What am I getting myself into? I want to swap in a 20b in my 86 n/a. I realize that the tranny and rear end will probably need to be replaced but I was wondering if:

a) someone in this forum has had it done or has done it?
b) how much cash am I looking at? (estimate)
c) how about a 13b t.t?

Thanks for your time. Slater

 

1) yes, evil aviator has a 20b in an na
2) between 7-50k depending on what options you choose. ie, rebuilding the motor, what ems you are using, the turbo(s) you want etc
3) the 13bt swap is easier and cheaper. it bolts right in, any ems will run it, you dont have to swap ignitions, rewire the car etc.

mike
20b fc

 

I have helped do the swap of the tranny and rear sub assembly before. You would be better served finding a T2 in good shape and starting there. Unless you have access too a shop in which your car can be down for an extended period, and you have several friends to help with the swap.

 

So if I go with a 13bt swap then will my 86 n/a tranny and rear end be able to hold down horsepower over 230?

 

Sorry I should have asked how much horsepower is to much for a 86 n/a tranny and rear end?

 

how long the tranny lasts depends on how you drive it. if you dont drop the clutch at redline every stop it should handle 200-220 hp for a long time.

mike

 

Stock HP is enough to break the N/A tranny!

 

You will also note that every time this subject comes up, Evil Aviator also says that this is not a very smart idea in most cases. He knows from experience.

The TII is much better to start with, as the drivetrain will handle a stock-turbo 20B if you don't beat up on it too much. Of course, if you have a lot of non-removable mods on your NA (body kit, roll cage, convertible, etc.) then you may be better off with the NA body and throwing a TII drivetrain under it ala George Samuels.

My 20B car has the NA drivetrain in it still, but I do not expect this to hold up even for the initial tuning, so I am looking for a replacement transmission right now. If I don't find anything soon, I will probably just throw a TII drivetrain under my car for basic tuning, but I don't expect such a setup to last on the track with my T-66.

BTW, if you are asking these types of questions, then I don't think that the extremely complicated 20B conversion is a good idea. A good 13BT will get you the HP that you want, will cost much less, and will be less frustrating.

 

i'm not dissagreing with you either, if i would have stuck with the 2 rotor i would have been done 4 months ago. that and i just spent $7500 on a car i bought for $200

mike
20b fc

 

Listen to Ted and Evil and the others that have high posts(but arnt post ******). they know what they are talking about.

BEFORE YOU UNDERTAKE ANY CONVERSION

research what you think you need to know, then research what you dont think you need. then research what you think is totally irrelevant, then you will be ready to do this conversion, I learn stuff about it everyday and I have done numerous engine swaps in the past 20 years.

 

Oh, I still like my 20B, but besides the NA vs. TII mistake, I also should have got it running with the stock turbos. Geez, my car would have been running years ago had I done this.

In a similar post in the 2Gen section, hawaiiangoat stated that he was looking for 275hp. That is easily obtainable from a 13BT block, so there is no need for the 20B or 13B-REW nightmare conversions IMO.

 

Very true!

 

Hear hear!

If you have to ask, then answer is no. One doesn't undertake something like an engine swap without knowing exactly what one's getting into, or having the confidence to follow through.

One trick is not confusing confidence with arrogance. That's the hard part

 

I'm not doing the swap myself. I'm getting rx-7 specialties in Calgary to do the swap. I'm just trying to go through all the possible options I have right now with my n/a. I thank you guys a million times over for the advice you've given me so far.

Right now my budget sits around $10,000 cdn. So i'm trying to figure out whether I should do this swap or buy a different seven and start from scratch. I've put about $17,500 Cdn into the one I have right now so I'm getting to the point where I need to decide on engine work or not.

Thanks for the advice.
Slater

P.S. Different se7en means it could be 3rd gen time.

 

You've had lots of good advice already. One other alternative is to buy my car ($39,900 US) and enjoy a bit of instant gratification. I'll consider taking a trade-in.

 

out of curiosity (sp chk), what would be the cost in dropping a 20b in a t2, stock motor and turbos? and if its not to much, how did you come up with that cost? through a mechanic or in your backyard (cost wise)?

luigi

 

you need the following stuff: k2rd engine mount brackets, giant radiator, a clutch that will handle 400lbs ft, a flywheel, a front mount intercooler, piping. engine management, 3 coils (at least) ignitors, big giant radiator fans, oil cooler hoses, water hoses, wire, wire connectors, and the engine itself.
the 20b's are getting expensive, they are going for about $4000+ right now. i did 95% of the work on mine myself and it cost me about $7500-$8000.

mike

 

As I've said on my website (www.cris.com/~Asam/20B.html), I don't wanna talk about it. I'll point out that Pettit offered to do a 3rd gen conversion for $36,000 and that when I first raised the subject, Jim Hagerty at Mariah Motorsports quoted me a cost of $35,000.

 

i did all the labor myself (except for some welding), but just the parts were about $7.5-8k, and my engine is not rebuilt, it has the original turbos, i got a used intercooler, and exhaust. i have no idea how many hours ive got into mine, its like 3-5 months worth of weekends. call it 300hours x labor rate, we'll say $50/hour + $10,000 in parts = its still $25,000, and thats at a cheap labor rate.

mike

 

http://fc3s-pro.com/TECH/20B/20b.html

Prices are typical retails prices ANYONE can get in the U.S.
There is NO labor prices listed.



-Ted

 

I have spent 15K already on my 20B project and right now its on hold until I finish my twin GT28 FC.

I onces though get all the parts and it will just happen...
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my eyes are open now!!! while I finish the car Im working on now, it will give me time regroup and plan better to finish the 20B car. looks like mine is going to run 25k - 30k