- Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:58 pm
#355431
Hello all, I just became a member on this forum and I wanted to share my experience and suggestions to you all who might be thinking of swapping a K in your 5th gen.
First off, my car... I have a 1993 Si hatch with a K24a2 motor.
You take a light chassis and add a larger motor and you're going to have a good recipe for speed. The EG hatch weighs anywhere from 2100 to 2300 lbs. You add a motor that can put out an easy 200 hp and 160 lbs. of tq(K24), and you're gonna have a car that will surprise a number of petrol heads all with retaining that Honda reliability we all love.
I'm not going to list all of the positives on how fun it is own a K swapped 5th gen, but rather tell you all how I got to having a reliable set up that will last and it's quite simple. Do your research! Have a plan AND a budget! Use quality (OEM) parts whenever possible!
Do your research! - It took me months of searching options on different forums and calling guys from different companies to figure out what I needed for the swap. Remember, there is a bunch of info on the internet that is misleading and quite simply incorrect. I found calling places like Hybrid Racing, K-Tuned and Auto Fair Honda was more beneficial than searching for answers on the forums. It's reassuring to speak with someone who has done a dozen K swaps themselves than lean on some forum troll for info.
Have a plan! - Plan out what you want. What are your goals? What chassis do you want/have? What are your expectations of the swap? One of the best things you all can do is actually take a ride in a K swapped car! So many just think it's cool because that's the "in" thing or want to do it because it's what the Honda crowd is into at the moment. Maybe you'd be happier with a newer chassis that already has a K in it?
Have a budget! - You need the green to do a swap correctly. Create a spreadsheet if you're really detail-oriented like me. Make a list of the parts you'll need and their respective price. Total everything up and see what you'll need in the end. Don't forget to think of a location for the swap, tools etc.
Use quality(OEM) parts! - This one is especially important. It is my personal opinion that Honda OEM parts are king! Why? Because Honda has engineered it's parts to last for years/decades. Don't use hardware from AutoZone or crap from eBay. There are some parts that you just have to get aftermarket, ex: Motor mounts, custom/swap header, etc.
A number of people have asked how much it cost me to do the swap? I won't list an exact amount, but tell you it was around 10k. This does NOT include the price of the car. Keep in mind I used all quality, mostly new parts. The swap can be done for half as much if you go used and shop for the lowest price.
So, I hope some of you might find this post helpful. Good luck with your builds!!
First off, my car... I have a 1993 Si hatch with a K24a2 motor.
You take a light chassis and add a larger motor and you're going to have a good recipe for speed. The EG hatch weighs anywhere from 2100 to 2300 lbs. You add a motor that can put out an easy 200 hp and 160 lbs. of tq(K24), and you're gonna have a car that will surprise a number of petrol heads all with retaining that Honda reliability we all love.
I'm not going to list all of the positives on how fun it is own a K swapped 5th gen, but rather tell you all how I got to having a reliable set up that will last and it's quite simple. Do your research! Have a plan AND a budget! Use quality (OEM) parts whenever possible!
Do your research! - It took me months of searching options on different forums and calling guys from different companies to figure out what I needed for the swap. Remember, there is a bunch of info on the internet that is misleading and quite simply incorrect. I found calling places like Hybrid Racing, K-Tuned and Auto Fair Honda was more beneficial than searching for answers on the forums. It's reassuring to speak with someone who has done a dozen K swaps themselves than lean on some forum troll for info.
Have a plan! - Plan out what you want. What are your goals? What chassis do you want/have? What are your expectations of the swap? One of the best things you all can do is actually take a ride in a K swapped car! So many just think it's cool because that's the "in" thing or want to do it because it's what the Honda crowd is into at the moment. Maybe you'd be happier with a newer chassis that already has a K in it?
Have a budget! - You need the green to do a swap correctly. Create a spreadsheet if you're really detail-oriented like me. Make a list of the parts you'll need and their respective price. Total everything up and see what you'll need in the end. Don't forget to think of a location for the swap, tools etc.
Use quality(OEM) parts! - This one is especially important. It is my personal opinion that Honda OEM parts are king! Why? Because Honda has engineered it's parts to last for years/decades. Don't use hardware from AutoZone or crap from eBay. There are some parts that you just have to get aftermarket, ex: Motor mounts, custom/swap header, etc.
A number of people have asked how much it cost me to do the swap? I won't list an exact amount, but tell you it was around 10k. This does NOT include the price of the car. Keep in mind I used all quality, mostly new parts. The swap can be done for half as much if you go used and shop for the lowest price.
So, I hope some of you might find this post helpful. Good luck with your builds!!