Engine swap

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A Saab 99 with a 16 valve turbo engine from a Saab 900.

Saab 96 with Ford Cologne V6 engine, instead of the standard Ford Taunus V4 engine.

Berkeley SA492 with a Honda CB400 engine.

Volvo B18/B20 fitted to VW Beetle for racing.

1959 MG A with a Mazda Miata engine.

Warning: in some jurisdictions with strict "smog" rules it may not be possible to register a late-model vehicle with an engine swap, even if it it can be proven that it produces less pollution than the original engine (owing to "visual inspection" rules).

An engine swap is the process of removing a car's engine and replacing it with another. This is done either because of failure, or to install a different engine, usually one that is more powerful or more modern and maintainable.

While one can work wonders with engine tuning to achieve greater power, the same techniques applied to a better engine are unlikely to be much more expensive and may be much more rewarding.

An engine swap can either be to another engine intended to work in the car by the manufacturer, or one totally different. The former is much simpler than the latter. Fitting an engine into a car that was never intended to accept it may require much work -- modifying the car to fit the engine, modifying the engine to fit the car, and building custom engine mounts and transmission bellhousing adaptors to interface them along with a custom built driveshaft.

A common anecdote among tuners is that the easiest way to make a car faster is to drop in a Corvette or small block 350 engine. Corvette engines have been used in such cars as Toyota Supras, BMWs, RX-7s, Mazda Miatas, Jaguar sedans, Datsun 240Z's, Chevrolet Corvairs, and others. Other popular engine swaps are a Porsche engine in a VW Beetle, a turbo Subaru engine into an older Porsche 914, or a turbocharged engine from a Saab 900 into a Saab 99 or BMW [1]. The low weight Suzuki Swift GTI engine mated to the Suzuki Samurai gearbox is a popular choice for smaller, British sportscars. The engine mount and gearbox connection similarities make the Ford Taunus V4 engine to Ford Cologne V6 engine a popular swap.

In the world of sport compact enthusiasts, engine swaps are common with Nissans. A stock Nissan 240SX produces 155 hp (116 kW) with its torquey KA24DE 160 hp (119 kW) engine. Swapped out with a Japanese turbo SR20DET, a Nissan 240SX will produce over 200 hp right out of the box. Mild modifications can increase power to a range of 250 hp to 300 hp (190 to 220 kW). Another common engine for swapping is the RB26DETT found in the Nissan Skyline GT-R. It produces 280 hp (210 kW) out of the box, and can be easily modified to produce higher powers.

As the price for turbocharged Subarus (such as the WRX) comes down, the popularity of turbo engine swaps into non turbo Subarus has gone up. The Subaru turbo 4-cylinder engine takes especially well to Porsche 914's, and also VW bugs and busses.

In the Honda world, popular engine swaps include the Civic Si (B16A), Integra GSR(B18C), and the Integra Type R (B18C5) engines. Swapping them into an 88-00 lighter Honda Civic chassis can achieve greater performance.

Chrysler made many turbocharged vehicles in the 1980s, and these engines share much in common with their naturally-aspirated brothers. It is quite common to obtain an engine from a vehicle such as a Dodge Daytona and swap it into such an unassuming-looking vehicle as a Dodge Aries.

Engine swaps are also somewhat common within the Volkswagen tuning scene, often placing Mark III and Mark IV engines such as the VR6 and 1.8 T into the Mark II GTI, Jetta and Volkswagen Corrado. Less common is the swap into a Mark 1 Golf or Cabriolet, giving an amazing power to weight ratio, even with minimally modified powerplants.

In the Super GT racing series, engine swaps can be considered a way of life for the upper tier GT500 cars, most of which are provided with specially modified racing engines from the manufacturers. GT500 class rules themselves allow for any engine to be swapped into a car as long as it is from the same manufacturer. Notable examples include Toyota swapping in highly tuned 4-cylinder engines originally from the Toyota Celica into their Toyota Supra GT500 race cars.

British sports cars (such as MGs and Triumphs) from the late 1960's and early 70's were attractive light-weight cars that had excellent suspensions, but were known for troublesome electrical systems and barely adequate power levels. It is popular to take one of these classic sports cars and add a more powerful engine. The all-aluminum Buick and Oldsmobile 215 (3.5L) V8 engines are a traditional choice for these cars. Swapping an MGB all-iron 1.8L 4-cylinder engine and 4-speed transmission for a Buick 215 V8 and a modern 5-speed transmission actually improves both cornering and acceleration because it reduces the overall weight of the car by about 40 pounds. Power is approximately doubled. Derivatives of that classic General Motors engine, the Rover 3.5L, 3.9L and 4.2L V8's are also often used. Although more recent narrow sixty-degree Ford and GM V6 engines are more compact, they usually don't equal the Rover engine's power-to-weight ratio. They can, however, be very cost effective and an easier fit, notably the Chevrolet 3.4L. The cast-iron-block Ford 302 (5.0L) V8 in particular results in spectacular power to weight ratios for straight-line acceleration. With aluminum heads, intake, and water pump fitted, the Ford 302 only adds about 40 pounds (18 kg) to the front of an MGB, and is substantially more powerful and lighter weight than an MGC or Triumph TR6 iron-block six-cylinder engine. An Aluminum 302 performance block is available that weighs 60 lb (27 kg) less than the common iron version, as is displacements of 331 and 347 ci, but they are, of course, significantly more expensive. The Nissan SR20DET is an all-aluminmum fuel-injected DOHC turbocharged 4-cylinder. This compact engine, along with the very compact Mazda "13B" rotary engine, have both been transplanted into too many different cars to list.