Engine transplants are something you would do well to leave to experienced aftermarket tuning shops to perform, but why not try and save some money if you have the time and the skills, right?
This is what YouTuber IG Designs attempted to do when he decided to switch his Toyota MR2 to Honda power. He took care to record all costs associated with the project in one way or another and managed to squeeze the entire build in a video only eight minutes long.
As you may know, the Toyota MR2 is not a particularly exciting car to drive straight from the factory. Its 1.8-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine churns out 140 PS (138 hp / 103 kW) and not a horsepower more. Initially, IG Designs had tried swapping it for a 2ZZ engine borrowed from a Toyota Celica, arguing that 182 PS (180 hp / 135 kW) was better. It was, but not by a wide margin. Hence, an idea was born to switch to Honda instead.
The video sheds light on all stages of the build, managing to keep things as laconic as possible. In the end, the Honda K24 four-banger starts and hits the wheels of the Toyota MR2 with more than 200 horsepower (150 kilowatts), leaving the author satisfied. But what about the financial side of the project?
This is actually the most insightful part of the video – at least, for us. Apparently, fabricating all the necessary parts, buying the missing transmission components and differentials, and making sure everything fits well together cost IG Designs a touch over $12,000 in total. The used MR2 itself is probably worth half that! And the takeaway is, saving on building your own engine only goes so far before you discover all the hidden costs.