Engine Conversions: Part 2

On Tuesday we brought you the first instalment of our favourite engine conversions. After a lot of positive response, we couldn’t help ourselves so without further ado, here’s Part 2!

 1JZ Silvia

 Mixing breeds is all part of the game with these engine conversions and although the RB series of straight-sixes make for a much easier swap into a Silvia, the unadulterated awesomeness that is the 1JZ can be a tempting prospect. The S13 pictured above hails from Tasmania and is drifted regularly with the help of its sponsors ISC Coilovers and Helps Metalworks.

 Considering that the 1J is known to be extremely reliable with stock internals even up to 500hp and beyond, it is an obvious choice for a regularly thrashed drift car. Plus their unmistakable scream would have to be one of the best engine sounds out there.

LS1 Datsun

A light car and a modern V8 not much heavier than the factory powerplant will always be a popular combo, making LS1s a great choice for the big engine, little car crowd. With 350hp straight out of the box they're certainly a potent little performer and when you plonk one into a dainty Datto like the one above, there are bound to be smiles aplenty.

RB30 Corolla

While its twin-cam descendants may be more popular in the transplant scene, the good ol’ single cam RB30ET still has some merit, especially when placed into a featherweight like the Corolla. Pump in a bit more boost and they are absolute torque monsters and when you factor in how cheap they are these days, they won’t exactly break the bank.

VH45 Skyline

While a lot of the good examples on this list look to different manufacturers for donor engines, there is nothing wrong with staying loyal to the badge, albeit with a bit of an update. We’ve covered bent eights from Toyota and GM but the Nissan VH45 deserves a look in here as well.

The high-revving 4.5L V8 filled with forged internals puts out just shy of 280hp from the factory and with the addition of two turbos running low boost, the R31 coupe above turns the treads to the tune of over 400hp!

LS1 Torana

Here is another one keeping it in the family, with this tidy LJ packing a Holden V8 under the bonnet from one of its distant descendants. We are always big fans of modern reliability in a classic package and it is pretty safe to say that if you strapped two turbos to the sides of one of the earlier Holden V8s, it would be nowhere near as reliable as the beast above!

2JZ Datsun

The mighty 2JZ really is the big boy when it comes to Japanese straight-sixes. These things were built factory tough and have proven themselves to be successful in the Aussie drag scene no matter what they’re dropped into.

1UZ Silvia

The Silvia chassis is fairly versatile, with this particular S13 setup for the strip. Neil Griffiths from Rush Imports built this beast; plonking a 1UZ under the bonnet and strapping a massive truck turbo on the side for good measure, complete with the truck flap!

 It’s a regular site out at Sydney Dragway and runs low 11s.

RB26 Gazelle

The S12 Gazelle is an oft forgot about model which we think is a shame, with very few tough modified examples getting around. They’re a cool shape and with a later Nissan engine under the hood, like the RB26 in the one above, you’ll leave a lot of people in the dust, scratching their heads saying “what the hell was that?!”

13B Celica

The early rear-wheel drive Celicas are another model that doesn’t get too much love. Drop a rotor or any other motor into a Grandma spec one of these and you will have yourself quite the sleeper. The 13B powered one above is an absolute weapon but with its unassuming exterior, very few would know it.

LS1 Supra

Engine swaps into JZA80 Supras are fairly rare, a pretty understandable truth considering that they came factory fitted with arguably the greatest engine Toyota has ever made. It’s this fact that makes it so enjoyable seeing someone going against the crowd and fitting something like an LS1 to this fairly capable chassis. Considering the price of N/A JZA80s on the market, it really is a good option for those who want to do something a bit different.

FJ20 Datsun

It might seem like a lot of Datsuns have graced this list but to be fair, they are the perfect platform for a transplant. Lightweight, RWD, plentiful and damned good looking they make for a good project. The FJ20 into a 1600 may be a conversion that’s been done to death but that is for a very good reason; it goes hard!

2JZ Lexus

While it might not be the hardest swap in the world, dropping a 2JZ-GTE into an IS300 is a damned rewarding one. These luxury sedans are powered by an N/A 2J standard so really, it is a pretty straight forward swap. Jason Greenwood’s dedicated drifter pictured above is a fine example of what can be done if you take it to the next level, pumping out 360rwkw and making an absolute smoke show and any event he enters.

Well guys, that’s the end of Part 2. The list will continue next week with the final 12 ready to revealed. We’ve saved the best for last so check back with the blog and in the meantime, we’re still interested to hear your favourites; keep ‘em coming!