I bought a neglected 240sx from a friend for $900 and am in a bit of a bind. It has a sr20det swapped in but I can't run it in chumpcar without massive penalties (as I read the rules).
I suppose I could try lemons but I don't think they'd smile on it too fondly.
I want to have a car that is well-within the rules and very competitive, so I've been contemplating a motor swap. At first I figured I would get a stock motor and put it in, but the amount of work it would take made me think that it might not take much more work to swap in something with more power and not raise the value.
I was thinking about buying a wrecked donor car but wanted opinions on what is affordable, low points, reliable and has power
Look for a '94 or '95 Infiniti Q45 which has a 4.5L quad cam, variable valve timing V8 engine. Put in a flashed ECU and you'll get about 320 hp and a 7,400 rpm redline!
I recommend the '94 or '95 because they had the bugs worked out by then. The major bug being plastic chain guides updated to metal. All years come with a limited slip rear end.
The engine was only offered with an auto trans but and adaptor is available to make it work with a 300zx manual trans.
All the answers are at www.q45.org
You should be able to buy a fine running Q45 for under $1,000 (I have twice in two years.)
You may just want to race the Q45 itself!
Link
Your profile says LA.
It only took me seconds to find these examples:
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3.4 or 3.8 chevy v6.
What's the out value of engine and out value of trans?
The stupid fast guys are running a 1uz. Not sure how it keeps getting past tech.
Also, I think it will get penalties in the near future.
What about a 302? It's been done to death. Because it works.
With three little kids and a laundry list of house projects, I'm also leaning towards an easy button. To that end, I thought 5.0 mustang.
The q45 is very intriguing but also sounds like a good deal of work. And issues at the track seem like they could be more daunting than a simple 5.0. Hmmmm. I'll check out those links
Ka24de. 145 ish to the back wheels with a cold air intake, reliable as hell and....it bolts in!
You don't need power and penalties to win a chump race. Just ask the scrap attack team. Multiple wins in a clapped out honda civic.
Not helpful but an F2T swap?
SR is penalized more than a v8? The trick will be finding a motor and manual trans that you can fit. KA is fine if uninspiring. The VH45 (Q45 engine) will need headers, gearbox adaptor, etc, plus produce more power than a near stock SR. how do the rules work for swaps?
All of the other teams running ka24des have given up on them (including ours, now). We're getting the sr20 back in for the next event. F da penalty laps :)
I was also going to suggest a Chevy V6.
In reply to WonkoTheSane:
Hmmmm. What kind of penalty laps are you getting??
In reply to Brett_Murphy:
What donor vehicle??
Snrub
Reader
7/31/16 12:39 a.m.
Keep in mind the swap rules will be changing for 2018.
Yes why? Its not like going to a high revving aluminum sr is going to help. If you dont berkeley with the rev limiter and start with a lower mile motor they are great. My KA did two double eights and three seasons of circle track before it popped.
I haven't seen too many stock 240 finish a race with the stock powerplant. I'm not sure why. Most swap.
The chump swap rules are weird. You need to use carparts.com values for the engine out vs the engine in. Can't be a negative value. Then you get a 50 pt swap fee for engine and 25 point for trans.
I can't remember how many off the top of my head, it's a lot. I want to say 15? But after three failed events with two different ka24s, the team just wants to drive, so we're leaving the trick oil pan (7 laps), the bigger radiator and intercooler (4 laps?) And a few other bits.
Basically we're more concerned with the sr20 working exactly as it did when removed than trying to work to the rules. If it holds together for a few races and we're within 10 laps of podium, then we'll start caring about value.
I know at Watkins Glen there were 3 or 4 other Nissans, and we were the only one that still had a ka.
We didn't mess with the rev limiter, and the engine was stock, but ours didn't stay together.
jfryjfry wrote:
In reply to Brett_Murphy:
What donor vehicle??
4th gen fbody for the rwd 3.4 or 3.8 with trans depending on year.
The newer 3400 through 3900 are a possibility from anything fwd, but there are challenges.
Intake points the wrong way, starter mounting is a challenge, accessories are a challenhe, etc.
The fwd accessories are the big issue iirc. You can swap to the rwd ones, but it is most likely a points hit....
I'm thinking of doing this swap on my 2nd gen rx7.
But I would listen to Snrub, if you're not in a huge hurry. Wait a month and find out the new swap rules before planning your new power plant layout.
Just an FYI, we did petition to have the sr20 & sr20det allowed under 500, since it came that way everywhere else in the world.
I think we asked for 375 for a sr, and 475 for the det..
I'd still like to know what the failures are. I have been running the ka for a while now and I start with a low mileage engine, roll new bottom end bearings and use a steel head gasket and arp studs. On a circle track the bottom end will starve of oil eventually because you are turning a constant circle but it does take three years at least. That would be maybe sixty track hours. It should do better on a road course. The two times I tried to use older craigslist motors without going through them they both blew in spectacular fashion very quickly.
wvumtnbkr wrote:
The stupid fast guys are running a 1uz. Not sure how it keeps getting past tech.
Has Team McQueen showed up with the 400SX at any CCWS events this year? It's the car that single-handedly got the entire internets universe collective panties in a twist. You have precendent for going this route and getting it to 500pts....you also would have a huge target on your back from every other CCWS team.
I'd say find a healthy KA24DE, maybe even out of a Frontier, and run that bad boy while you get the rest of the inevitable kinks of a new endurance car worked out. Then, after CCWS revises the swap math (or doesn't,) you'll have a solid platform to make an educated decision.
Snrub
Reader
7/31/16 1:18 p.m.
I believe McQueen was banned from Canadian chumpcar for behavioural reasons unrelated to their unclaimed parts and swap.
Regarding the petition for the sr20det (217hp version) being treated as a non-swap for 475 points or less, I have a hard time seeing that being approved. Why should a 240sx with 48hp more than an E30 be worth a mere 25 points more? A Miata at 400 points would have nearly HALF the power. The board is working to make the MPV table more fair, this does not strike me as in line with that goal.
