Engine Mock Up

When looking for the right setup, balance can be a key factor for determining what engine to run. For this reason, the engine of choice was a very important one to me. I knew I needed something that would properly suit the car; something small, but not too small.  As admirable as the old L series engines are, I decided to go with something slightly newer. In a previous post, I had mentioned that I wanted a familiar engine and one that I knew would be very capable of doing the job. So naturally, the SR20DET was the perfect candidate for the heart of the car.

Now since this isn't an S-Chassis, the swap requires a tiny bit more work. Knowing this, I began researching other builds to learn what all it would take to do. It appeared that it was indeed a simple swap. Assured, I began to compile a parts list and checked them off as I ordered them.

The first wave of parts began to arrive quickly. Since I didn't have the money for everything right away, I wanted to be as systematic as possible when deciding what to order and when. I focused on what I could use and need right away. First on my list was a pair of motor mounts. The car was undergoing some fab work at this time, it made sense to order the intercooler and radiator since the chassis needed some trimming in order for these to fit.

The intercooler and radiator setup took a bit of time researching to finally decide on something. I decided on the CX Racing combo.  The fit of this kit is absolutely fantastic. The intercooler is fairly large and sits right behind the grill and valance. It also features an inlet and outlet on the backside versus on the sides, so no additional trimming for piping would be needed. On top of that, it's a very clean-looking install. As for the motor mounts, I went with the Mckinney poly mounts.

Another thing I did was make a trip out to the local junk yard where I came across a sweet deal. I was able to pick up an S13 240sx DOHC gauge cluster for next to nothing, which will be used to replace the 510 gauges as they aren't compatible with the SR20.

The L series engines that come in the 510 have a rear sump setup, but on the SR it's a front sump. This of course leads to oil pan fitment issues. So first thing first, the cross member had to be cut, flipped, and welded up. This, along with all the other fab work for the swap, was done by Shiomi Garage.

With that done, it was time for the test fit. Luckily Travis had an extra engine on hand he was more than happy to use for this.

It was a perfect fit! The Mckinney mounts bolted right up with ease and on top of that, they had a fantastic look to them. I was beyond pleased with how well they worked out. A turn of a few bolts and the engine was sitting pretty.

With the motor in and fitment confirmed, it was time to add the transmission into the mix. This too also required some cutting and welding in order to fit due to the transmission being bigger than the tunnel. In the end, the area around the shifter required the most amount of work along with a couple love taps from a hammer in a few places.

Now with the transmission in, the engine's angle was set and came out at almost the exact same angle as it does in an S13.

Cutting up the tunnel meant some additions needed to be made.

With everything looking good, it was time to make a transmission crossmember/mount. It was made to have as much clearance as possible. The factory bushing mount was removed and the new transmission crossmember bolted directly to the transmission casing instead. This put it up as high as it could go. With a "notched" area featured, there should be plenty of room for being able to tuck the exhaust nicely while providing a nice amount of ground clearance.

Next, it was time to install the CX Racing intercooler and radiator combo. The front valance was removed for easier access to everything. Facing potential impacts while drifting, I feel that removing it and making it bolt-on instead of welded-on is going to be a nice thing to have down the road for replacements.

Before long, it was all cut up and was time to test fit the intercooler.

I was very happy with the fitment overall. It was time to check how the valance would fit.  A little trimming had to be done, but aside from that it fit great!

The intercooler was placed on the backside of the core support, not on the front like it was initially installed. This moved it farther away from the valance, which might not have needed trimmed. It was quickly switched to the inside and following that, the radiator was put in place.

And just like that, the engine mock up was officially complete.

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”

– Bill Cosby