4G63,RB26 or 2JZ?

[underradar92]

Wow.

Here is how the space shakes out on this idea.

I'll get my trusty tape measure, feel free to follow along.

A 4g63 is about 22" long, add (ballpark) 9" for 2 more 1/2 litre cylinders. There are 24" from the leading edge of the cam cover to contact points on the firewall. That places a longitudinally mounted I6 with 16" (more than half the engine) in front of the front axle centerline, and the rear of the cam cover about 1" behind the windshield wipers. Add a belhousing and transmission, under a FWD/AWD designed floorpan, now you have a cramped footbox, since that running gear is a fair bit wider than a driveshaft and exhaust.

That formula will net a car that is no longer comfortable, and nose heavy due to the engine being mostly ahead of the front wheels. A stock DSM has a nose-heavy design, and can be made fast, you may be thinking, but as a RWD that goes out the window. try more engine setback? Now the engine is between the seats.

There go all the good reasons for doing this swap, loyalty and emotion aside, physics say "nice try".

Glad I could drop my three cents before this deal gets locked.

 

[92awddsm]

Has anyone noticed the age of this thread? If it was going to get locked, it would have happened a few months ago.

To the OP, have you considered the fact that you will have to convert from fwd to rwd? And where has everyone come up with the idea that we are talking awd, not fwd. Also, have you considered the facts that
1) the firewall will have to be modded to accomadate the engine?
2) the driveshaft tunnel will have to be modded to accept the new engine and tranny
3) the chassis will have to be stiffened to accomodate a powerful engine and aftermarket rear end.
4) you will have to fab up custom mounts to get a rwd rear end into a fwd
5) you would spend as much on a custom driveshaft as you would on a good set of 4g63 pistons
6) the handling characteristics caused by adding so much nose weight to a car that is already nose heavy and prone to understeer already
7) the fact that it is just not a practical swap
8) not only will you be trying to crossbreed the car but the wiring will be a nightmare, possibly more so than shoehorning a 3' engine into a 2' engine bay.
9) after all is said and done, using it as a daily driver will be as practical and reliable as trying to use a donkey to commute with on a major highway
10) You will end up with a $50k car that is still only worth $2-3k.
11) the overall cost for a fast car is no where near being practical nor beneficial

For what it is worth, most of the useable power I have seen with a 2jz falls within a 3k rpm powerband. My 4g has a 4k rpm+/- powerband so I dont see where you are coming from with the statement that you would have a broader power range with the 6 cylinder.

Now, lets talk about swapping a 4g into an rx7 or supra. Then you might find more interest in the project. Its not the body of the dsm that is so appealing to most, it is the engine and it's capabilities that we love so much. If you want more enthusiasm to your swap, try a supra or skyline forum. But at the same time, expect the same attitude from those guys because they will be trying to figure out why you are trying to bastardize their engines by fitting it into such a poorly built chassis with cheap and outdated interior.

If you decide to try it afterall, good luck. I also have 2 future bastard project in the future. One is going to be an '84 200 sx with a 4g swap and staying rwd. The other is going to be an awd, 4g powered del sol.

 

[92awddsm]

How old are you now? 16?

dsmgod87
Translation: dsmgod- wannabe because I have never heard of him spoken of in the dsm world

87- More than likely year of birth. It wasnt because he got his first dsm in '87

 

[Artago]

Can some admin close this flame war please?? And dsmgod87... Just go out and buy a supra and post your questions to their forums.

 

[RedWagon]

So I have this impossible Idea too that if money wasnt a problem Id try it for an ultimate sleeper by enclosing the area behind the front seats and gutting it.Then buying a ferrari engine and puting it in the back half of the car. But dreams are dreams and thats what photo shop is for

 

[awddsm95]

Slap another 2 cylinders on a 4g63 to make it a 6g63, and it would dominate over a 2jz or rbt engine WTF

 

[sbengineering]

Your not the first one with the idea. Although i don't think it's dumb, its not sensible. (i would never care to see a Fiat with a Ferrari Engine). If you are gonna do it, keep in mind that everything mechanical from the rear tires forward must be changed. i.e. Front crossmember, steering rack, steering column, the entire front suspension. Nothing can be used. And also you will need to stiffen the unibody with a 8pt. or larger roll cage. A lot of time goes in making a modified car safe. In the end it will either be too nice to drive daily, or too junky.

 

[GVR4592]

I think every post after my initial response (4 months ago) was pointless, I think I nailed it on the head the first time.