Here's the deal...for some time now, I've been wanting to purchase a new car. I'm trying to keep my budget under 25k...and, for that, I'd like a turboed vehicle. In that price bracket, there's the SRT-4, Mazdaspeed Protege and the WRX. There's a fair amount of pros and cons with each. SRT-4..it's a dodge...plenty of power for the buck..but it's FWD...and..comparible to a Neon in many ways. The Mazdaspeed...well, can't find any pros with it..other than it's turboed..but the thing starts at 21k...and I'm not paying that much for 170hp in a Mazda. WRX..base of about 24k...but, everyone and their mom has one...I HATE the warbling POS sound of the horizontal 4...and the interior ain't that great...so, all this leads me to my current problem: What the crap do I get?
Even longer than wanting a brand new car, I've been wanting to do the generic 240sx engine swap. But seeing as I live in CA, that's next to impossible...legally. Right now, I'm wanting to purchase a decent S13..swap in an RB25DET..and go from there, setting my budget at 20-25k as I intended for a new car. That's all fine and well, except when we come to CA state laws. As I've read..the RB into the 240 is legal in 49 states..most everything car related is, it seems. So..I have family in AZ..and I was considering doing a co-register deal. Register it in AZ...smog it..license it, etc. So it's under AZ laws..put my step mom's address as the address for all the DMV crap. But..some issues. Say I get pulled over? THe Registration and Licensing has me as a resident in AZ..but my CA Drivers' License does not. Do I get an AZ license as well..and say I live in both states? Do I just have the car registered to my family member..saying they're loaning it to me? - Then there's always the other route. Smog it, license it and register it as a stock 240sx..then swap the engine...when smog time comes around, pull the RB and drop the KA back in. More problems. Storage for the KA...work to pull and drop every two years..plus, if I'm on the street with the RB..and I get pulled over...and somehow a Cop gets into my engine bay, I'm screwed.
I know this is long and a bit of a ramble...but I'm looking for honest advice/opinions from other Nissan fans out there. Seems the easiest way to remedy this all is to just pick up and move to another state...but, that's not exactly an option at the moment. If anyone has anything to contribute, it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Zeno - "By the time his VTEC kicked in you probably were already well ahead of him. From a roll, his VTEC is wailing like a drunken Irish whore; hence his advantage."
u can do the swap now and just find a shop that will pass u under the table.....its not that hards...u just have to find the right ppl. and the whole swapping the engine in and out around smog time will be a bitch and an inconvenience. It also seems that the three cars u considered buying, u have nothing good to say about them....and why do u NEED it to have a turbo? for 25K buy a spec v and slap a HS turbo. it would be about the same price and well.....u would have a new car and a turbo with power instead of wasting the 21K on a mazda with only 170hp.....when a turbo spec v can put more than 200whp easily...plus its a new engine so theyre still prototyping some parts for it
Well, I was listing the cons of the cars on purpose..and as for the turboed engine, I want a turbo because there's more potential there, than a N/A car, unless you "slap" a turbo onto the N/A engine. If anyone knows a smog shop in the Orange County area that will smog for me..that'd be great. I'd rather not mess around..and just drop an RB into a 240. For the price difference, there's no comparison. Instead of paying 17k or so for a new engine and car, I'm paying around 6k leaving me with lots left over to play with. Right now..I'm just trying to figure out how best to pull it off while still living in CA. - Thanks for the reply though..appreciate it.
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Zeno - "By the time his VTEC kicked in you probably were already well ahead of him. From a roll, his VTEC is wailing like a drunken Irish whore; hence his advantage."
Originally posted by drowzyRB i have the same problem as i live in ca also. does n e one kno if i can get the rb20det to be legalized for ca, and how much it might cost? thnx!
i wont be getting my rb20det for for some time, but when i do im wondering if there is n e one who knos of a place or can help me with the swap into a 91-94 240sx themselves in the nor cal region. n e help with this swap will be great! i have never done a swap before and would prefere to do the swap myself, but dont wunt to screw it up. n e info will help! thnx!
I know of a place in Placerville (Just south of Tahoe up in the mountain area). As for legalizing the RB..that won't be the issue. Issue is, you have a car manufactured in the US with a 4 cyl engine...swapping any other engine that is not the same year, or older, of the original engine..is against the law.
I spoke with a lawyer friend of mine tonight..and another point I was worried about was insurance fraud. You can't very well tell the insurance company you swapped another engine into the car..they won't insure you. You can't drive without insurance...and if you claim to have a 4 cyl in..but get into an accident, or are pulled over..you're in big trouble. Especially in an accident situation. Once they find out about the engine..they won't pay a dime...and if you're the cause..the people you hit can sue you for quite a bit....even if it isn't you fault, the money will still be coming out of you pocket.
So, in short..the whole swap isn't worth it, really. The moment you're put in a situation where the truth comes out..you're screwed anyway you look at it. I think I've decided just to build up the KADE in a 91+ S13. That way..if I am pulled over and whatnot..it'll simply be a fix-it ticket. No big deal, really. And it'll still be a 4 cyl, so no issues or fraud with insurance, etc. It's also not as common for the cars. Most do the SR or RB swap nowadays.
If you're still intent on doing the RB20 swap..and are near or willing to drive to Placerville, lemme know. I'll get you setup with the people.
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Zeno - "By the time his VTEC kicked in you probably were already well ahead of him. From a roll, his VTEC is wailing like a drunken Irish whore; hence his advantage."
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