1JZ or 2JZ in 78-88 Monte Carlo

[Andrew H]

Has anyone put a 1JZ or 2JZ into a G Body Monte? I know that it has been done to a Caprice Classic. I know they make a trans adapter to mate the JZ motors to a TH400. So..... has anyone done this? If you have, what all has been needed and what was the cost like. I know a V8 swap is obviously going to be much cheaper, but I'm mildly interested in doing something that has never been done (or not done very many times). I broke my back, so I can no longer do the work myself, so I'm really not looking to jump into a project like this with any sort of "trial and error".

 

[jeremyandthemonte]

i have had one mocked up into a Monte. I play with Jdm engines quite a bit I love them. And belive it or not it is quite close the the length of a big block Chevy I can go more in depth in a large post when I get to a computer

 

[Andrew H]

Please do. I'm very serious about doing this swap, but I need to know a cost estimate and what all I'm going to need. I know the basic requirements. Motor, new motor mounts, TH400, trans adapter, piping, wiring, but I don't know the cost or anything else. Also, as someone that used to do all their work themselves, but now having to deal with a broken back (my doc says if I keep building cars and bikes, I'll be finding myself with my own set of wheels in a hurry), so I need to know what to gather and hand to my mechanic.

 

[jeremyandthemonte]

Okay this is not going off a gbody swap but a 240sx swap the swap ran us about 8500$ run and moving on its own power add another 600$ to that for a tune. Now lucky for us 240sx has a swap kit for the 2jz that includeds engine mounts trans mount adapter for t56 and drive shaft. Ect ect. The engine alone will run you close to 4000$ shipped and on your door step. Transmission the 2jz doesn't produce much power or torque stock. So a stock 400 will work. Rear end on the other hand it will destroy it. I would do more research into the swap since it is quite expensive. Taking from what I learned from the 240sx swap it will be almost double since there will be a lot of fab work and wiring and hours add up like Diet Coke a lot. I would look into special shops that deal with Jdm cars and someone who understands the engine. Also look into the mustang from fast and furious it has a rb26 in it and that would help with some design lead ways.

 

[Andrew H]

A: That car is hot.

So, I've found a 1JZ, stock, turboed, for $1500, with 30k miles, mainly because we have a JDM motor shop in town. So, that's a huge savings with no shipping involved. I've got a guy that has done a lot of the reverse swaps, V8 into JDM, so that should help. I've found the trans adapter for as low as $450. The wiring and piping is a cost that I still don't know. The hours, of course, are going to be an arm and a leg. The tune is going to probably be about the same, since there's only really one shop in North Idaho that I'd trust to do it. As far as I know, there are going to be the custom motor mounts, which won't be cheap. I've found some good rear ends, with LSD, for around $1k, which isn't bad. The Mustang is something I never thought of, so that will be a good source. I know someone did the same into a Caprice Classic from the late 80's, and he quoted between $5k and $7k, mainly because it had been several years and he couldn't quite remember the price. I think that mainly came because he got the motor from a totaled Supra. So, I think your $8k might be pretty accurate. If I get really lucky, with a "homie hookup" price on the hours, I might get away with it for around $6k, which would be a miracle. I really just want to do this so that I have a Monte that no one else has. A lot of my Chevy enthusiast friends have basically accused me of pure sacrilege, but I really don't care. I just want this done. I think it will be absolutely amazeballs.

 

[Andrew H]

Also, in these cars everyone does a SBC, and I just don't want to be the same as everyone else. No offense to those that do it. It's hard work, badass, and I think they're sexy as hell. I just want something different than the norm.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Aren't JDM engines not US DOT approved and illegal for street use? If they catch you running a JDM they automatically impound your car?

 

[jeremyandthemonte]

A: That car is hot.

So, I've found a 1JZ, stock, turboed, for $1500, with 30k miles, mainly because we have a JDM motor shop in town. So, that's a huge savings with no shipping involved. I've got a guy that has done a lot of the reverse swaps, V8 into JDM, so that should help. I've found the trans adapter for as low as $450. The wiring and piping is a cost that I still don't know. The hours, of course, are going to be an arm and a leg. The tune is going to probably be about the same, since there's only really one shop in North Idaho that I'd trust to do it. As far as I know, there are going to be the custom motor mounts, which won't be cheap. I've found some good rear ends, with LSD, for around $1k, which isn't bad. The Mustang is something I never thought of, so that will be a good source. I know someone did the same into a Caprice Classic from the late 80's, and he quoted between $5k and $7k, mainly because it had been several years and he couldn't quite remember the price. I think that mainly came because he got the motor from a totaled Supra. So, I think your $8k might be pretty accurate. If I get really lucky, with a "homie hookup" price on the hours, I might get away with it for around $6k, which would be a miracle. I really just want to do this so that I have a Monte that no one else has. A lot of my Chevy enthusiast friends have basically accused me of pure sacrilege, but I really don't care. I just want this done. I think it will be absolutely amazeballs.

This is coming from a die hard gm guy but oem to oem 2jz beats almost all v8s and yes even our praised ls

 

[Andrew H]

As far as I know, JDM engines aren't illegal, otherwise that business wouldn't exist.

 

[Andrew H]

I completely agree with the 2JZ comment. My main concern is cost and fit. I really want to do it. I'd love to pull to a car show, pop the hood, and just have people stare at it for all of the hours.