New to the Forum/200sx Motor Swap
Hey guys. I am a new member of the forum but not new to SR's. I've been driving a 96 200sx se-r for over 8 years now. It's been a great daily driver and i've kept it stock. I've been browsing this forum for a while now just looking for possible options for my car. I definitely plan on keeping her for many years to come (regardless of what my family says but you just can't find a car like this anymore) and now want to do some upgrades. I'm all about adding power and really I want a 200+ hp car. I couldn't care less about cosmetic stuff (the paint has seen better days). I do have mechanical experience (about to graduate as an engineer) and just really enjoy working on cars as my hobby. What follows is my plan of action.
I do plan on doing much more research, but from looking on the forum, I think i've narrowed down what I want to do. I want to put an Avenir sr20det motor into it. Reason being it seems to be the cheapest way to add (RELIABLE, it's going to be a daily driver still) horsepower. From what I've gathered from forum threads is that it's also the most straightforward way since i have an se-r already it's just a drop in and go. I'm not looking for the easiest way to upgrade my car, just the most cost effect for the HP because I want it to remain my daily driver for many years to come. The car currently has about 220,000 miles on it and it has low compression on cylinder #3, still runs strong though minus a good bit of HP! I thought about taking it out and rebuilding it but I think there are better sr motors out there than an sr20de (considering a VE as well). Why Avenir? Well (please correct me if I'm wrong) the bluebird and gti-r motors are AWD motors and will require more money to swap compared to putting in an sr20det motor from a FWD car. Plus (from what I've seen online) the bluebird and gti-r JDM motors all come with the transmission and ecu and what not, so I'm basically buying more than I need. I've also looked at stroking the motor I have now (just to show that i've looked at all options ha) which was way out of the question. Also, I've looked at getting a "new" sr20de motor and turboing it but still not as cost effect as the Avenir and it wouldn't have piston squirters.
Another viable option I've looked at is the VE motor. Those things have pretty good NA power. I don't mind having a turbo but I live in SC where there's not a day in the summer it's not over 90 degrees F and 60 percent humidity (horsepower draining for a turbo car). Even though the ve motor has a good bit of power I don't think it has the power (from what I've read on the forum) I'm looking for or the cost to power ration the Avenir swap would have ($1000 dollar motor plus $150 for new gaskets and misc to add about 70 HP and lb-ft of torque). Also, it wouldn't be a simple drop and go swap (from what I've read).
My big concern is if i get a Avenir sr20det (SR20DET Silvertop Avenir W11 / 200SX / Sentra / Infiniti G20 Engine JDM SR20DET) (don't know how to hyper link yet, my bad) from JDM engine depot (or somewhere else??) how reliable are they? By that I mean will I be able to take the motor out I have now and drop that one in, hook everything up and drive (of course replacing necessary mounts and gaskets) or do I run the risk of the motor needing rebuilt? The whole point of my plan is to minimize the money put into it AND have a reliable car in the end. If I get a motor and it doesn't run good then I would be better off rebuilding the one I have now. Is it just a risk I take when I get a JDM motor?
Also, I know the transmission I have in it now will be the weakest link in the car so I do plan on getting a new one. I haven't started researching that yet. I really want to get a motor in it first that way I know it's good before I drop a new tranny in.
Like I said earlier, I have more research to do before I pull the trigger but I do plan on getting a new motor by the end of this month. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for me please let me know. Glad to finally be on the forum!
I do plan on doing much more research, but from looking on the forum, I think i've narrowed down what I want to do. I want to put an Avenir sr20det motor into it. Reason being it seems to be the cheapest way to add (RELIABLE, it's going to be a daily driver still) horsepower. From what I've gathered from forum threads is that it's also the most straightforward way since i have an se-r already it's just a drop in and go. I'm not looking for the easiest way to upgrade my car, just the most cost effect for the HP because I want it to remain my daily driver for many years to come. The car currently has about 220,000 miles on it and it has low compression on cylinder #3, still runs strong though minus a good bit of HP! I thought about taking it out and rebuilding it but I think there are better sr motors out there than an sr20de (considering a VE as well). Why Avenir? Well (please correct me if I'm wrong) the bluebird and gti-r motors are AWD motors and will require more money to swap compared to putting in an sr20det motor from a FWD car. Plus (from what I've seen online) the bluebird and gti-r JDM motors all come with the transmission and ecu and what not, so I'm basically buying more than I need. I've also looked at stroking the motor I have now (just to show that i've looked at all options ha) which was way out of the question. Also, I've looked at getting a "new" sr20de motor and turboing it but still not as cost effect as the Avenir and it wouldn't have piston squirters.
Another viable option I've looked at is the VE motor. Those things have pretty good NA power. I don't mind having a turbo but I live in SC where there's not a day in the summer it's not over 90 degrees F and 60 percent humidity (horsepower draining for a turbo car). Even though the ve motor has a good bit of power I don't think it has the power (from what I've read on the forum) I'm looking for or the cost to power ration the Avenir swap would have ($1000 dollar motor plus $150 for new gaskets and misc to add about 70 HP and lb-ft of torque). Also, it wouldn't be a simple drop and go swap (from what I've read).
My big concern is if i get a Avenir sr20det (SR20DET Silvertop Avenir W11 / 200SX / Sentra / Infiniti G20 Engine JDM SR20DET) (don't know how to hyper link yet, my bad) from JDM engine depot (or somewhere else??) how reliable are they? By that I mean will I be able to take the motor out I have now and drop that one in, hook everything up and drive (of course replacing necessary mounts and gaskets) or do I run the risk of the motor needing rebuilt? The whole point of my plan is to minimize the money put into it AND have a reliable car in the end. If I get a motor and it doesn't run good then I would be better off rebuilding the one I have now. Is it just a risk I take when I get a JDM motor?
Also, I know the transmission I have in it now will be the weakest link in the car so I do plan on getting a new one. I haven't started researching that yet. I really want to get a motor in it first that way I know it's good before I drop a new tranny in.
Like I said earlier, I have more research to do before I pull the trigger but I do plan on getting a new motor by the end of this month. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for me please let me know. Glad to finally be on the forum!
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