Joe Dirte'

Hey guys I'm new here. I'm debating on giving my 91 240sx to my dad and buying a sec gen rx-7. I don't know if I should keep my 240sx. It's cost way too much to make it go fast. Around 3000+ for an engine swap. And the suspension is a PITA! I can get a 87 rx-7 for $1000, but it needs a new motor. I want the turbo motor, and it should run for $900 right? How much should it cost for the labor to install it? I live in WA and i'd gladly pay someone to do it for me! Thanks in advance.

PlayinW/Wankel

Just buy the RX-7, you'll be glad you did!!!

Joe Dirte'

any idea of the usuall price for labor to do an engine swap?

fLyiNgOuFeR

n/a to turbo? depends if a shop does it or if somone feels like a side job. i personally would do it yourself cause thats what 99.99% of everyone that owns a fc3s does cause it's easy and you have alot of support from this forum.

Joe Dirte'

Can ya tell me the prices of both please? I'm trying to spend a maximum of $3200 on the car, turbo motor, and labor.

Joe Dirte'

I know alot about cars, but I can't do didly squat (engine wise)! I suck!

Evil Aviator

If you want the turbo motor, then you should buy a TII. It is just too much work and cost to convert the NA. Just because some people have done the conversion doesn't mean that it's a good idea. The people who have done this conversion either have a convertible (doesn't come with turbo), and/or have most of the parts and skills to perform the conversion themselves. In my area you can get a S4 TII with a blown motor for around $500, an engine rebuild is about $2,000, and a turbo rebuild is about $600. However, if you don't have any mechanical skill and/or resources, you would probably be better off getting a nice used TII for $4-5K.

Were you to go the NA to turbo conversion route, you would need to have a shop pull the old engine, install a new one, swap the flywheel and clutch, install a TII power brake booster, install a TII wiring harness, install a TII instrument panel or boost gauge, install a TII hood or FMIC and plumbing, etc. As you can see, it's going to be $$$ at $70/hr, not to mention the parts that you would need to buy.

BTW, the $900 turbo motor that you are thinking about is a Japanese-only engine, and would confuse 90% of the auto shops in the US, and it requires a Japanese or aftermarket EMS to run properly.

Joe Dirte'

Yup, you're right. I just wanted to have a non-turbo version just cuz of insurance. But the TII's around here go for 7k.

Evil Aviator

You need to shop for a TII, as well as insurance.

The blue book on a good 87 TII in your area is about $3,500. If TII's are really selling for $7K, then buy yourself a $300 1-way plane ticket, and buy a car in another state where not so many people are on crack. BTW, it would cost you at least $7K to pay a shop to convert an NA to a TII, so you wouldn't have much to lose. (Hehehe, if labor in WA is anything like your car pricing, then it may cost you several million).

As for the insurance, have you actually talked to an insurance company, or do you just have a feeling that a TII would cost more? I have owned RX-7's since 1988, and EVERY insurance carrier that I have had charged the SAME premium for an NA and TII. Here are my current rates for the same coverage in each vehicle with USAA:

88 TII - $121.98 / 6mos
88 SE - $121.98 / 6mos
84 GS - $121.98 / 6mos

Hey, you can do whatever you like, but I highly recommend that you get an NA to TII parts and labor estimate before you get rid of your SX. I think that the price will shock you.

Gefunk

Well you are sort of in a pickle I guess. I happen to be an on road rally racer and I love driving my friend's 240SX. However, I can overdrive and oversteer the car which isn't good. My FC3S now, I have never been able to overdrive, mainly because of my phat LSD. Yea, you are right with the 240SX being pills to modd, with a good ole wankel you can get HP cheap and you can even get a low end engine port which I hopefully am getting on my new engine and if you are ever in Maine we could do some serious hill climbs. Well good luck; the Wankel is going to be fun and really easy to fix and it is probably one of the best cars when it comes to aftermarket mods (AKA it has the most out there).

Joe Dirte'

Thanks for the info guys. But what would you guys recommened in the NA field? 240 or 7? I've have never seen 240's hit 14's in the quarter mile with basic bolt ons like i/h/e. Yeah the handling is great, but I just want more power right now.

RETed

You're trying to get cheap - it's going to bite you in the ***.&nbsp Sorry to sound so rude, but either you save the money or bear with what you've got.

I don't believe an FC turbo is going to cost you $7k.&nbsp It might pay to travel somewhere else (out of state?) to pick up one for under $4k.&nbsp Check the Autotrader http://www.autotrader.com/ or the Recycler http://autos.recycler.com/ - these regularly have FC turbos under $4k.

The 240SX is a dead-end unless you go SR20DET swap; most swaps are asking at least $3k for them.&nbsp You can turbo the KA24 engine, but it's still going to cost a lot just to control fuel and ignition on the turbo install - it's going to cost you the same as an SR20DET swap in the end, but the SR20DET has more potential.


-Ted

zyounker

If you want a fast NA RX-7 buy a 1st gen... You can pick one up with a blown engine.. then get either a large street port/bridge ported motor.. This should put you in the low 14s maybe even mid 13s.

A Large streetported engine, Exhaust, & intake will cost ~$4500


A 1st gen is alot lighter than a 2nd gen.. But it might not be as nice (comfortible)....


If you go turbo, a second gen TII is the way to go..

-Zach

EDIT: Fat fingered the times

Joe Dirte'

Wow! I thought the 7 had more potential than the det. The dets I've heard about with few mods run only low 14s to high 13s. I just thought that the 13bs had more potential.

zyounker

dets???

Not sure what you mean..

Well a 13B is only .1-.2 liters larger than a 12a...


-Zach

Joe Dirte'

SR20DET

zyounker

a turbo 13B has alot of potential.. You can get a TII to put down +400RWHP with a fair amount of money..

Check out:
http://www.thepartstrader.com/single...0&adnum=237948

This is a pretty fast TII this is with the stock turbo..


-Zach

Joe Dirte'

See, that's what I want. I stock motor that I can make fast with the least amount of money.

RETed

You read that wrong.&nbsp I meant the SR20DET has more potential than the KA24 motor.

The SR20DET can be made to run 400hp with a simple turbo swap and fuel support.&nbsp This means it'll run deep 12's if not 11's down the 1/4-mile.&nbsp The FC turbo needs a T04 upgrade with a true front mount IC, which is closer to $5,000.



-Ted

Joe Dirte'

KA vs. SR is the biggest debate of the 240sx forums. But some people haven't even hit 12's yet with a turbo upgrade and fuel upgrades. The fastest 240sx has a ka motor. It runs something in the 10's or 9's ungutted.

Joe Dirte'

Nevermind, scratch that. The fastest is the Jun Silvia that runs 8's with the SR. Sorry, I had to catch myself.

RETed

I have a friend who's trying to hit 11's with a SR20DET swap and a $2,000 ball bearing GT2835 turbo.&nbsp Estimated power level is going to be around 420hp.



-Ted

Joe Dirte'

Crap! That's gonna be a beast! So either way, if I wanted a turbo vehicle, TII car, sr20det motor, or ka24det motor, i'd probably end up spending $4000 anyways, right?

ZachSpazz

You want cheap straight line speed? Buy an 80's Era Mustang 5.0, some headers, cams and other doodads n' you'll be ready to tear Hondas apart.

If you want to turn the car...stick with the 240SX or RX-7. Making these cars FAST isn't easy nor cheap. Speed costs money, how fast do you wanna go?

Yelow RX-7

when i go with a na/tII conversion im getting my engine from soko. each engine has around 33,000 miles or less and will sell for cheap. i have a few friends that will put this engine in for me. now you say i need a tII tranny, tII guages, and a tII hood? what else would i need?