Evo Engine Swap

[mopardwh]

One of the best things about a DSM is that you can get 300-400 reliable horsepower
without a rebuild or a ton of money. They are a great budget car, but when you rebuild
you could end up spending a lot on machine work.

My concern is that low mileage engines are getting more and more scarce. However, EVO VIII's are in production and are starting to hit junk yards. So my questions begin with; is a short block swap cut and dry? Or better yet, is a drivetrain swap worth the effort? I realize the crossmember won't just bolt right up when the engine is on the opposite side, but with a few modifications could it be done and still be worth it?

Although everything is backwards, and you would probably have to change ECU, sensors and other things I don't think it would be rocket science. So if some of you EVO buffs or others more knowledgeable than me would enlighten us I would appreciate it.

 

[ericbev]

Why would you not just do a rebuild using your block? Why complicate things soo much?

 

[robs90tsi]

It would involve basically building up yourself a whole new car. Its not just as simple as to just pull the stuff out and swap it in, Im sure the wheelbases are different as well, making a drivetrain swap extremely difficult if not impossible, not to mention not even worth it, suspension, tranny, all wiring harnesses, the ecu, everything would have to go.

 

[2-0turbo]

The new EVO's (with the timing belt on the pax side) have their engines running the opposite direction as 1G/2G DSM's. You are not really saving yourself much. And, the motor mounts and the way the engines mount into the cars is all different.

Just rebuild the one you've got or if you are not up to that challenge, fork over some dough and buy a pre-built shortblock from one of the many, reputable DSM vendors on this site.

 

[Dasamary]

You can get a decent shortblock off of Ebay and there are still a bunch of engines floating around. The EVO is a 4G63 but it might as well be somthing totally different since the mounts, the way its set up and the direction it runs is different.

 

[mopardwh]

I have 90k and rollin right now. I aslo just picked up a 6bolt short block from the bone yard when the time does come. However I am just questioning the fact that it is the same motor, and some impressive numbers have been shown from a stock motor. Unless the blocks are actually cast differently, I didn't see the problem (are far as a short block). When it comes to a complete drivtrain swap, I see where major complications could come about, that is why I am asking! But if a V8 fits perfect in an RX7, why can't you replace a
4g63 with a 4g63.

 

[mopardwh]

The new EVO's (with the timing belt on the pax side) have their engines running the opposite direction as 1G/2G DSM's.

Are you guys saying that the engine runs counterclockwise? I've read this several times now on different threads and find it EXTREMELY hard to believe. Mainly because I've only seen one engine ever run that way and it was a Diesel that had a starter kick backwards. It was like a freek accident.