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Q: Hey guys how's it hangin'? I just got my first car, a 1976 Toyota Celica GT! It's pretty beat up but I have big dreams for it. I had a question for you guys: what motor should I pop in there? I've seen a lot of the old school Datsuns with their big brother Nissan engines in 'em so I was wondering what kind of engine I could put in my GT? Would a 2JZ even fit in there? But then again I'm only 16 so I don't exactly have all the money. What's the more affordable engine that I could put in there? Any help on my engine, body mods or interior would be greatly appreciated.
Gabe Bedolla
A: What an awesome first car! The 2JZ would fit, where there's a will, there's a way - but it's not going to be simple or cheap. The motor we would recommend for your car would be the 18RG, which was only sold in Japan. Although it's an older motor they aren't exactly cheap or easy to track down, they usually sell for around $1000 for a longblock.
Q: What's the difference between a B-Series Type-R (B18C) engine and a K-Series Type-R (K20A)? I'm doing an engine swap in a '98 Acura Integra (DC4) and looking for an "Official" Type-R engine. Also which engine would you recommend?
Jeramie Haynes
A: A lot. If you want to get technical and count every last bolt there are thousands of differences between the motors. If you're talking horsepower, it's a difference of roughly 20hp in favor of the K-Series. Both are "official" Type-R motors; they just came in different chassis. The B18C was originally installed in DC2 and DB8 Integra Type-Rs while the K20A Type-R has more variations and came in the EP3 and FD2 Civic Type-Rs and DC5 Integra Type-R.
Q: First off I would like to say I am in love with all of you sexy mofos. I have been a subscriber for about a year and I grit my teeth every month waiting for my next issue. But other than me fantasizing about you, I need advice with a swap. I drive a 1990 Nissan 240SX hatchback. I really want to do a swap but I don't know what engine. I really wanted to swap the all-popular SR20 but I want my 240 to be different from everybody else. I was considering a 1JZ/2JZ; I have also thought about a RB or the CA18. But I am also a college student on a pretty small budget. I don't want to have to do too much modification to the engine bay if possible. So if you could tell me what my best choice would be for the most horsepower and easiest to swap with a lot of choices for parts, and of course, keeping in mind my pathetic budget, that would be great. Thanks so much for the advice.
Vern Churgeson
A: Sometimes being different isn't necessarily good. The SR20 is a popular swap for the exact reasons you're asking for - it's a relatively inexpensive and simple swap, and there is a vast amount of aftermarket support. On top of that, the SR20 is capable of making plenty of power. If you do decide to do something else and want bang-for-the-buck we'd recommend looking into a Chevy LS engine swap. As much as some people hate the idea of an American motor in a Japanese car, the performance gain for the money is undeniable. Another option that is fairly popular is going KA-T and adding a turbo to your existing motor. The choices can seem overbearing but those are our suggestions for a low budget setup.
By Henry Z. De Kuyper
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