FRS/BRZ/86 Engine swapping

What range of Subaru engines would be a drop in for a Scion FRS (2015) with a blown engine? I have no other details aside from the seller says it's blown.

Another FA20. Any of the turbo engines won't work because of the turbo and piping placement.

And the 6 cylinder Boxer I think has been done, but it's not common. 

Most guys just turbo the stock engine or swap.in a V8.

In reply to z31maniac :

Other Subie engines don't fit? Like a regular 2.5? I was wondering how hard it would be to source a long block that would work with all the FRS ancillaries.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

What's the regular 2.5? Is that the older engine with less power than the FA20?

Al the newest engines are the FA24.

Oh if you mean like the 2.5 our of the Crosstrek, it has 23 less hp than the 17+ FA20.

That doesn't seem worth it.

Is it the red one for sale for $3k?

In reply to z31maniac :

Yes.....my little brain sees a "bargain"......then I sit here and wonder what would possess me to consider doing an engine replacement at my age when I already have a long term project. Also spent time reading captainawsome's K-swap project. I think I need to become the "Idea Guy" and just hire minions to do the actual work.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Well, I'm currently in a position with a BRZ with a properly seized engine and also decided to hire some minions to do the engine replacement work.

Replacing the engine on a Frisbee is supposed to be pretty simple if you do it like-for-like. There are a fair number of used engines out there for seemingly reasonable money, and the engine is pretty easy to pull out. Depends how many bits you have to transfer though, my replacement engine came with the full engine harness, injectors, coils, intake etc so the number of parts that need to be transferred are pretty minimal. Some people mentioned that it took them 2-3 hours to pull and reinstall an FA20 (I'm assuming plus the time it took to transfer parts like the injector control box(es) that you don't normally get with a used engine.

I don't think that fitting older engines is going to work that well or easily, because I don't think those have a similar dual port/DI injection system, so I'd expect the electronics to get really confused.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

In reply to z31maniac :

Yes.....my little brain sees a "bargain"......then I sit here and wonder what would possess me to consider doing an engine replacement at my age when I already have a long term project. Also spent time reading captainawsome's K-swap project. I think I need to become the "Idea Guy" and just hire minions to do the actual work.

Understandable, but it's definitely not worth picking up the to put an even less powerful engine in it.

I think the biggest issue will always be figuring out the CANBUS stuff to keep all the typical gadgetry functional like stock. Usually it doesn't come cheap or easy. Another fa20 is the real answer. If you can find one cheap with good heads a new short block is around $2k from the dealer IIRC so after machining and putting it back together yourself you are looking at roughly $3k all in? Buying a used engine that isn't a ticking time bomb for $3500 is another option.

Amazed no one has suggested the only actual viable swap there is... So I guess as the resident GT86 dork, I give you this: https://kpower.industries/products/complete-kpower-86-conversion-package

https://kpower.industries/blogs/news/the-kpower-86-swap-is-here

This is the only decently supported and track tested engine swap for the BRZ/FRS/86. It retains full CANbus functionality and HVAC. It's also no cutting and plug and play. 

IIRC the bell housing bolt pattern on the frisbee FA20 is different than the other Subaru engines so you're basically stuck with another NA FA20 if you want to keep it simple.

goingnowherefast said:

Amazed no one has suggested the only actual viable swap there is... So I guess as the resident GT86 dork, I give you this: https://kpower.industries/products/complete-kpower-86-conversion-package

https://kpower.industries/blogs/news/the-kpower-86-swap-is-here

This is the only decently supported and track tested engine swap for the BRZ/FRS/86. It retains full CANbus functionality and HVAC. It's also no cutting and plug and play. 

Because as I mentioned in another thread the kit is $10.5k before you even buy the engine or spend the time (or pay someone the labor) to do the swap for another used engine, for 25whp more than an FA20 with header and E85 tune.

Someone asking about cheaper engines than an FA20 likely isn't spending $12k on an engine swap

In reply to z31maniac :

Where is it listed? If it gets passed up by the OP maybe I should look into it.

Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to z31maniac :

Where is it listed? If it gets passed up by the OP maybe I should look into it.

I saw it in the Facebook group FRS/BRZ/GT86 Marketplace. 

I think I saw that last night. It looks to be in pretty good shape other than the part that makes the brmbrm noises. 

Didn't ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  start his build thread this way?  (Local SCCA friend has a V8 swapped BRZ and it is much fast, so zoom.)

In reply to z31maniac :

I've found two guys that said they've done a FA20DIT swap into a BRZ and 86. 

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128658

https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/2wzxg2/brz_with_an_fa20dit_wrx_motor_swap_more_info_in/

Ive been thinking about buying a shell by me thats pretty cheap and trying to swap in an FA20DIT. What is the issue with the "turbo and piping placement" that I might run into.

hunter47 said:

IIRC the bell housing bolt pattern on the frisbee FA20 is different than the other Subaru engines so you're basically stuck with another NA FA20 if you want to keep it simple.

People have used BR-Z transmissions to make rear drive EJ-engined cars. 

Apparently, the FA24 from the 2nd gen car is almost a drop-in swap. LINK. Of course, it's still a Subaru engine, so....

In reply to BenB :

It's also underrated from the factory. Even though it's only rated at 228 hp, it has much more midrange and torque. And on average is putting down in the 210whp range. With a header and E85 it's up near 245-250whp. 

tieburke said:

In reply to z31maniac :

I've found two guys that said they've done a FA20DIT swap into a BRZ and 86. 

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128658

https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/2wzxg2/brz_with_an_fa20dit_wrx_motor_swap_more_info_in/

Ive been thinking about buying a shell by me thats pretty cheap and trying to swap in an FA20DIT. What is the issue with the "turbo and piping placement" that I might run into.

Do your research. I haven't had a first gen in about 6 years. 

FA20 and FA24 are the only bolt-in swaps. There are kits to swap in a Honda K or LS. Beyond that, you're on your own doing custom work. The later 2.4L models are much less swap-friendly than the 2.0L models (which are already not particularly swap-friendly) due to the electronics.

There are rumors about the GR Corolla 1.6l... ;) 

For a little inspiration, here are some of the oddball swaps I've heard of going into Toyobarus:

2JZ

1UZ

Ferrari 458 V8

Tiny racing V8 (similar to RPE V8)

Ford Coyote

VR38

VQ37

A few different EV swaps

NONACK ( ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) is attempting a 2GRFE swap

Snrub said:

There are rumors about the GR Corolla 1.6l... ;) 

There have been rumors of a turbo since it was released. They aren't going to put the GR Corolla motor in the car. With all the other necessary upgrades you'd push the car up near the $40k mark.