S13 S14 or S15 SR20DET

[S15Hybrid]

most of the 240sx's i have heard of geting the SR20DET swap done have the S13 engine in it. i havent heard a lot of S15s going in. is this just because of the high prices, or do people like the S13 or S14 engine over the S15. i know the S15 has a 6spd tranny, but i have heard it is better to use a S14 tranny with the S15 engine. i know the power output of each engine is like 205hp-S13 220hp-S14 250hp-S15. well, putting money aside, what engine would u guys like better out of the 3.

[J SPEC SilEighty]

Personally I like the S13 redtop SR. I like it because it has just as much potential as the other SR's and you can get it way cheaper. Yeah it might be old and have more miles than the newer engines but the money you save on buying the S13 SR, you can take that money and upgrade your motor. If you plan on keeping the stock turbo on your motor then the S14 and S15 motors have a higher potential of power just because of slightly larger turbos. But with a turbo upgrade on the S13 SR then you can have just as much or even more power depending on what else you have done to the engine. As for the S14 tranny being used on the S15 engine, the S15 comes with a 6 speed gearbox and the gears are a closer ratio. Because of them being a closer ratio they are weaker and tend to break easliy with drifters. The S14 tranny though is a 5 speed but the gears are stronger and better suited for drifting.

[S15Hybrid]

so, ur saying i should get the s13 redtop? is it pushing like 205hp? i found a silver 89 240 with 105k on it for $2200 and i could probbaly put in the SR engine into it really soon cuz i got over $4000 and im working like 40 hrs a week to save up for my car. what is the difference between the SR engines anyway? is it just the turbo? i know the s14 and s15 have VVT but is that the only difference between them? is the VVT really worth it and should i get the S14 instead? and is the 240 im looking at too old and does the body have too any miles in it already?

[TatII]

the S14 and S15 have the VVT, and the S15 has larger fuel injectors then the S14. since these are foreign motors, finding specific parts would be hard. and be more expensive. if its up to me i would get a S15 motor simpliy cause its a more newer engine

[J SPEC SilEighty]

Originally posted by TatII
since these are foreign motors, finding specific parts would be hard.

that's the case with most imported engines. You have to be willing to spend a little extra to get parts not available here. Some engines such as Honda's JDM B16A2 has U.S. support because that same engine is found in our 99-00 civic SI. The engine like the SR20DET can use parts from the Sentra's SR20DE engine here in the U.S. but there aren't many parts for that anyways. So your gonna have to spend expensive shipping from japan or just find companies here in the US that already sell japanese parts.

[joebowlr21]

i would say the S15 spec. for the reason that wut i swapped in.true about the 6th speed,drifters tend to brake them so they go with a 5-speed.I bought my motor fairly new, roughly 20 thousand miles,but i got it without a tranny.So i picked it up for 4g's.The place i bought it let me have it cheap, and cuz it had no tranny, they sold me a S14 5-spd tranny for about 500bucks.Not only that, but they gave me a 5 year warranty on both.I was fukkin happy after getting eveything installed for only 400, i mean i have a gaurente not only on my trany, but on my motor too.

[J SPEC SilEighty]

Originally posted by joebowlr21
i would say the S15 spec. for the reason that wut i swapped in.true about the 6th speed,drifters tend to brake them so they go with a 5-speed.I bought my motor fairly new, roughly 20 thousand miles,but i got it without a tranny.So i picked it up for 4g's.The place i bought it let me have it cheap, and cuz it had no tranny, they sold me a S14 5-spd tranny for about 500bucks.Not only that, but they gave me a 5 year warranty on both.I was fukkin happy after getting eveything installed for only 400, i mean i have a gaurente not only on my trany, but on my motor too.

wow, it sounds like you got a damn good deal. 4k for an S15 motor with only 20k miles on it, very nice. An S14 5 speed tranny for $500, even nicer. Installation on everything for only 400, unbelievable. And to top all that off, you get a 5 year warranty. Where did you purchase all your stuff and where did you get it installed? Got any pics of your car?

[j240]

My friend that works in a imort shop said that the S13 motor would be better because it's more basic you dont have to deal with the vvt.

[joebowlr21]

Originally posted by J SPEC SilEighty

wow, it sounds like you got a damn good deal. 4k for an S15 motor with only 20k miles on it, very nice. An S14 5 speed tranny for $500, even nicer. Installation on everything for only 400, unbelievable. And to top all that off, you get a 5 year warranty. Where did you purchase all your stuff and where did you get it installed? Got any pics of your car?

No pics yet, my baby is all stock on the outside, awaiting my 180SX lights within the next month or so.When i get them, i'm gonna waste a few rolls of film on it, but till then i'm just saving money.And i actually went through a shop called east side muffler.I talked to the owner about finding out where the best deal to get my motor from and he basicaly hooked it up with all the info an deals.I'm not really sure wut company he got my motor from, all i kno is that it's a US based company that brings J-spec motors over and sells them for cheap cuz you don't have to pay for shipping.I got it installed for cheap to cuz i volunterred to help with the installation myself, just so i can say i have that experiance now.

[TatII]

can the tranny on a 240sx fit on the SR's? cuse i just put in almost 3G's on a entire tranny rebuild. and i don't want to just think i've blown all that money away.

[Grendel]

Originally posted by TatII
can the tranny on a 240sx fit on the SR's? cuse i just put in almost 3G's on a entire tranny rebuild. and i don't want to just think i've blown all that money away.

3k on a tranny rebuild? Why is it so much? When my dad has his mechanic rebuild his 401 v8 for his jeep, I think it only cost like 1 or 2k more than that (that includes tranny rebuild)

-Grendel

[1bad180sx]

Just get the S13 motor if you plan to build it all the way.

If you want a fast lightly tuned motor, go for the S15... its easier to pull a little extra power out of.

If you are gonna go to fully built with big turbo, the S13 is the cost effective way, as you need the same parts for all types.

[S15Hybrid]

i think im going to go for the S14 engine. it has VVT and already pushes 220 hp. since the cost isnt that much higher than the S13 i think it would be the best pic. all i need to do now is find the car and buy it and then find a shop where this can get done.

[1bad180sx]

VVT doesn't do anything for you.

The power comes from the ball-bearing T28 vice the T25 on the S13.

That turbo, however, is worth getting.

[SR20DETpower]

the main reason I want to swap in the s14 instead of s13 sr is because of the turbo differences. After spending the G's for a front clip I won't be able to buy a new turbo for awhile, and when I buy a new one it will cost some serious money because if Im going to do it im going to do it right the first time lol. From what I hear if your not going to get a new turbo the newer variation of engine you buy the better, you will get more HP out of a boosted stock s15 then a boosted s13.


I haven't seen you here before 1bad180, welcome to the board. This place is way better then magazines or such for information on 240's. It is a great asset that we have opinions from non us guys that get the good Nissan stuff and can tell us about it from first hand experiences, look forward to more posts from you......also you have any websites on local nissans around your parts?