaum)
pres589 (djronnebaum) UltimaDork
5/11/23 9:35 a.m.

1.6 Mazda B-series turbo motor into a Festiva.  A Capri XR2 donor should provide a lot of parts to make that swap happen (although at this point everything involved is so old that it's as much a swap as a restoration project).

DjGreggieP
DjGreggieP Dork
5/11/23 10:37 a.m.

When I swap an LS/Q into my street e36, if I haven't sold the camaro by then, I think its the perfect candidate for the crate small block I'd be swapping out. 

Easiest swap was going to a 3.5 from a 2.7 in my Intrepid. Helped that I had a complete parts car at the time of the swap, but that was basically pulling a bad engine from a *good* car and replacing it with an engine from a wrecked car. 

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