Swapping to DET

Ok I know I said I was gonna paint but my engine gave me a horrible surprise today. I just want to know what is needed for the swap (other than the engine :)) and if I can get away with using my NX tranny.

Any help would be appreciated.

Originally posted by zykotik
Ok I know I said I was gonna paint but my engine gave me a horrible surprise today. I just want to know what is needed for the swap (other than the engine :)) and if I can get away with using my NX tranny.

Any help would be appreciated.



$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ;)

You can use your NX gearbox. You won't really need much beyond the engine. You will have to fabricate a downpipe. If you want a FMIC, you will have to fabricate piping. You should install new rod bearings and main seals. You'll probably want a new clutch too.

Thnks Geo!

You the man...Now I don't know much about turbo (amateur gearhead) so it'd be cool if you could explain why I need piping and what is a Fmic (sp?) Also I installed a brnd new clutch with my swap to manual 2 months ago should I really change it again?

Originally posted by zykotik
Thnks Geo!

You the man...Now I don't know much about turbo (amateur gearhead) so it'd be cool if you could explain why I need piping and what is a Fmic (sp?) Also I installed a brnd new clutch with my swap to manual 2 months ago should I really change it again?

Piping is needed because on a turbo engine, the downpipe leads to your cat. FMIC = front mount intercooler, you will need to make piping for that leading to the turbo, i think so, sorry im not that great with turbos either. dont know much about the clutch, but id think it would work using the same tranny.

I think the DET will over power a stock clutch. The DET delivers 50% more torque than a stock DE.

So I will need a clutch specific to the DET then?

Have a part# ?

Also I think I will need some sort of guages? and ECU?

Did you do this swap yet geo?

Sorry to bombard you with questions I just want to be sure of what I'm gettin myself into. Want to make sure I have ALL the parts I need before ripping the DE out.

Originally posted by zykotik
So I will need a clutch specific to the DET then?


You won't need a clutch specific to the DET, but you will need something more powerful than stock. I'm using a JWT clutch. It has 40% more clamping force, yet the effort is lighter than stock. Honest. It's a great clutch.

Originally posted by zykotik
Have a part# ?

No, but JWT sells a bunch of them. Just tell them you need their SR20 clutch.

Originally posted by zykotik
Also I think I will need some sort of guages? and ECU?


I'm not running any gauges, but most people do. Most popular are boost, oil pressure, oil temp, water temp.

For ECU there is only one choice to consider: JWT. Totally plug and play. No worries.

Originally posted by zykotik
Did you do this swap yet geo?


Yep. Been running for over a month. No problems. I did go with a double row radiator though. It would start to over heat in stop and go traffic in 95F + temps.

Originally posted by zykotik
Sorry to bombard you with questions I just want to be sure of what I'm gettin myself into. Want to make sure I have ALL the parts I need before ripping the DE out.


If you want to do the FMIC, Hotshot will be making a kit. I'm going to make another set of pipes and send them to John so he can make a kit from them. The IC they supply fits really well behind the lower grill and the piping is pretty slick if I do say so myself. :D

Ok so If I've understood correctly I must change my ECU or reprogram it?

Yep good plan for the clutch gonna order that from JWT.

As for the double row radiator, I was thinking about trying to get a Diesel radiator I read somewhere that those were really efficient (sp?) We have lots of traffic here but winters comin so no 95F for me...what does that work out to in Celsius?

So for now it is clear that I need:

Engine
JWT Clutch
Guages (personal choice) I would'ne mind them on the drivers side windshield beam :)

Originally posted by zykotik
Ok so If I've understood correctly I must change my ECU or reprogram it?


Yes, absolutely.

Originally posted by zykotik
Yep good plan for the clutch gonna order that from JWT.


The ACT is also a good clutch, but it requires a higher effort. I've got two JWT clutches and I really like them.

Originally posted by zykotik
As for the double row radiator, I was thinking about trying to get a Diesel radiator I read somewhere that those were really efficient (sp?)


The Diesel radiator is a good idea. I was looking into that initially before I found the double row. I only paid $155 US for it, so it may still be cheaper than the Diesel radiator. It is aluminum core with plastic tanks. The only thing I don't like about it is the inlet and outlet are smaller diameters with rubber adapters. They are kind of cheesy, but the radiator is great.

Originally posted by zykotik
We have lots of traffic here but winters comin so no 95F for me...what does that work out to in Celsius?


About 35 or 36 I think.

Originally posted by zykotik
So for now it is clear that I need:

Engine
JWT Clutch
Guages (personal choice) I would'ne mind them on the drivers side windshield beam :)


And the ECU. Once the Hotshot kit is available, it will make the swap pretty doggone easy.

Cool, I think I'm on my way to DET then. There is an NX2000 here with a DET in it but the ego maniac that owns it refuses to tell me anything about how its was done...He owns a garage and expects I'll let him do it.

NOONE works on my car except me ;)

Originally posted by zykotik
Cool, I think I'm on my way to DET then. There is an NX2000 here with a DET in it but the ego maniac that owns it refuses to tell me anything about how its was done...He owns a garage and expects I'll let him do it.

NOONE works on my car except me ;)



Good for you! :)

It's a pretty straight-forward swap. The Hotshot kit will make it a no brainer. A complete how-to write-up with photos is about 1-2 months away.

I wish I could wait for the write up but my engine is knocking from cold now...even with the infiniti oil filter...BTW The Hotshot is not imperative is it? Could be a stupid question but I want to get all the questions out of the way. :)

Originally posted by zykotik
I wish I could wait for the write up but my engine is knocking from cold now...even with the infiniti oil filter...BTW The Hotshot is not imperative is it? Could be a stupid question but I want to get all the questions out of the way. :)


No, it's not imperative. I installed mine w/o one. :D

Basically, you will have to fabricate a downpipe at the very least.

For intercooling, you are faced with a moment of choice. You can either run the stock top mounted intercooler or you will have to find a front mounted intercooler and have the piping fabricated.

I'm hoping to get pipes to John within a month.

Ok I'm gonna run stock intercooler for now, get that fancy rad and do a JWT clutch. ECU will be reprogrammed but what can't I just use the ECU that comes with the engine I'll be buying?

They sell em WITH the ECU here.

Originally posted by zykotik
Ok I'm gonna run stock intercooler for now, get that fancy rad and do a JWT clutch. ECU will be reprogrammed but what can't I just use the ECU that comes with the engine I'll be buying?

They sell em WITH the ECU here.

Well, here is the problem. Some people have said you can. Some people have said no. I've heard the MAF for the BB is different from the North American market cars and I've heard it's the same.

The real problem is I've yet to find anyone document that you can. I've yet to find anyone to say "I'm running a stock Bluebird ECU and here's how you do it." I cannot say you can or that you cannot. If you can get the engine wiring harness with the engine (uncut), along with the ECU and the MAF, you will probably be OK. You might have to figure a few things out.

If you go this route, I implore you do document what you did. Some folks think I'm just a JWT lackey, but the fact is, they create a plug and play solution. All other solutions I've heard are undocumented. So, if you figure it out, please document it so others can learn from your experience. I'm not trying to be a smartass. I'm quite sincere.

Hey I see your point. Weren't you running a sentra ECU in your G for a while? If I remember correctly the DET comes with pretty much everything that was in its oroiginal enginebay...Though I now know that I should look for the MAF and an uncut harness.

How long did it take you to get your ECU back from JWT?

The downtime is what I'm worrrying about and thats why I'm lookin to go the other route. I figured that most Nissan stuff seems to be almost universal...Heck I'm running my stock ECU that used to be hooked up to an automatic G to a standard one.

I guess bottom line if it comes with the ECU I can chance it...if it goes wrong I can reprogram my original ECU. How much does a reprog. from JWT cost?

Originally posted by zykotik
Hey I see your point. Weren't you running a sentra ECU in your G for a while?

Yes I was. I have a 91 G20 and a 91 SE-R. The ECUs have different part numbers, but I cannot understand why since the ECU controls and reads exactly the same things in the two cars.

Originally posted by zykotik
If I remember correctly the DET comes with pretty much everything that was in its oroiginal enginebay...Though I now know that I should look for the MAF and an uncut harness.

If you can get the MAF and the uncut harness with the ECU, you should be OK. The MAF will be the hard part I think. If somoene can locate the part number for the Bluebird ECU and confirm it's the same as the North American market MAF, that would simplify matters.

Originally posted by zykotik
How long did it take you to get your ECU back from JWT?

A week or two I think. They can send you an ECU and charge you a core charge on your credit card and give you credit for the core when you return your ECU. If you do it all in the same month, it's a transparent transaction.

Originally posted by zykotik
The downtime is what I'm worrrying about and thats why I'm lookin to go the other route.

You're wise to worry about that. Things always take longer than you think.

I figured that most Nissan stuff seems to be almost universal...Heck I'm running my stock ECU that used to be hooked up to an automatic G to a standard one.

Originally posted by zykotik
I guess bottom line if it comes with the ECU I can chance it...if it goes wrong I can reprogram my original ECU.

You could try it. Hell, that would make you innovative. Just be sure to document it for folks. :)

Originally posted by zykotik
How much does a reprog. from JWT cost?


It runs $500 US for OBD-I and $600 for OBD-II IIRC.

O my god and I bet thats USD right? Damn...I really gotta find a way to get the BB ECU to work then...Thewhole kit so far is going to cost me 1800$ If I reprog. with JWT I'm lookin at a possible 918$ CAD

2718$ Can't do that...I'm gonna have to be innovative..If worse comes to worse I'll have to persuade that NX guy to tell me how he went about the ECU.


I need a sponsor :)

Originally posted by zykotik
O my god and I bet thats USD right? Damn...I really gotta find a way to get the BB ECU to work then...Thewhole kit so far is going to cost me 1800$ If I reprog. with JWT I'm lookin at a possible 918$ CAD

Oh shoot. Yes, I meant to write USD.

You may be able to get the uncut wiring harness. I've heard of that before. Maybe someone in NZ might know of someone with a Bluebird SSS or have a dealer who has access to the parts fiche for a Bluebird SSS. If the MAF is the same, the BB ECU will work with the uncut harness. You will be saddled with a speed limiter, but IIRC it's something over 100mph (I think in the neighborhood of 170kph IIRC).

Oh no speed limiter? Can't have that either...The BB ECU comes with that?

Well now I gotta figure out what I am going to do. Try to reprog. my ECU through JWT or Go with a BB ECU.

Originally posted by zykotik
Oh no speed limiter? Can't have that either...The BB ECU comes with that?

Yep.

I don't want to start a car make war but man modifying hondas was so much easier, it seems every time I do somethin to the infiniti there is so much more obstacles...Plus I mean Turbo - speed limiter...where is the guy at nissan that had that bright idea? Bring him to me so I can smack him!

Originally posted by zykotik
I don't want to start a car make war but man modifying hondas was so much easier, it seems every time I do somethin to the infiniti there is so much more obstacles...Plus I mean Turbo - speed limiter...where is the guy at nissan that had that bright idea? Bring him to me so I can smack him!



The DET swap is about as easy as it gets.

Hey geo,


Don't get me wrong I'm not making the DET swap out to be hard...ti's just the ECU issue that makes me a little uncomfortable...and frustrated.

I have the money for this even if I do have to reprog the ECU with JWT but thats what will empty my pockets...I wanted to DET and get a bunch of other stuff done at the same time too...I guess we'll see.

Originally posted by zykotik
Don't get me wrong I'm not making the DET swap out to be hard...ti's just the ECU issue that makes me a little uncomfortable...and frustrated.

I have the money for this even if I do have to reprog the ECU with JWT but thats what will empty my pockets...I wanted to DET and get a bunch of other stuff done at the same time too...I guess we'll see.


I understand. This is just significantly easier than Honduh swaps.