DE to HR upgrade
I am more than confident that I could certainly do it for less than a LS swap. The engine and trans is a fraction the price of a good aluminum LS motor, and the ECU you need to run it costs less than the LS install kits.
You wouldnt go full standalone so that you could go HR, you would go full standalone BECAUSE you went HR. Aside from that, if you are serious about going really fast (which you better be, or you are seriously wasting time to do any swap at all), you will eventually want a full standalone anyway. So no harm in knocking that out right away.
I wouldnt swap EITHER of them into the car unless I stumbled on a engine/trans too cheap to let slide.
I dont think a single person here has said that the swap is worth doing. The argument is simply about what is easier and I think its rather strange to try and argue that a full on transplant/conversion is easier than a bolt-in swap plus wiring. Just because nobody has written a how-to wiring manual to follow, doesnt mean its that difficult of a job if you know wiring. If wiring a standalone to a HR sounds extremely intimidating to someone, that someone probably isnt qualified to wire a GM engine into a Nissan either.
You wouldnt go full standalone so that you could go HR, you would go full standalone BECAUSE you went HR. Aside from that, if you are serious about going really fast (which you better be, or you are seriously wasting time to do any swap at all), you will eventually want a full standalone anyway. So no harm in knocking that out right away.
I wouldnt swap EITHER of them into the car unless I stumbled on a engine/trans too cheap to let slide.
I dont think a single person here has said that the swap is worth doing. The argument is simply about what is easier and I think its rather strange to try and argue that a full on transplant/conversion is easier than a bolt-in swap plus wiring. Just because nobody has written a how-to wiring manual to follow, doesnt mean its that difficult of a job if you know wiring. If wiring a standalone to a HR sounds extremely intimidating to someone, that someone probably isnt qualified to wire a GM engine into a Nissan either.
Thats the thing, you can get a plug and play harness for the LS swap. Vs the HR swap. I dont quite understand why you would waste 8-10K for the HR swap for boost, if you can buy a built longblock good for 600+ for the same price as the HR would cost. Even still if you went with the HR swap and Haltech like your saying you STILL need to basically swap the front clip in order for the stock gauges to work, but then of course if its a track car why would you even use the stock gauges for that argument.
Im quite certain you can build the DE, buy a (used) TT kit, buy a nice 60mm Defi setup, upgrade the clutch and flywheel for the same price as swapping in a LS or HR.
Broken down for a DE build (IMO of course):
Haltech - 2k
Longblock - 4K
TT setup - 2-4K
Clutch/Fly - 8-1200
Gauge Setup - 600 for Defi.
So basically round 10K
VS. VHR
4K for the engine trans
2K for Haltech
1K for clutch - (going off the setup I bought)
Again 600 or more for a nice gauge setup
If you went boost looking at another 2-4K for that setup too
LS would again cost about the same as both above. And all this is given you have a DD and do this on your own time in your own garage. I know there are a few shops in my area (3hrs or so drive) that do the LS swap for 10-14K given what your wanting.
Im not arguing about the HR being a bolt in swap bc everything very well does bolt up but the wiring plays a huge role if you want all the stock things to work like ABS, gauges, etc etc etc. But given what you can get for the same price, I dont get why you would waste time doing the swap. Then if you do have 10K and want to do the swap, you can sell your chassis for 3-4K, and buy a 07 with a HR for 15ish pretty easily. So still i just dont get the point in even attempting this swap.
Just to add I miss debate/opinion threads on this forum. They keep it interesting and entertaining.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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From: chicago
First of all, a "built longblock good for 600+" is the demise of most 350z projects. Its rare that people get the build right. A factory engine that is durable enough for your goals is a better route. I have been around here since 2003 and the built engine is the end for probably half the guys that try.
Second of all, *wrong*, you do not need to swap anything to get the gauges to work. We have a 350z with the haltech and the gauges and abs work just fine and well, exactly as they always did.
Third, you are thinking as if people buy their car, and then just put 15-20g in mods in one shot, all planned out from the very beginning. This is rare. Most people do not do this.
There are tons of guys running around with a twin turbo DE setup. Many of them have or are going to have the Haltech. If they happen to stumble on a healthy HR motor for a good price (should be able to score one for around $3000 with trans), they could put a clutch in it and swap it in with some minor wiring (and update their intercooler piping) and be on their way...
Less down time, less money, more power.
The more you guys try and resist it, the more I think about it, and the more it makes even more sense in plenty of applications.
It might not make sense for YOU to do a HR swap, and nobody is telling YOU that YOU should do it. However, for some people it MAY make more sense than it does for YOU.
Second of all, *wrong*, you do not need to swap anything to get the gauges to work. We have a 350z with the haltech and the gauges and abs work just fine and well, exactly as they always did.
Third, you are thinking as if people buy their car, and then just put 15-20g in mods in one shot, all planned out from the very beginning. This is rare. Most people do not do this.
There are tons of guys running around with a twin turbo DE setup. Many of them have or are going to have the Haltech. If they happen to stumble on a healthy HR motor for a good price (should be able to score one for around $3000 with trans), they could put a clutch in it and swap it in with some minor wiring (and update their intercooler piping) and be on their way...
Less down time, less money, more power.
The more you guys try and resist it, the more I think about it, and the more it makes even more sense in plenty of applications.
It might not make sense for YOU to do a HR swap, and nobody is telling YOU that YOU should do it. However, for some people it MAY make more sense than it does for YOU.
Last edited by phunk2; Sep 22, 2014 at 11:32 AM.
First of all, a "built longblock good for 600+" is the demise of most 350z projects. Its rare that people get the build right. A factory engine that is durable enough for your goals is a better route. I have been around here since 2003 and the built engine is the end for probably half the guys that try.
*double sigh*
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 50
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From: Chandler, AZ
Looks like i opened up a huge can of worms on this thread. I have sourced a HR motor with automatic wiring harness for a good price. from what I reading my 04 trans will not work win HR motor? I can always use a stand alone ECU and aftermarket gauges. I do like having ABS on my track car as a bonus. My traction control is already dismantled so that's not an issue. I do not want to have to buy another transmission so that would be a deal breaker! I do have a new clutch and flywheel for my 04 setup. If I can use the short block from the HR with my clutch and trans then it may be a good deal.
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: brooklyn
I see a couple of places right here on the 350z site that sell engines
They are completely rebuild & some are race worthy DE's for a good price.
So why look for problems when you can get one of those engines and just install it. For $5K you can have a simple bolt on project.
I just saw 2 such places posted above........ So is this a real person/situation in need of an engine or
So why look for problems when you can get one of those engines and just install it. For $5K you can have a simple bolt on project.
I just saw 2 such places posted above........ So is this a real person/situation in need of an engine or
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1
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From: San Antonio
-hr engine
-hr trans
-hr wire harness plus splice
-hr steering rack
just follow me on Instagram @shadowy_z
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Joined: Dec 2013
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From: West Coast, Florida
Did you really create an account just so you could bump an almost 5 year old thread to promote your IG page?
Last edited by 813_350Z; Nov 28, 2019 at 08:48 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1
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From: pueblo, colorado
buy everything from Nissan. Engine, Transmission, ECU, steering rack etc from Nissan and swap everything out completely
Now if we were talking about a VR38 that is something different as the engine is designed for boost and in stock form is more than enough for most folks.
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