na-t question

[s383mmber1]

Ok guys, now before you give me the good old "search" answer, just please try to help me out.

I am kinnda stuck in a delema, i have a 7mge with just basic stuff, rs-r/indivia exhaust, k&N intake, test pipe....yadda yadda yadda. Now heres the question, soon i will be NEEDING more power. The car has stock headgasket thats never been replaced. Should i na-t the motor, or JDM engine swap it? How much money would i be looking at for both? Whats the chance ill cook my engine with the NA-T?

Thanks for your time in advance!

William

 

[shaeff]

you could go na-t, but it really depends on your goals. with na-t cars, you have a higher chance of detonation due to higher compression. personally, i went with a JDM gte. (i only went JDM because i couldnt find a USDM motor in decent shape)

for my motor swap, i spent about $3k or so, but i went with ALL upgraded parts while i had everything out. (CM stage III clutch, fidanza lightweight flywheel, cometic MHG, BIC ddp, etc...) so it added up quickly.

personally, i'm one to swap the entire motor out for a GTE. but that's just me. many people have success with na-t. it's not for me though. when you decide to do whatever it is you're going to do, let me know, i'll come give you a hand.

-shaeff

 

[s383mmber1]

thanks a lot shaeff! Im just gonna get a jdm gte and dump my bank account into it then! I want reliablitly as much as power!

Thanks,

William

 

[bluemax]

I went the full NA>T and a JDM GTE motor. I did go with forged pistons, rebuilt the head and machined the head and block deck. I guess I could have just went with the JDM motor as is.
My NA motor was toast after I totally blew the head gasket and 10 years of constant bhg overheating. JDM motors are fairly cheap. At least in Southern Cal.
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/323trannylist.htm
Personally, If I did it again, and I had a good GE block and head, I'd use that for the rebuild. But you will need new pistons and all of the GTE stuff. My JDM block came with a Toyota exhaust manifold.

I think shaeff did it right. Spend the money up front and get everything so you only do it once. I rebuilt a stock GTE. Now I'm spending money re-doing things I already did and bought. But then I just swapped all of the GTE stuff from a GTE car to my car. So it was all stock.