Notices
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013) Discussion about the 2006+ model IS models

ENGINE DONOR SWAP, Thought! = Smart, Don't Bother, Maybe!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 06:41 PM
  #1  
350PsDMeuP's Avatar
350PsDMeuP
Thread Starter
Instructor
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 817
Likes: 2
From: Houston, Tx
Exclamation ENGINE DONOR SWAP, Thought! = Smart, Don't Bother, Maybe!

Okay, Im approaching 100k on my 350 and i know that my car won't last forever, but i think i have an alternative way of helping myself out. Here's my thought, buy an oem used engine for the 350 (10k miles max) which is roughly 3k and have it installed whenever my engine goes bad. By bad i mean when the price starts getting to that 5k status to repair.

With that being said is there something else I'll need and what about the transmission? Will it need to be replaced or can it be rebuilt or what.

Please express your thoughts. No flaming, I'm not trying to buy another vehicle hence i have a bike and another car that I can drive during the process.

I'm trying to see if an engine swap is worth it, if its the same engine will it work with no problems, will it be an exact swap, how expensive is this job, is it simple, any other thoughts.

my logic is 5k for a new engine vs. 40k for a new lexi.........i don't want an f. if this is stupid to you, don't bother responding just click the back button on your browser please
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 06:52 PM
  #2  
Sytfu_IS's Avatar
Sytfu_IS
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,038
Likes: 2
From: NorCal
Default

I was thinking of the same thing but i'm nowhere near your mileage, I want to swap in IS-F engine if I have to swap. haha
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 06:55 PM
  #3  
JoshIS408's Avatar
JoshIS408
- - G T V I P - -
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,688
Likes: 130
From: Bay Area CA
Default

^

Haha thats some Forza 3 ish! Would be cool if we could do an isf swap
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 06:56 PM
  #4  
jonjon83's Avatar
jonjon83
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: West Covina, CA
Default

Do a LS-7 engine
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 07:11 PM
  #5  
350PsDMeuP's Avatar
350PsDMeuP
Thread Starter
Instructor
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 817
Likes: 2
From: Houston, Tx
Default

an isf engine swap would be soooooo sick, but imagine the price and the modifications are a beast. they have an engine is f engine available for 7k with 100 miles

(http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...#ht_500wt_1182)

but i think the to get too pricey trying to get everything to work.

do you all think to do a 350 to 350 swap its a simple disconnect and connect? price for labor?
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 07:12 PM
  #6  
shui3000's Avatar
shui3000
Pole Position
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: IL
Default

i'd be willing to bet that your engine won't go bad.

when cars go caput, it's usually not the engine at fault, it's usually a supporting part (fuel pump, transmission, etc.)

buying a replacement part for something that probably won't go bad is not smart.

but it would be smarter to maintain your car for as long as possible, and it will always be cheaper than buying a new car.
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2010 | 07:27 PM
  #7  
Kurtz's Avatar
Kurtz
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,810
Likes: 14
From: NC
Default

Swapping an engine from a different model (ie F to 350) would be extremely difficult and expensive (and possibly not physically possible).

Swapping an engine from a 350 of the same year should be incredibly easy... well, a fair bit of time to do it, but everything should work.

Swapping one from a different year, that's certainly possible, but might have a few issues based on some ECU and other minor changes.

Now, all that said...

I probably know at least a few dozen Lexus owners...many are well past 200k on the original engine and transmission. None have had to replace an engine at all (though some aren't at 200k yet). One, out of all of em, had a transmission rebuild and that's about it for drivetrain issues.

Don't borrow trouble as the saying goes.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 12:42 AM
  #8  
windex's Avatar
windex
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 1
From: SFV 818
Default

Originally Posted by jonjon83
Do a LS-7 engine
everyone loves the LS7 but the thing is I could build an LS1/LS3 that would literally annihilate an LS7... for the same price as an LS7 crate motor.. dont get me wrong the LS7 is great but you can get more bang for you buck elsewhere

I thought for a long time about doing a motor swap or just replacing the one I had in there because I wanted to see how much N20 the 3.5 could take before it blew up haha
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 01:26 AM
  #9  
PK_Celsior's Avatar
PK_Celsior
Racer
15 Year Member
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 10
From: CA
Default

i was thinking of doing that would be smart. cause than you will always have a back up motor. but i think you will be fine also. lexus motor last forever. mine is like at 212k w/ original tranny. i smash on it a lot and it still running strong. just keep up with maintenance and you will be good . unless you squeezing like windex than why not have a back up.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 06:27 AM
  #10  
HKS350's Avatar
HKS350
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
Default

No Smart
Smart (maybe) - Buy spare motor, pull apart motor, send factory parts to CP & Crower. Have better replacement parts built. Lower CR
While waiting for said parts build turbo manifolds, remove DI injection & wire up a Motec system. Fab a sheet metal intake manifold.
Parts arrive, install, motor dyno to @ 600hp on 93 octane then install in car.

Drive for about 2weeks before the tranny explodes....enjoy bliss


seems like ive done that before^

Last edited by HKS350; Feb 11, 2010 at 06:32 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 06:30 AM
  #11  
datplayaz's Avatar
datplayaz
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 21
From: UT
Default

Originally Posted by HKS350
No Smart
Smart (maybe) - Buy spare motor, pull apart motor, send factory parts to CP & Crower. Have better replacement parts built. Lower CR
While waiting for said parts build turbo manifolds, remove DI injection & wire up a Motec system. Fab a sheet metal intake manifold.
Parts arrive, install, motor dyno to @ 600hp on 93 octane then install in car.

Drive for about 2weeks before the tranny explodes....enjoy bliss
But it will be a fun 2 weeks .
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 06:36 AM
  #12  
SirBev's Avatar
SirBev
Pole Position
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 346
Likes: 1
From: CT
Default

I think that I like what HKS350 said it would be one hell of a ride while going down in the flames of glory...Lol
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 08:44 AM
  #13  
t0e's Avatar
t0e
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,494
Likes: 7
From: Cali4nication-LosAngeles
Default

^^^ You can upgrade your transmission to handle all that new power
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 08:57 AM
  #14  
lobuxracer's Avatar
lobuxracer
Tech Resource
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 23,049
Likes: 4,705
From: Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by t0e
^^^ You can upgrade your transmission to handle all that new power
Why do I seriously doubt that? Oh - every Toyota/Lexus auto gearbox I've ever seen doesn't handle much more than 10% over stock torque before it starts going bad. Auto Supras always end up with a TH400 or something domestic to handle the power of the 2JZ on boost. The only "Toyota" gearbox to ever stand up to real power is the Getrag 233 (V-160) in the Supra. Everything else is pretty much lame when you start exploring the limits of power.

Also keep in mind no gearbox cares about horsepower - they only care about input torque.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2010 | 02:58 PM
  #15  
Infra's Avatar
Infra
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 1
From: TX
Default

The IS-F engine wouldn't fit under the hood.

I believe a new OEM IS350 motor is $16K, where do you find a used one for only $3k?
Reply



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:54 PM.