B & K series, SR20, RB26, 2JZ, and More - Top Engine Swaps
Here Are 10 Essential Engine Swaps You Should Be Doing (If You Haven't Done One Already)
Toyota 4A-GE
If you own an 80's Toyota you know the Toyota 4A-GE. This is like the B16A of the 80's. Coming from the AE86 Corolla, there are tons of parts available making the little 1.6L one of the coolest transplants for older Toyotas. And if you got the funds, you could even buy a TRD Formula Atlantic spec 4A-GE, which makes 240hp and redlines at 11,000rpm. Not too shabby for a naturally-aspirated 1.6L. But at $40k most tuners will shy away from one the most infamous 4-cylinder race engines. Instead you can build up your own 4A-GE or even the supercharged 4-GZE (found in the '84-89 MR-2). Keeping up with technology Toyota later introduced a 20-valve version of the 4A-GE making 160hp with factory individual throttle-bodies. Yes, these are the same ITBs that so many companies from Japan have fitted to Honda B-series engines.
Specs: 4-cylinder 1.6L
Power: 130 to 165 hp
Engine Cost: $700 to $1500
Originally With: Toyota Corolla, MR-2
Easy-Fit Cars: Toyota Corolla, MR-2
Custom-Fit Cars: Toyota Celica, Corolla, Starlet
Mount Kits: Ace Engineering, Techno Toy Tuning
Honda H22
Before the K-series took over, the H22 Prelude engine was the ticket for a big block Honda engine. With 2.2 liters, this was the answer to low torque B-series motors. Every top drag Honda at one time was running the H22 including Steph Papadakis' record-setting Civic. For a while, Civic and Integra owners had been laying off the H22 swap and leaving it to Accord owners. But with the recent H2B adapter plates, allowing for use of a B-series transmission, Civic and Integra owners are once again looking at the H22.
Specs: 4-cylinder 2.2L, DOHC, VTEC
Power: 187 to 200 hp
Engine Cost: $1000 to $2000
Originally With: Honda Prelude 92-01
Easy-Fit Cars: Acura CL, Honda Accord CB/CD
Custom-Fit Cars: Acura Integra DA/DC, Honda Civic EF/EG/EK
Mount Kits: Arizona Race & Machine, Avid, HASport, Innovative Mounts
Mazda 13B
You may just be too young to know about Mazda's 13B. But back in the day, this little rotary engine found its way into just about any and every rear wheel drive import. I can't forget how many Datsuns we've seen with a 13B swap. The naturally-aspirated 13B, turbo 13B and the twin-turbo 13B-REW are loved and loved-to-be-hated by many. With high oil and fuel consumption and low amounts of torque these engines aren't for the ideal daily driver. But for a racecar this makes for a great setup. Very few if any engines of the same size and weight can make the same horsepower as a 13B. In 1992, after Mazda's victories in Le Mans, FIA decided to outlaw rotary engines for their advantage over other engines.
Specs: Twin rotary 1.3L
Power: 135 to 280 hp
Engine Cost: $1000 to $3000
Originally With: Mazda RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, RX-7
Easy-Fit Cars: Not Applicable
Custom-Fit Cars: Datsun, Mazda Miata, Mazda RX-8, Toyota (RWD)
Mount Kits: Not Applicable
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