My first engine swap, m20b20 to m20b25

[clarko74]

I've just finished my first engine change. It took me two weekends but early on Sunday morning I finished connecting up the 2.5, turned the key and it started first time! I was amazed and just a little bit chuffed with myself . So good to be back with 2.5 litre power rather than the 2.0 I've had for the past 6 months.

I know it's probably one of the easiest swaps you can do but you have to start somewhere don't you? It was hard work but very enjoyable and to anyone that's not done it before and is thinking of giving it a go, do it. It's a quite a scary prospect at first but not that tricky if you plan it well and have the right equipment/tools. Having a whole donor car is also a huge advantage.

I'm now having a badge dilemma: do I debadge it, change to a 325 badge or keep the 320 badge and have a 'stealth' 325?

Once again, thanks to everyone on the zone for all the top info, I wouldn't have attempted this otherwise.

cheers,

Adrian

[georob]

keep the badge!

good work though, next stop a m50 conversion

[ric325i]

boo to the m50 its not as powerful as an m30

good work man! its a great feeling getting a engine swap done. not that i know as mine has never been right.

[Cloud]

Well done. I'd keep the badge.
Do you have to notify the DVLA? What're the procedures on the legal side of things?

[Brianmoooore]

The DVLA should be notified, but that's quite straightforward. It's only when you fit a smaller engine that they get excited.
Your insurance company will probably be interested as well!
I hope you read my "wiring warning" sticky thread before doing this swap!

[Cloud]

The DVLA should be notified, but that's quite straightforward. It's only when you fit a smaller engine that they get excited.
Your insurance company will probably be interested as well!
I hope you read my "wiring warning" sticky thread before doing this swap!

I have. Thanks for that, it could have been a bloody nuisance, but now I'll check it.

[clarko74]

I called my insurance company yesterday and they wanted a new mot on the car and £120 on top of my existing premium even though it only has three months left to run! So I told them to stick it and called Adrian Flux, they gave me a quote that was £100 more than my existing premium, but that's for a whole year, they don't want a new mot and I can do any other modifications I want as long as the power isn't increased any more.

I did read your wiring warning, cheers for that Brian.

[Cloud]

Good old Adrian Flux. They quoted me higher than anyone else when I was 17, but since I'm now rather more aged, they're becoming the best option. Tesco insurance are now the most expensive, probably because I'm not a 35 year old woman called Sandra who does 8000 miles a year in a 1.1 litre Peugeot 207. I still can't find a quote under £2000 though, so an extra £100 for the modifications is very minor.