Looking for Advice/Opinions... SR Swap or Not

[Pitchblack98]

I need some advice and/or opinions on a situation I am in... First a little background story so you guys will understand the situation. You can skip the first 2 paragraphs if you don't care to read them. lol... Hopefully I can keep this short.

To make a long story short my daily driver (2005 Honda Accord) was totaled while my wife was driving it and she got hurt pretty bad. She is doing pretty good now, but its been a long road. This happened 2 years ago and I have been driving my S14 daily every since. Including in the heavy snow we get out here in colorado (Not Fun). That has pretty much stopped any mods I had planned for it. I can only do stuff to the car that I would have to finish in a weekend since I have to drive it to work on Monday.

Now I am having some engine and tranny problems with my S14. It is a 95 SE with 185k miles on it and I don't think its worth trying to fixing them, but I love my S14.

I have a few options here and wanted some opinions or advice on them... My Accord was paid for and I got a pretty decent check from the insurance company (still negotiating the injury claims).

Short Version of what I'm thinking... More detail below if you want to keep reading...
1. Get a beater, Sports bike, and pay a shop 10k to do the SR swap with many upgrades.
2. Get a nice Daily Driver, Sports bike, and pay a shop 6k to do a basic SR swap.
3. Get a nice Daily Driver, Sports bike, and attempt to do the SR swap myself. Work and family life leaves with me limited free time.
4. Sell my S14 and get something like an Evo, S4, or A6. Possibly still get a sports bike.

I am thinking about picking up a cheap awd daily driver and getting a sport bike to save a little on gas during the summer. That will leave me enough money to do a S14 SR swap. I am mechanically inclided, have the tools needed, and the garage space to do the swap myself, but I don't exactly have enough free time to do the swap myself at the moment. I could still do it myself, but it would take several weeks, if not months to complete it. It's also hard to work during the winter out here, especially with not having heat in my garage.

I have talked to a local shop that specializes in Nissans with the 240 being their biggest area. They quoted me between 9k and 10k to do the swap with upgrades. I know that number sounds a bit high, but read on...

That total price includes the following with a break down of each cost...
-The complete motor set and freight. $3500
-Installation including removing the KA and Inspecting the valve train, bottom end, and transmission of the SR. $1750
-Replacing rear main seal, exhuast manifold gasket, rear transmission seal, front seal and gasket, inner shift boot, and new turbo gaskets and fasteners. $135
-Engine conversion harness, all wiring. $150
-New belts, radiator hoses, heater hoses, and clamps. $170
**Everything above is just a typical swap with no upgrades. Everything below is what I am looking to upgrade.**
-HKS Cams. $550 with no install labor since they will be put in during valve train inspection.
-GReddy Rocker arm stoppers (Are these needed in a S14 SR20?), GReddy high capacity oil pan, HKS BOV, Koyo Radiator with electric fans, RPS Street Disk Clutch Kit. $1375
-HDI Front Mount Intercooler, Custom Intake and Intercooler piping with HKS Filter and install labor. $980
-3" Tanabe Concept G Exhuast, Tanabe Downpipe, and Test Pipe (T.P. Not installed). $750
-No charge for Dyno Tuning for Gas.
-E85 Dyno Tuning. $125.

I haven't decided on what turbo or fuel injectors I might be using be using yet, so those are not factored in yet. I already have a Walbro 255 in the car so I left that out also.

My budget is going to be right around 10k plus/minus if I go that route... I'm not sure if I want to put that much money into something worth maybe $4000. I know I will never get my money back out of it except for pure enjoyment of driving it.

My other options from above are pretty self explanatory. I'd like to hear what some of you guys think or would do. Sorry Its a little long.

[0wn3r]

AWD vehicle..

[ZX88]

option 4 is for you. something safe for the family and good in the snow.

[Saskacer]

Yeah, as much as you want to hear me saying, go with number 2! I won't say it, go with number 4, then later, once your set up and every thing is good, get another 240 then go with what you had planned.

[luvsr20]

Originally Posted by ZX88

option 4 is for you. something safe for the family and good in the snow.

agreed, gotta look out for the fam first and foremost. having a EVO would still be just as fun as a sr S14 and you could drive it all year around and not have to worry about snow and other crap that comes along with the winters in colorado, you don't need a coupe anyway if you have a family.

[xplicit240]

agreed. family comes first. then have wifey buy you one later on =) an S chassi i mean. if you were in NJ i would even help you do the swap. its really not that hard.

[dogg4217]

Thats a really STEEP price for the "upgraded package" for a sr swap. $3500 for the motor set is bad when you can get a complete set for $2000. $1750 to pull the old KA out and inspect the SR is a high price.

Hell you can pull the KA out in a day (few hours) and take them the shell to save some money.

Here is what another shop is doing for a "swap package" just to give you an idea.
http://www.heavythrottle.com/

and honestly I think they are high to. SR engines swaps can be ordered a lot cheaper then those prices.

[Pitchblack98]

Cool. I really appreciate everyone comments. I was a little hesitant on posting this thread and getting flammed. lol...

I have been thinking about this for about 3 months now and haven't been able to come up with a solution. Its hard for me to think of selling the 240. Shes the first rear wheel drive car I have owned (other than trucks) and has been an absolute blast to drive.

I've been thinking about not buying a bike. That would give me enough money to pick up a nice 01 or 02 S4 and still have the money to swap the SR. I would definatly have to sell it to buy an Evo or newer S4.

You guys have me thinking now and you might be right. Time to start the search to see whats out there.

Originally Posted by dogg4217

Hell you can pull the KA out in a day (few hours) and take them the shell to save some money.

I actually thought about asking them how much I could save if I did that. I also thought about getting the motor set myself and rebuilding the block with forged internals. Then just let them install it. I can do that myself and still be under what they want for just the motor.

[an_orange_s2k]

is this the AWD car for yourself or the wife? i'd say pick up a WRX or 2.5rs since there are plenty of them for decent prices and they are AWD. even when you pick up your bike it should leave you with a little bit of money you can save toward the SR swap, or the next s14.

[gprb25]

I'm in between on #1 and #2.

I think you should get a semi nice daily, the bike and do the sr swap with minor upgrades. I'd look into a 2871r as far as a turbo.

What is your idea of a beater?? lol

But I do agree with Dog because like you said, you are mechanically inclined. Pull the KA and save the money that they would have charged to pull it and put it towards the motor or your daily.

[s13 @ fullboost]

Originally Posted by Saskacer

Yeah, as much as you want to hear me saying, go with number 2! I won't say it, go with number 4, then later, once your set up and every thing is good, get another 240 then go with what you had planned.

Agreed 100% Thats your best bet

[Pitchblack98]

Originally Posted by gprb25

What is your idea of a beater?? lol

lol... I've been looking at mid to late 90s and 2000 - 2001 Subarus for a beater. I have 22k total to spend, save, whatever... I figured a nice used bike would cost me about 6k and spending 10k on my S14 would leave me about 6k left for a beater plus or minus with taxes, tags, and fees. I could play with these numbers in any direction.

If I forget about the bike I would have a lot more to spend on a daily driver. I am leaning more towards the bike cause I drive 92 miles round trip to work M-F. It would save me a lot in gas to ride a bike to work a couple of days a week when its nice.

Originally Posted by s13 @ fullboost

Agreed 100% Thats your best bet

As for getting another S14... They are getting hard to find and the ones I have seen are way too expensive for what they are. The one I have now kind of fell into my lap by accident. lol... If I sold mine I would probably just walk away and not look for another one down the road.

[!Zar!]

Stop playing with cars and get your life on lock.

Then after everything is cool, start building up cars again.

Just the fact that you have to ask yourself this means you are most likely not ready.

I'm not trying to hate, I'm just saying get a DD and chill for a minute.

[bejota180sx]

i think you should get a safe daily driver(pref family oriented) u and ur wife can use all year round, get a sport bike IF u want to (could be good for when the wife has to use the daily all day long and u cant take the s14) and get a BASIC SR swap with frontmount and simple stuff like that...

[!Zar!]

I ride, but I will say you should hold off on getting a bike.

Or at least untill you wife gets as close to 100% as she can.

Have any kids?

[Pitchblack98]

Originally Posted by !Zar!

Stop playing with cars and get your life on lock.

Then after everything is cool, start building up cars again.

Just the fact that you have to ask yourself this means you are most likely not ready.

I'm not trying to hate, I'm just saying get a DD and chill for a minute.

I don't have to get my life on lock. My life is good and I have no complaints. You make it sound like I am struggling to get by everyday. lol... Its nothing like that. My wife and I both have great jobs, make good money, and have the perfect family. By the way, no kids yet. Wife is currently trying to talk me into that one. My family consists of my wife and I and 3 adopted greyhounds at the moment. lol... Kids will be on the way in the next 12 months more than likely.

Originally Posted by bejota180sx

i think you should get a safe daily driver(pref family oriented) u and ur wife can use all year round, get a sport bike IF u want to (could be good for when the wife has to use the daily all day long and u cant take the s14) and get a BASIC SR swap with frontmount and simple stuff like that...

Also, my wife totaled my daily driver, not hers. She has a 2005 Legacy GT and it already talking about getting something different after she gets her injury settlement, if there is anything left after the medical bills are paid. Who knows...

I am going to shop around and see if I can find a used Evo in the 18k to 20k range that hasn't been abused. Then I will just keep my S14 and drive it until the tranny falls out of it. Its an automatic by the way and yes I have everything, but a manual trans and driveshaft to do the conversion... That will get me motivated to maybe do the swap on my own. I just don't know if I could sell it or not. Shes been with me for 2 years and has never let me down.

I appreciate everyones input and definatly wouldn't mind reading anything else that gets added.

[s13derfter]

why do you need a DD, a bike and a s14? s14 could be ur DD. you should swap it yourself if you can and save some money. Just do an AC swap and then you have perfect drift/daly drive car and you wont need 3 vehicles. But i feel you on the bike with these gas prices it would be sooo sik to have a motorcycle.

edit* is the daily for you or the wife. lol you should never need 3 vehicles unless ur just running out of things to spend money on.

[Pitchblack98]

Originally Posted by s13derfter

why do you need a DD, a bike and a s14? s14 could be ur DD. you should swap it yourself if you can and save some money. Just do an AC swap and then you have perfect drift/daly drive car and you wont need 3 vehicles. But i feel you on the bike with these gas prices it would be sooo sik to have a motorcycle.

edit* is the daily for you or the wife. lol you should never need 3 vehicles unless ur just running out of things to spend money on.

lol... The 240 doesn't do very well in the snow. Its not bad in a couple of inches of snow, but I live in the foothills of Colorado and usually get more than a couple of inches. Any more than 6" of snow and the 240 is worthless, especially with it being lowered. Its fun driving it in the snow around the neighborhood, but it sucks to drive to work in it.

I had an incident last year where my 240 sat in a ditch half a mile from my house for 2 days. It decided it didnt want to stop or turn going down the hill at the end of my subdivision. Ended up sliding thru the intersection and into the ditch on the other side. All while sliding at about 2 mph...

My wife has her car and I have my 240. I want something I can drive in the winter time that will be better in the snow so I dont have to worry about tearing up my 240. My wifes AWD Legacy tears thru the snow like its not even there.

And trust me... I can think of many other things to spend money on instead of cars. lol... The wife won't let me look at boats. Apparently a boat is a waste of money since we can only use it 4 or 5 months out of the year here.

[driven_]

hmm,
go with order #4
you can always get another s14 down the road.
and it'll still be an s14.

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by dogg4217

when you can get a complete set for $2000.

How do you define complete?

You can not get a complete SR swap for 2 grand unless you live in Cali and/or are excluding shipping.

[blitzkrgCT9A]

Go with #4, and get an EVO. They are much cheaper to maintain than the Audi.

[s13derfter]

Originally Posted by Pitchblack98

lol... The 240 doesn't do very well in the snow. Its not bad in a couple of inches of snow, but I live in the foothills of Colorado and usually get more than a couple of inches. Any more than 6" of snow and the 240 is worthless, especially with it being lowered. Its fun driving it in the snow around the neighborhood, but it sucks to drive to work in it.

I had an incident last year where my 240 sat in a ditch half a mile from my house for 2 days. It decided it didnt want to stop or turn going down the hill at the end of my subdivision. Ended up sliding thru the intersection and into the ditch on the other side. All while sliding at about 2 mph...

My wife has her car and I have my 240. I want something I can drive in the winter time that will be better in the snow so I dont have to worry about tearing up my 240. My wifes AWD Legacy tears thru the snow like its not even there.

And trust me... I can think of many other things to spend money on instead of cars. lol... The wife won't let me look at boats. Apparently a boat is a waste of money since we can only use it 4 or 5 months out of the year here.

ohh i see. you should get yourself a STi . not much of a gas saver but you will show the snow whose boss. dam it must suk to live in snow. Do cars rust fast in those conditions? I think any awd car will do well just make sure its not a v8! gas prices are reddik..

[Pitchblack98]

Originally Posted by s13derfter

ohh i see. you should get yourself a STi . not much of a gas saver but you will show the snow whose boss. dam it must suk to live in snow. Do cars rust fast in those conditions? I think any awd car will do well just make sure its not a v8! gas prices are reddik..

I have looked at the WRX and STi, but am not much of a fan of them. I just don't like the bubble looking headlights and the interior. I like the newer 2005/2006 STi, but it's a bit out of my price range.

I have always been a Mitsubishi fan before I got my 240. I've had 2 Eclipse GSX's in the past and know quite a bit about the 4g63. I've thought about getting another GSX since they are pretty cheap and I'm sure I could fix pretty much anything that goes wrong with them. I am just not sure I want something with 2 doors as my main car. It's always a pain to go out with friends in the 240 since its a 2 door and the rear seat is worthless for passanger (unless you have short friends. lol).

I haven't had any problems with my cars rusting, but I have seen some cars that have rust problems. They use this stuff called Mag-Chloride on the roads when it snows. Its basically liquid salt that is sprayed on the roads and its supposed to melt off the snow and ice... I have always washed my car after the roads dried up to get it off. It leaves a white coating all over your car that looks like a dusting of salt. Only problem with this stuff is that it will freeze when it gets below about 5 degrees or so. That's when they break out the sand and slag. This crap is a whole nother story. It will sand blast the paint right off the front of your car driving thru it.

[s13derfter]

Originally Posted by Pitchblack98

I have looked at the WRX and STi, but am not much of a fan of them. I just don't like the bubble looking headlights and the interior. I like the newer 2005/2006 STi, but it's a bit out of my price range.

I have always been a Mitsubishi fan before I got my 240. I've had 2 Eclipse GSX's in the past and know quite a bit about the 4g63. I've thought about getting another GSX since they are pretty cheap and I'm sure I could fix pretty much anything that goes wrong with them. I am just not sure I want something with 2 doors as my main car. It's always a pain to go out with friends in the 240 since its a 2 door and the rear seat is worthless for passanger (unless you have short friends. lol).

I haven't had any problems with my cars rusting, but I have seen some cars that have rust problems. They use this stuff called Mag-Chloride on the roads when it snows. Its basically liquid salt that is sprayed on the roads and its supposed to melt off the snow and ice... I have always washed my car after the roads dried up to get it off. It leaves a white coating all over your car that looks like a dusting of salt. Only problem with this stuff is that it will freeze when it gets below about 5 degrees or so. That's when they break out the sand and slag. This crap is a whole nother story. It will sand blast the paint right off the front of your car driving thru it.

ohhh! the gsxs are fast!! what a daily driver lol but yea they are way easier to work on then a subaru inline 4 vs flat 4 . I own a sti and i like it a lot, if you can enjoy staying on the road that is. anyway both evo and gsx are pretty good cars!