Latest News
2025 Chrysler Voyager ReviewThese are the Best Engine to Swap Into Your Car
Looking for better fuel economy, greater reliability, and gigantic boosts in power? The right engine swap could accomplish all three at once.
Car Heart Transplants
There are plenty of reasons one might entertain an engine swap in their car. Your ride-or-die daily has kicked the proverbial bucket but you’re not ready to send this particular Isuzu VehiCROSS off to the crusher just yet. Or maybe you’ve got your hands on an Olds 88 with a Rocket that’s seen better days. Perhaps you’ve always dreamt of building the V8-powered Nash Metropolitan?
Indeed, many a project car has been designed from the engine on up. The benefits of an engine swap include the greater reliability of a modern engine, major improvements in fuel economy, and a whole heap of added horsepower.
Below we’ll look at what’s typically involved in an engine swap and some of the most common engines used in swaps.
Levels of Engine Swaps
The simplest engine swaps involve trading old engines for newer versions of the same engine. Your VehiCROSS can be easily resurrected by finding a younger version of its V6. The biggest benefit of an old for new swap is the ease. You won’t need new cooling, electrical, or other componentry (unless they’re in need of replacement as well), which you can’t say about most engine swaps. These are also the easiest kind to do for DIY-minded owners.
The next easiest kind of engine swap is using an analogous motor to replace the old one. An example of this would be to install a Toyota 2JZ-GTE (the turbo version) into a Lexus SC300 (which had a 2JZ motor but not the turbo version). The benefit here is that much of the engine bay’s geography will be the same, as will much of the other componentry, saving you both headaches and money.
The more ambitious engine swaps involve installing an unrelated engine, one that might not fit perfectly and will call for major upgrades to additional components. Examples of this include LS V8s in a Miata or Hemi crate motors in old Dodge pickups. This could mean body modifications, custom exhaust and cooling systems, ECU tuning, and more. These projects are ambitious by their nature and will demand a good deal of time, money, and knowledge to execute properly. The rewards, however, are often worth it.
GM LS V8
General Motor’s LS small-block V8 is one of the most popular engines to swap into a car. It’s easy to see why. It’s small thanks to its internal cam design making it narrower than either the Coyote 5.0L or the Hemi. GM has been making them since the late 1990s and put them in everything from the Corvette to the Escalade which makes them easy to find used for a reasonable price. They’re also powerful, ranging from 345 to 505 horsepower, and quite tuneable for even more power. And finally, the LS being a common engine swap candidate means there are tons of tutorials, aftermarket parts support, and knowledgeable mechanics familiar with the engine.
The LS1 was originally developed as the third generation of their small-black V8 for use in the C5 Corvette where it produced 345 horsepower. The LS saw duty in the GTO, Camaro, and Firebird as well. Subsequent versions included the LS6, LS2, and LS7, the latter powering the Z06 Corvette to 505 horsepower. The next-gen LT motors arrived for the 2014 model year with 455 horsepower. The LT2 powers the current 8th-generation Corvette while the LT4 supercharges the 6.2L V8 for the Z06 Vette and the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing.
You can find used 6.2L LT1 and 6.0L LS motors for around $2,000 to $3,000 while new crate versions can run anywhere from $6,600 to $17,000.
Toyota 2JZ
Another popular engine swap is the Toyota 2JZ. This 3.0L inline-six was built from 1990 through 2007 and came in naturally aspirated (2JZ-GE) and turbocharged forms (2JZ-GTE). The main virtues of the 2JZ include its variable valve timing (VVT-i) and its cast-iron block. The cast-iron block of the 2JZ was engineered to withstand tremendous abuse which makes it a favorite among tuners. The 2JZ-GTE featured in the Mk. IV Toyota Supra, making 314 horsepower, merely hinted at the engine’s potential. Tuners have been known to frequently coax upwards of 1,000 horsepower from the engine. 2JZ-GTE swaps are common in cars that carry the non-turbo 2JZ-GE, but like the LS, the 2JZ is frequently shoehorned into all manner of cars from Fox Body Mustangs to BMWs. You can find used 2JZ-GTE motors priced from $5,500 to $8,000 to the moon if already tuned.
Honda K-Swap
Taking another step down in cylinder count we consider another common engine swap, the Honda K swap. The K-Series has a lot going for it: it’s common, reliable, cheap, and highly tuneable. Most produce between 140 and 200 horsepower stock, but K-series engines are extremely durable and can be tuned to make upwards of 800 horsepower. Like the 2JZ, the K-Series features variable valve timing (VTEC in Honda’s nomenclature). Among the dozens of K-series motors two stand out the most: the K24AZ seen in the Acura TSX 2004-08 (205 horsepower) and the K24Z7 from the Civic Si 2012-15 (201-205 horsepower). K-swaps are easiest in fellow Honda’s like EG and EK Civics (1992-95, 1996-2000). More ambitious K-swaps could include the Porsche 944, Toyota MR2, or Lotus Elise, to name just a few. K24A1 (CR-V) and A2 (Acura TSX) can be found on the secondary market for between $900 and $1,100 while the K24Z7 runs between $1,100 and $4,000 for a rebuilt motor.
Subaru EJs
Do you have an old Subaru, Volkswagen, or even vintage Porsche 912 that needs a new boxer engine? The Subaru EJ is a good candidate for a swap. Decent power, reliability, parts availability, and simplicity make the EJ20, EJ22, and EJ25 infinitely more attractive than trying to contend with an aging air-cooled VW flat-four. EJ swaps are popular among VW enthusiasts thanks to the engines comparable size and design (2.0L-2.5L flat-fours) as they alleviate some of the potential headaches of owning a microbus or Beetle. The EJ comes in turbo and non-turbo varieties, with single or double-overhead cam designs. Power hovers around 150 horsepower for most versions. The turbocharged EJ255 made around 300 horsepower in the WRX STI, 256 horsepower for the Outback XT and Baja Turbo, and 210 horsepower for the Forester. You can find used EJ20s and EJ25s for anywhere from $500 to $2,500 with rebuilt turbocharged version topping out around $4,000 to $5,000.
Ford EcoBoost 2.3L
Another four-cylinder worth considering for an engine swap is Ford’s GDI 2.3L EcoBoost. EcoBoost is a family of turbocharged, direct-injection engines that have seen application across Ford’s lineup in everything from the Transit van to the Mustang. The GDI 2.3L EcoBoost hails from Mustang, as well as the Focus RS, Explorer, and Lincoln MKC, and makes an impressive 310 horsepower. Indeed, the main appeal of EcoBoost engines is their combination of power and efficiency. The 2.3L EcoBoost is offered as a crate engine by Ford for around $5,700 while whole kits run about $8,000-$9,000. The 2.3L is a great option for those looking to add power, efficiency, and reliability to any classic Fox body Mustang or Fairlane project car.
Ford Coyote 5.0L V8
The Coyote 5.0L is an evolution of Ford’s modular V8 developed as the Blue Oval’s answer to the Hemi and LS. Originally, fielded in the Mustang and F-150 (2011 model year), the Coyote initially offered a stout 400 horsepower but has steadily increased in power over time. The 2018 third generation reached 460 horsepower and the current fourth-generation hits 480 horsepower. The Coyote has become the go-to swap for vintage first-generation Broncos, revitalized F-Series, and classic Fords in need of a jolt. You can find used Coyote 5.0L engines for around $4,500 to $9,000 while new crate versions come in at between $10,000 and $15,000. For the kit and kaboodle Bronco Coyote V8 swap, including cooling, intake and exhaust, fuel management, and the rest, you’re looking at $25,000 or more.
Dodge 3rd-gen Hemi 5.7L
There are crate engines and then there are Hemi crate engines. The third-generation Hemi V8, debuting in 2003, marked the belated return of the iconic muscle car powerplant. A 2009 revision added variable timing and new cylinder heads for better air flow, making those and later engines the ones to seek out if you’re considering a used Hemi. There are several Hemi to choose from including the original 5.7L seen in the Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger, and RAM 1500 (363-395 horsepower), the 6.4L which debuted for the 2011 Challenger with 525 horsepower, the supercharged 6.2L Hellcat with 707 horsepower, the Demon with its 2.7L twin-scroll supercharger boosting output to 808 horsepower, or the supercharged 7.0L Hemi Hellephant crate motor with 1,000 horsepower.
The challenges with these Hemi engines are obvious, finding (or creating) an engine bay large enough, a drivetrain sturdy enough, or tires sticky enough. And then there’s the price. Hemi crate motors can cost an eye-watering amount of money with the Hellephant crate motor reaching $30,000. The 6.2L supercharged Hellcat crate motor runs between $15,000 and $20,000. The 6.4 Hemi is a much more reasonable affair. You can find them for around $7,000 to $9,000. The original 5.7L is easily the most affordable Hemi at $1,000 to $3,000 for a used example.
