Well I've been pondering the DET saga for quite some time now. Now it seems that my car has developed a taste for eating oil. I could get the rings replaced, or even go the high compression all motor route. But I've spoken with a few members that have eased a few of my DET swap fears.

I've done a transmission swap already to my car, after breaking the original unit. Yeah it was a pain in the arsh, but accomplished the task nontheless. So with that being said. I think that I could accomplish a motor swap. With a few friends, some air tools, and some luck. What are the MUST have's? I already have a JWT ECU, so I could send it to get it remapped. I've been told that I could use my GReddy exhaust for the time being. The main issue to me is a FMIC. Being that I would try for an Avenir motor. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Must haves.....DET, duh, downpipe-(sr20dev. JGY customs), i ran with the stock TMIC for a while, it gets really hot, but it'll be fine at stock boost. sr20dev. FMIC-$1200, hotshot install kit(downpipe and FMIC-$1100) or you could buy an IC core and some pre-bent pipes from JCWhitney and make your own. You'll want to go ahead and get motor mounts, and get a STRONG clutch. i got a act HD/SS, i love it but you have to think for the future, the setup I'm workin on will kill the HD/SS, so get something that will take the power you plan on eventually having. you'll have to switch out various sensors from the DE to the DET. a walbro fuel pump would also be a plus. am I answering your questions??

Realistic?Reliable? I would have at LEAST $4500 sitting around. I'm doing '97 Avenir , T-28 , Bored Maf , Fuel Pump , Nismo FPR , ACT P/P and disk , 3' DP , 3' cat , 3' exhaust, Lightened Flywheel , Turbo timer, HKS Bov , FMIC. Some of that would be optional on swap. A friend and I are doing the exhaust and the IC piping. I think I am barely gonna get out for under $5500. My $.75

dun forget to include about $1000 on top of whatever u budgeted for OOPS money....:D

hotshot install kit(downpipe and FMIC-$1100)
can i get that directly from them? or where else can i get it? what kind of wait is there?

ya, you can get it directly from them, don't know if there is any wait or not

Honestly, I don't think getting a DET is worth it if you are staying under 400hp. But... being that your engine is having issues it may be a different story. Are you planning on just staying with the stock t25/t28??
If I were you, I'd buy just a DET short block(complete with head and intake manifold, but no turbo or exhaust manifold), cause I'm sure you'd want to upgrade the manifold and go with a t3/t04.
My price sheet has hit about 9k and I'm "almost" done... I keep adding new things or upgrading(and I haven't even installed anything yet).
And just think... you can keep your stock block and build it up for some bad-ass boost!