lexus v8 vs strong SR20DET build

hey everyone, been researching different engine swops for my s13 for a while now, and this lexus v8 swop is seeming like a good possibility, i dont want this to be a copy of the privious thread on lexus v8's, just wanted to know is this has been done in S.A before, and what it would work out in difference cost wise to a sr20det swop onto my car with a couple bolt on mods. im going for good power with better reliability, also what manual box can u use with the v8, cressida, anything else?your help will be much appreciated, thanks. and if it works out to roughly the same price as the modded sr swop, it would definitly be an interesting option for me, i want a powerhouse daily driver. need all the help and knowledge to make my decision,plz help!!

p.s prices comparison between 300whp roughly 430nm sr20det swop vs stock 300hp 420nm stock standard lexus v8
reliability is key
any big obstacles in this swop?
what all would have to be changed to accomodate the v8
this just seems like a very interesting and unique install, just wondering if its worth it, who can resist a v8......

It has been done by Hennie (rezlo forum). He sold the complete conversion out of his S13. Had lexus V8 with turbo. Try and get hold of him.

Normal aspirated or turbo, manual or automatic? I can give you some advice on it.

Manual conversion you can use the W58 or R154 gearbox, there's cast bellhousings available for both of them. flywheels aswell, the clutch kit if I remember correctly is from a dyna truck, so it should work well.

ya, i definitly want the manual and normally aspirated, thats good to hear that it can and has been done, any idea roughly on prices for parts needed, as well as parts needed, any info and guidence on the swop will be helpfull, anything you guys know, thanks so far, will try contact hennie.

bellhousing's around R2500, engines sell for R6000, gearbox I'm not sure about, if you can, then go for the R154, they are more expensive but a lot stronger, they sell for around R6500, there's a guy on the forum that had one forsale for R3500 I think. I mailed you hennie email addy, he'll give you all the contact details of the people casting and making the parts, he's got the engine and gearbox mounts and even the stock modified exhaust manifolds and y-pipe for such an conversion.

thanks so much, will email hennie, got any idea of anyone in cape town with this conversion done?would like to check it out if possible, or anyone doing it at the moment.do you guys think this is a worthwhile prospect, this v8 project?also money and cost wise it it good bang for buck?would i pay the same for the privious 300whp sr20det build or the stock v8 build?v8 has alot of potential... thnx

it depends on what you want, if you want to be different then go for the V8, they run strong, believe me, specially with the manual box, with the auto they're a bit dead. I've seen a few V8's in towtrucks, stock ones that get abused and they last, not a single problem. even the SR20's are also strong, it's a choice you have to make. I know how hennie v8 ran without the turbo and with it, it's quite scary, I've been in SR20's too, also quite fast. In the end, it's all about your budget. fully building a V8 is a lot of money, more than twice that of the SR.

any idea how much the whole install for a stock V8 would set me back??its a really exciting prospect, i just want to know if it will end up being to expensive? im trying to compare the price of a built sr vs a stock v8 setup??

depends on what you class as a build SR. just the conversion to SR20 will work out a little bit less than the v8 conversion because you don't have to buy the manual conversion, then you still have to do the rebuild of the SR, that can be from R10k to R100+k, so a fully build SR will be way more expensive than a stock 1UZ conversion.

nirvash wrote:

any idea how much the whole install for a stock V8 would set me back??its a really exciting prospect, i just want to know if it will end up being to expensive? im trying to compare the price of a built sr vs a stock v8 setup??

the sr20 drops right in. like with my rb install if you dont do it yourself it is very expensive.

then why arnt more people doing uz fe swops, if you get so much more power stock from the uz, for just alittle bit more expensive then an sr swop, it sounds to good to be true, any idea how much a 1UZ-FE swop will be?emailed hennie, but hasnt replied yet?need to see a price comparison if possible.thanks guys

he did, I asked him,

people don't like mixing brands like toyota in a nissan, it's easier to do a sr swop. Go google the 1UZ engine then see how many people in the US start using it, even removing the most famous 2JZ in favour of a turbo charged 1UZ. the problem with the 1UZ is aftermarket parts, they are a bit expensive and there's not a wide range out there.

got his email, really helped, he says its a pretty easy swop all in all which is good to hear. the way i see it, if you going to mod a car its going to be changing into a unique, bespoke machine in the end, so it doesnt really matter what goes into it, because its your personal unique ride, thats just my opinion, dont want to start any arguements. i have heard that the 1uz fe lump can handle sum considerable boost without having to redo the bottom end, really strong engine aparently. on the aftermarket side of things, im not going to be needing much more power then it has in stock form (but we'l c about that 8) ). thanks for giving me hennie's email, really help lindt, shot. how was it driving in the v8 s13 by the way?

here's hennie's email in case anyone else is lookin for info or anything:

the costs for a N/A conversion

engine R6000
flywheel,bellhousing, clutchkit is around R6500
gearbox around R3500 for the cressida
propshaft mod R1500
management system R3000(go for the spitronics, they specialize in the V8 in N/A form, give you the correct crank wheels etc)
radiator, I've seen the stock one work although I upgraded mine, so lets put R3000 in for a decent one
exhaust system, the stock manifolds can be modified to fit, the left side fit without mods and the right side needs to be modified to clear the steering, I have all those parts still, even the engine mounts that bolt to the block, they fit the stock CA rubbers. Work on R3500-R4500 for a nice exhaust system.

that should cover most parts needed, things to look at for it, you need to get a front sump engine, sump need a small mod to clear the antirollbar, the gearlever needs to be modded because the toyota box are pretty short compared to the nissan one. power steering pump works fine on the nissan rack. actually it's a easy conversion to do, took me a weekend to fit the engine and gearbox.

best would be to go to www.rezlo.com, register on the forum and look under projects for project Lexified, I've got loads of pics there.

hope it helped you a bit.

let just say it light up the tires in 3rd gear without effort, running only 0.6bar boost and he didn't have small tyres on there. ok, he had some nice parts on there but it was strong, really strong.

sounds awesome, did you get a ride in it when it was N/A by any chance?

yes I did, but it was auto then, he only changed to manual with the turbo. with the auto it were a bit slugish of the line but then it pulled strong once it got going.

Personally... I would go for the VH nissan option if you want a V8... It will be more expensive, more work, etc etc etc but I will never mix brands...

I4 - SR20
I6 - RB26
V6 - VQ30
V8 - VH45 or BIGGER! 😈

my 2c. 😉

problem with the V8 nissan, zero parts here, with the lexus you can go to the agents and buy anything from them and they are not that expensive. also zero aftermarket parts for the nissan v8,

Lindt wrote:

problem with the V8 nissan, zero parts here, with the lexus you can go to the agents and buy anything from them and they are not that expensive. also zero aftermarket parts for the nissan v8,

Partly true. There is loads of aftermarket parts for the V8 Nissan. However it will have to be imported. But local suport on that motor you will not find.