What has been mentioned so far is rather straightforward and typical in any shop that fabricates race cars. What happened next is the challenge. Making everything fit the chassis – and that took some ingenuity. I’ve already mentioned that AES Auto fabricated motor mounts – standard work for them while doing an engine swap. Next was the drivetrain components between the Honda engine and the Nissan chassis. That was challenging but that may even have paled in comparison to connecting the intriguing Nissan wiring to this swap. While this is not a daily driver, it is still a fun weekend car. As a result lights, signals, defrost/heat, and a range of other items needed to be functional. On the street this car is awesome. It is a challenge not to chirp the wheels. And AES is still sorting out the idle with this high-strung car and its 80mm K-Tuned throttle body, 750cc injectors, DC 2.2 cams, and its 12.5:1 compression. My initial track day feedback is that the car is nice and stiff. The motor is not flexing. And the feel is just right. So now it is time to take a look at the process of this swap. Well, most of this swap – there are some aspects of it that you’ll have to work with AES Auto for more details.
There was no question that the axles would be a challenge, but before that could be addressed another issue presented itself. The engine had been in and out of the engine bay a few times to allow for the facilitation of the mount builds, but always without the exhaust in place. As the engine and header were put into place it was obvious that the subframe and the beautiful K-Tuned 4-1 race header were simply not willing to coexist. They were literally crashing into each other by a significant margin. This led to a discussion of options – extending the header, for example. But cutting a beautiful piece of workmanship was a challenge not to mention that the ground clearance would be nil. Revising the recently fabricated motor mounts – but again a drastic loss of ground clearance. And the eventual solution of cutting and sectioning the subframe – effectively boxing in the exhaust with upper/lower framing – was the selected option. Ironically enough, while the subframe simply provided no room, the actual body shell itself was built in such a way that it provided all of the room in the world. It was like it was built for the K-Tuned Race Header. And by the way, I’m still looking at the exhaust on the firewall side of the engine bay and thinking that this looks wrong. For those of you thinking that the Honda K24 in a Nissan B13 is wrong, then I’ll give you a point on this fact. Other than that, this engine is fantastic and I’m smiling non-stop. The sound that this naturally aspirated engine makes when it is revving to over 8000 RPM is simply fantastic. And the pull right through to the top of the RPM range is equally fantastic.
26 comments
you really love that car…
I’ve owned it since it came off the showroom floor – so the answer is yes.
DAMN VERY NICE. IS THERE A SWAP KIT FOR SELL ON THIS K20 INTO B13 SHELL. IM SURE ALOT PEOPLE WILL BE INTERESTED SINCE THERE SO MANY PARTS OUT THERE FOR THESE K20 MOTORS.
B13NX2K, there is no kit that I am aware of in production. Sorry.
The Ridge Motorsports Park is in “Shelton, WA”, not “Sheldon, WA”
Noch, thank you for catching that. That slipped past all of us! In the first paragraph, no less. Corrected!
Very good read on the article Frank. Enjoy the ride.
Upgraded, thank you so much. You’re very aware of the struggle that I’ve had the last few years. And know that a lot of thought went into this decision. Thanks so much for introducing me to AES Auto!
Awesome write-up Frank! Cool to see such an unorthodox (turbo to NA) swap play out in such a satisfying manner.
This K24 engine is simply silly fast. WHP drop from 360 to 280 – but at the first track day I was out all day and as long as I wanted each session with temps barely rising. I haven’t had a day like that with the DET ever.
It’s like Honda put the things it learned in the past into the K24 and made available in many platforms — Decent power, good reliability with potential for upgrades.
Awesome Build, Awesome write up! Thanks for sharing
Brycen, glad you enjoyed the article. I’m enjoying the car. It’ll be back at the track in a week.
I don’t think we got a final pic of the subframe, but it seemed like there had to be more crossbracing than the one bar with the motor mounted in it, right?
Also, that’s a 4-2-1 header that’s installed.
Hey, congrats on the build. It should be bulletproof.
That’s it for bracing, Joe! And bulletproof is the key here!
A little sad to see the SR go, but nothing better than having a track car that just works every time and nothing to think about! 280whp on a mustang is plenty of power. It would probably trap 115-120mph in the 1/4.
And for reference, my old B14 SE-R with T25 and JWT S3 cams put down 250whp on a dynoject and trapped 110mph. The poor stock VSLD wore out which made the car about worthless on an auto-x. Not too bad on a road course with big enough turns to keep from lighting up the inside tire.
Khiem, sorry that I missed your posts. I haven’t had it out to the 1/4 yet as I’m worried about the axles. I’ve lost Nissan axles in the 1/4 and they were relatively available so I wasn’t worried. These axles are one off and, while I’m having a second set built, I don’t want to risk them just yet. The M-Factory LSD is absolutely keeping the power down in corners, so I’ll have to get out to an autocross (just never been my forte), and just a few weeks ago I put down a personal best at my local track. Besting the SR20DET’s time by half a second.
Man I have a Nissan 200sx. I would love to do a K-swap in my car.
Hi Thomas, there’s now talk on the SR20 FB groups of a swap kit. Maybe it’s getting closer!
Cool to see someone throwing a K series in an NX.
I currently have the only known Nissan Pulsar NX with a K series.
Well Done! I think there are now more than one B13 chassis with the K series, but at the time this was the first running one that I knew about. Do you have some pics of yours?
Sacrilegious! what acrap of project, this articule must be remove and banned from this great webside
I would like to know the list of items I need to swap a k20 and k24 swap into my nx2000
Frank Ewald
Would it be possible for you to send me the parts list that I would need to put in a K 20 or a K 24 in my Nissan NX 2000 and what would be the best mount to buy to hook the motor to the B 13 body for the K 20 or K 24 motor mounts
I’m trying to figure out what universal harness indeed for my nx2000for nthe inside of the car.
what harness did you use for your nx2000 kswap
please email me back please at horacewilliamsonjr291@gmail.com