924Board.org

[troglodyte]

I have been told that swapping the engine into a car is the easy part. Its making everything else work together thats the trick. So, anyone here happen to know what would be the biggest snags in swapping in a Nissan SR20DET and 5-speed? Seems like a natural choice for a small light engine that can make a lot of power.

No doubt some will bash, but I was just thinking that a 924 would make a great drifter (it seems much akin to a RX7) and since people back here in the US have "discovered" the 240SX, the 924 would be a bit different than what everyone else has. Just an idea that I wanted to pose to 924 guys who know this car and know if its worth doing the swap before buying the car and jumping in.

[mrgtturbo]

Best answer I can offer is, buy it, drive it, then decide.
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81' 931

[troglodyte]

Honestly, thats not very effective advice. I'm asking prior to buying because I already know that I like the car's looks, size, and abilities. But, without having an idea of what it takes to swap in an engine that is entirely different than what the car came with, I cannot justify buying one. It is not very wise to jump in with both feet and quicly get in over one's head. This is why I am asking owners with experience who know what to look for and what to look out for.

[PORSCHEV]

personally I don't know a thing about te engine your talking about..therefore find it hard to comment about the job of making it fit or function. We need more info!!
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1976 924
5 lug conversion, 17'C2 wheels,custom body work,327 vette engine.

1978-#53 "D" track racer.

[troglodyte]

Point taken. Here is a commercial website that shows you parts but for prices that I think are high here in the US.

http://www.sr20detperformance.com/

A random website with specs.

http://www.xatracing.com/nissanS15sr20det.html
http://www.xatracing.com/nissanrtSR20DET.html

You can see some hybrib swaps in Japan and Australia where the SR20DET has been put into different cars.

http://www.meggala.com/hybridscss.htm

I have found 924s for cheap prices and I have access to friends back in Japan for the SR20DET. I know the SR20 drops into a 240SX (Silvia) but for something a bit different, I considered a 924. Dropping in the engine should not be a big issue. Its the whole hooking things up and getting them to work without costing too much money thats the issue (Japanese engine into a German car). If it costs more money and headaches than dropping one into a 240SX, then its not worth it. Thats why I don't want to jump into this without doing some research first.

I'd like a drift 924 but is it going to cost more than its worth? thats the question.

[PORSCHEV]

Looks like the engine will perform like hell...although it looks compact under the hoods of the pics I saw. I think I have more room with my vette engine.

I noted that you talked about a 5 speed in your first post........ If you were to swap in another transmission you are really taking on a whole different project that would completely change the handling of the 924. It would also involve swapping in a new type of differential and all the headaches of mounting that!

Your best chance of success would be to do an engine swap only....that would be the most simple project..although the wiring of that engine into the Porsche would be nightmarish.

In my opinion the 924 would make a poor drifter, due to the fact of the transaxel and the rear weight,plus the awsome handling abilities. These cars are really designed to grip the road....drifting requires the rear wheels to loose traction in order to slide through turns right??? It might work if you always had the engine spooled up and kept the tires smoking
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1976 924
5 lug conversion, 17'C2 wheels,custom body work,327 vette engine.

1978-#53 "D" track racer.

[troglodyte]

Thanks for your reply. If I swap in the SR20DET, then I would have to swap over the Nissan transmission as well. I don't thing the Porsche mission would be able to mate up. As for getting the rear out, thats not much problem with an SR20. Some cars back in Japan weighed more than a 924 and were still about to drift with no problems.

What kind of rear LSD does the 924 come with? It may be possible to keep it and just cut the drive shaft to meet the length. I've seen this done both in the US and Japan. And, as for grip and drift, I have seen cars in Japan that can do both. Just change the adjustable suspension and put on different tires and you can run hard on a twisty mountain road. Change your adjustable suspension and put on different tires and drift away at a track. The 924 looks to have the ability to do both. Again, it doesn't look too different than a first generation Mazda RX7.

Can you detail what you mean by "wiring headache"? I'm only familar with Nissan-to-Nissan swaps and this is why I am asking here. Swapping the SR20 into a 240SX hatch or coupe is a fairly straightforward affair. One can even get a Silvia front cut and swap everything over to RHD if one wanted to (and its been done). I expected the Porsche to be a bit different and more difficult, but its all a matter of degree. Is this a case of wanting to be different that is just too much cost and work where a 240SX swap is much more practical?

[crazyinkc]

The transaxle in the 924 is in the rear. You can adapt the torque tube to bolt to another bellhousing but installing a Nissan 5 speed into the 924 is quite abit of work. You will have to cut the center of the car from behind the firewall to make it fit, then fab a rear axle if you do not use the 924 trans.

[troglodyte]

Wow! I had no idea it would be that much work! Not a very intelligent design, IMO. Sounds like its just too much money and custom fabrication. At least, thats what I am understanding.

[Lizard]

the rear transaxle design is a brilliant design, way better as it gives a near 50/50 weight distrobution which results in better handling
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3 928s,

[troglodyte]

So, this means that the Porsche transmission can work with any engine? If so, then I stand corrected.

[Lizard]

any engine can be mated to any tranny, a tranny is a tranny,

you just need to fab up a bellhousing to mate the engine to the TT and then you need to find a clutch disc that will attach the TT shaft to the engine,
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3 928s,

[PORSCHEV]

My main point is that the transaxel in the rear is alot of weight that si meant to give you traction...and anyone that has driven a 924 can tell you that it takes work to make the rear break free. I had to really try hard with the staock engine to make the tires smoke...and even then they would grab after a short burst...Traction= a crappy drifter...get soneoen to take you for a ride in a 924....you may decide to race on a coarse
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1976 924
5 lug conversion, 17'C2 wheels,custom body work,327 vette engine.

1978-#53 "D" track racer.

[troglodyte]

This certainly explains why you said the car would not make an excellent drifter. The idea of fabbing up a bellhousing and such does not appeal to me. Again, the engine is a straight drop into a 240SX. Experienced shops can do it all in less than a day.

I really like the look of the 924 but I don't like the weak level of power tha the Porsche engine pumps out and I don't want to use an American engine. Plus, having the mission in the back isn't the greatest setup for a drifter.

It really sounds like the swap is doable, but only with a lot of custom work. Wanted to get somthing a bit different than a 240SX and the usual drift car. I appreciate your answers.

[Lizard]

well it just means you will need more power to be able to drift. maybe consider a 951 instead
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3 928s,