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REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:14 am
by Daniel2019
If I were to upgrade to the 6A13TT (Or single turbo) with all the engine and loom parts costing $1650 and having it completely engineered, what would a ballpark figure be if I were to do as much work as possible?

So far I have slimline fans for about 300 bucks, battery relocation to boot, engine and ECU/wiring included in the 1650 (Can I just run the VR4 ECU and loom without a piggback or standalone?)

With a major service and gearbox reco being done (about 300 [DIY] and 550 respectively) plus engineering being done what would a goal figure be? Craig thinks about $10k, could it be done cheaper without cutting any major corners? I can drop the engine in myself and stuff like that.

I can see Bennoz shaking his fist and head at me already :lol:

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:18 am
by Vectose
Did you factor in the annual gearbox rebuilds?

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:21 am
by Daniel2019
Vectose wrote:Did you factor in the annual gearbox rebuilds?
Lol, no, because it won't be a daily driver. It will be doing less power than Bennoz' engine and also will be driven only a portion of the time comparatively.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:32 am
by PHIL069
Daniel2019 wrote:
Vectose wrote:Did you factor in the annual gearbox rebuilds?
Lol, no, because it won't be a daily driver. It will be doing less power than Bennoz' engine and also will be driven only at 60km/h all of the time.
:twisted:

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:37 am
by silverGPX
Andrew (phunkydude) hasn't blown a box yet, but I think his clutch is starting to slip.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:34 am
by spetz
So you want a twin turbo 2.5L V6 conversion so you can "drive only at 60km/h all of the time"?

Makes absolute sense ;)

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:59 am
by rock_it
If you get it in, and do all mounts and stuff.. you would be looking at..

$1, 200 for a nice Garrett single turbo.
$1, 000 to be safe for custom manifold and fitting of said turbo.
$1, 000 maybe for intercooler piping.

You would need some sort of piggy back ECU. And I wouldn't short change on equiptment. So you would have to add an Apexi AVC-R or similar type of Boost controller. Brand new things like that go for about $600 + install.

Leave room for consumables to service, and maybe you can walk away with it under $5k..

But I would be looking at that as a start. Been a while since I had to pay for a conversion. And you will probably want to add upgraded parts as you do it. And have to pay for tunimg time. And depending on the loom ECU configuration that could cost you..

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:08 am
by rock_it
Just remember though.. This is dead money. You wont see a cent of it come back if/wnen you chose to sell it. So you have to be prepared to walk away from that.

As an example, my Hyundai cost me $25, 990 in 97.

When I biught the Evo engine a few years on, that was about 4k for engine + box. I remember doing periodic payments when building and upgrading, but final bill was almost 7k for an almost straight fit. I then wasn't happy with power and feel, so did a rebuild and many numerous upgrades. I stopped counting after I hit $20k. But you will be suprised on how quick you get there.

I anded up keeping the engine and all hardware (minus box) and I ut into my AWD shell now. So the Hyindai was a mint body, and rolling shell with 100% immaculate interior etc.

I think I sold it in about 07 to start the Evo build.. for... $500.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:17 am
by destinationtoby
rock_it wrote:Just remember though.. This is dead money. You wont see a cent of it come back if/wnen you chose to sell it. So you have to be prepared to walk away from that.

As an example, my Hyundai cost me $25, 990 in 97.

When I biught the Evo engine a few years on, that was about 4k for engine + box. I remember doing periodic payments when building and upgrading, but final bill was almost 7k for an almost straight fit. I then wasn't happy with power and feel, so did a rebuild and many numerous upgrades. I stopped counting after I hit $20k. But you will be suprised on how quick you get there.

I anded up keeping the engine and all hardware (minus box) and I ut into my AWD shell now. So the Hyindai was a mint body, and rolling shell with 100% immaculate interior etc.

I think I sold it in about 07 to start the Evo build.. for... $500.

Dammmn.. Let me know when u want to sell the evo build for $500 :lol:

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:45 am
by rock_it
destinationtoby wrote:
rock_it wrote:Just remember though.. This is dead money. You wont see a cent of it come back if/wnen you chose to sell it. So you have to be prepared to walk away from that.

As an example, my Hyundai cost me $25, 990 in 97.

When I biught the Evo engine a few years on, that was about 4k for engine + box. I remember doing periodic payments when building and upgrading, but final bill was almost 7k for an almost straight fit. I then wasn't happy with power and feel, so did a rebuild and many numerous upgrades. I stopped counting after I hit $20k. But you will be suprised on how quick you get there.

I anded up keeping the engine and all hardware (minus box) and I ut into my AWD shell now. So the Hyindai was a mint body, and rolling shell with 100% immaculate interior etc.

I think I sold it in about 07 to start the Evo build.. for... $500.

Dammmn.. Let me know when u want to sell the evo build for $500 :lol:
Considering over 9k was spent on a back to bare metal respray. . That aint going to happen

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:53 am
by Daniel2019
rock_it wrote:If you get it in, and do all mounts and stuff.. you would be looking at..

$1, 200 for a nice Garrett single turbo.
$1, 000 to be safe for custom manifold and fitting of said turbo.
$1, 000 maybe for intercooler piping.

You would need some sort of piggy back ECU. And I wouldn't short change on equiptment. So you would have to add an Apexi AVC-R or similar type of Boost controller. Brand new things like that go for about $600 + install.

Leave room for consumables to service, and maybe you can walk away with it under $5k..

But I would be looking at that as a start. Been a while since I had to pay for a conversion. And you will probably want to add upgraded parts as you do it. And have to pay for tunimg time. And depending on the loom ECU configuration that could cost you..
Yeah, I get that the money goes nowhere.. would it be cheaper to run two turbos in that case? Basically, to begin with, I want to be running as many stock parts as possible, apparently it's easier to get engineered that way and it will also make f**king something up less likely.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:33 pm
by rock_it
Difference between that..

Never2low went single.. Less time billed by mechanic to make twins fit.
Bennoz spent heaps to make it fit.

Time=Money

Mine was engineered no probs with a Garrett GT30..

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:40 pm
by Daniel2019
Fair point. Argh.

So you reckon if I go single turbo I can have it engineered with all stock bits for around 6k?

Edit: I can see this getting very expensive real quick. While the engine and that is all cheap, it just looks like its going to get out of hand..

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:48 pm
by rock_it
Daniel2019 wrote:Fair point. Argh.

So you reckon if I go single turbo I can have it engineered with all stock bits for around 6k?
On paper it looks that way. BUT REMEMBER when u are putting the engine in, you will be needing to do mounts and what not. So thay is extra coin.

And given that nothing goes wrong.. And engine is Mickey Mouse. It may be doable..

Only way you will find out is by seeing a few shops where you want the work done, and see what they charge an hour. I know my mechanic would be fully capable, but he charges around $70 an hour.

They did my conversion
2jz Cressida conversions
RB's into dato's
FJ's into dato's
Rb's into Silvia 's
American Muscle
Porsche track cars seem to be their flavour of the month at the moment - couple of GT3's

Or even Meek at Seven Hills could be a good place..

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:50 pm
by Daniel2019
Seems as though it's a bit out of the price range.

Having said that, its only a couple extra grand more than rebuilding the 6A12.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:52 pm
by rock_it
Unless an engine is a bolt in job such as a direct replacement.. You will always pay more.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:05 pm
by Daniel2019
Yep, have figured that one out :lol:

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:55 pm
by phunkydude
silverGPX wrote:Andrew (phunkydude) hasn't blown a box yet
coz i'm running only 7psi as daily :lol:
mitch had it on 14 back then'

benz's on 18psi :drunken:
rock_it wrote:Difference between that..
Never2low went single.. Less time billed by mechanic to make twins fit.
Bennoz spent heaps to make it fit.
hmm... there are 2 turbos in my engine bay with those snake pipings around'
did he went single on the 1st round?
Daniel2019 wrote:I can see this getting very expensive real quick. While the engine and that is all cheap, it just looks like its going to get out of hand..
instead of spending endless $$$, you can just grab mine? :lol:
looking to let go of mine...'
it has NT engineering cert + qld mod plates.

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:58 pm
by Vectose
phunkydude wrote:instead of spending endless $$$, you can just grab mine? :lol:
looking to let go of mine...'
it has NT engineering cert + qld mod plates.
How much you wanting for it?

Re: REALISTIC Engine conversion price

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:06 pm
by Daniel2019
If you're selling for like 5k then sure :lol: