Serious Question : Will this engine swap kill a wallet?

[wholethingoff]

I've been hunting for E30s.

I have spotted a delphin grey coupe with a ridiculous asking price but that is not the point.

It has a 1JZ-GE auto in it. I was thinking to swap in a 1JZ-GTE manual, big single. Big ideas and dreams. 550 whp. Crazy sick stuff.

Bad idea? I'd spare 8k-10k maximum for something like this. It seems stupid but I don't know how difficult it would be if there was a 1JZ-GE in it before.


The reason why I am asking is that it's a 2-3 hour drive to there. But I really love the look of the car.

The car photos are here.

It's the local used car website. If you got google chrome I think you'd be able to catch up to what cars are there.

On the other hand I can keep looking. Find an SR20DET powered one for cheaper.

If you are thinking why am I not even considering a BMW motor, M40 and M10 powered ones were the only ones that made it here. Over half the cars being sold are SR20DE powered. BMW parts are expensive here.

SR20DET powered E30 or 1JZ-GTE swap?

[Andy348]

Can't chime in on the swap, but that looks like one beautiful car. Love the alpine rims.

[Xat1cZ]

digital cluster? :o

[wholethingoff]

@Xat1cZ I believe it's off of a Toyota Chaser. Just replaced the cluster instead of amplifying and/or reprogramming circuits.

[325ix]

The Sr20 will give the car better front to rear balance and thus, better handling. The 1JZ does have more power potential. They are both decently reliable engines. No worse than a BMW, probably more so, actually.

[e30jake]

Not sure on the 1jz but I do remember finding a ridiculous deal on an automatic supra with a 2jz only to find out the swap from auto to manual would cost well over 5k.

One other option would be to find a shell and swap in an m50 or something if some of the newer cars arent too hard to come by.

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[wholethingoff]

Not sure on the 1jz but I do remember finding a ridiculous deal on an automatic supra with a 2jz only to find out the swap from auto to manual would cost well over 5k.

One other option would be to find a shell and swap in an m50 or something if some of the newer cars arent too hard to come by.

Sent from my ADR6325 using Tapatalk 2

That's the Getrag 6-speed most probably, I am looking at R154, 5-speed, much less rare, around $1,500 at most. I am quite more concerned about things breaking off. Suspension sagging. Diffs being destroyed. Being very nose heavy.

I swear, I wish M50 made sense. But it doesn't. They are expensive and destroked to 2.4L here. Nothing aftermarket. Japanese is the staple diet here.

I'd really like a 1JZ but basic weight distribution seems to hate it. 1JZ is definitely more reliable than SR20.