Which would be the better buy? The F-Max Stage II kit for around 4 g's or just go for the whole JDM SR20DET engine for 2g's?

Do a search, it's been covered..... A LOT!

but to answer your ?... get the kit, because you'll end up spending more money buying the DET and then modifying it to get the power you want out of it. The DE stock can handle more power than what you'd want as a daily driver anyways. No use in swapping unless you'd want some serious power.

Well, Swapping can be cheaper if you have a SR20DE. Buying a Turbo kit can cost well over $3G's and plus you have to get it installed that can be anywhere to Free (Do it yourself) or $2000 if you goto a High preformance shop. But you can get a DET for $1700 From JGY (Jason Garrett Young) or Andreas Miko, I think Miko charge diffrent but it's still cheaper. And with a Turbo Kit you Still have to buy a New Clutch and what ever you want to make your engine pretty. So, From my opinion it's NOT cheaper OR better to get a kit. And at the end you can sell your Old SR20DE engine. But it will be without a Tranny.

Not true... you'll still have to buy some of the same things for either... a new clutch, ecu, etc... And who is really happy with the stock HP on a DET?? You'd end up having to by the same stuff after you do the swap anyways (ie: manifold, turbo, inj, maf, etc..).

How many people you know did the Turbo kit?......
Now lets count how many people did the Swap.. You can't count because so many people has done it and happy.
Besides, you will have better compression with a DET engine.
A lot of people Blow their Add-on Turbo kits engines (Over boosting)

You can blow any engine, no matter what the compression.
Neither way is totally cheap. I was piecing together a kit for my 97 SE-R and the total was somewhere around $8k. And that didn't even touch the internals, except clutch and cams...

You get what you pay for... if you're cool with 205 hp from doing the swap, then that's cool. otherwise, people will want more, and that means adding parts on. Mo Money...

Unless you drove a Turbo car you wouldn't want more Power until you have driving a Turbo Sentra. People starting out with a T03/04 is a little to much I feel for a starter. Besides there is more just to wanting MORE power.

Been there, done that, bought a WRX... now I'm modding it cause it's under powered for what I want. I would have had a 360+ hp 200sx SE-R, but sold it all to work on the WRX.

There is no point in buying things twice... you buy a turbo setup that pushes a little over 200hp... after 3 months of races, you keep getting your ass kicked by the Camaros and such, so you decide you need more power.. now you have to sell everything and upgrade at a higher cost that you should have paid to begin with... you can always turn down the boost on a bigger turbo... you can't turn up the power on a small turbo.

I'm actually waiting on my stage2 kit. Depending on options the price will vary. No matter what you do there's going to be the added costs of gauges, electronics, and other nic-nacks. I wouldn't suggest going this route if money is a concern or your on a tight budget. I prefer the kit to the swap. I agree that buying components twice is the biggest downfall in any project. You loose time and money. It's better to get your goals situated before you order anything. As far as a t3/t04 being to big to start I disagree. I've been driving a BMW Mcoupe to work the last week waiting on my insurance to go thru on the 200SX. So I've now been exposed to 315 NA hp and it's off the hook. As always though, I need more!

LOL, Well I want that BMW. I don't think they kit is for everyone. Well, It's my Opinion I just think the Kit's are to expensive, But if you have the money I guess it would easier. I know about ALL the little Nis-knacks and either way it can get VERY expensive. Well, which ever way someone want to go I'm there for you. Just send some pictures. :p

Alright, monkeys, all kits are not considered equal, nor are DET swaps and FMAX kits considered equal. A DET puts out about 200whp. An FMAX kit STARTS at about 250whp and goes up from there.

You can have a good running T25 turbo kit on your DE for $1000. If you have a good shape DE there's NO reason to throw it away for the DET. You get a few extra goodies on the DET, but it's not worth it simply because you KNOW your engine works well. The DET is an unknown to you. You could put it in and who knows what will happen. They work for just about everyone, but why throw away a KNOWN GOOD working motor to get a DET when you will have to spend more on a DET anyways that a T25 turbo kit. Here's the breakdown for a T25 kit:

~$450 for manifold, turbo, j-pipe, oil and water lines
~$175 for 370cc injectors
~$150 for Bluebird intercooler
~$150 for Bluebird ECU
~$100 for homemade IC piping

$1025 right there. 200whp done and reliable. Compare that to NA mods. $450 for HS header, $250 for CAI, $550 for cams and you are already way above $1000 for ~150whp. Not the way to go.

Compression is negligible unless you want to make STUPID power. You can put down at least 400whp with your 9.5:1 stock bottom end. Again, why throw it away unless your DE has issues?

I won't dare thorw away my Old SR20DE engine. My car as hummm 107k on it. it's acting a little funny anyway. LOL, So I want to do a swap and tear apart my SR20DE engine and rebuild it. Then what ever I do with it after that then whatever. Maybe force it into a B12 or something for a Daily drive. I'm in GA and everything is to far so I don't know how well Turboed Sentras Preform IN stop and go traffic. Well, My OPINION and thanx.

Shouldn't this be in the Trubo Forum. Being that it's Turbo related.

DET turbo on DE is good enough for me..

I am no racer, dont race that much.. so what is the need IMO for all that power... none.. I am going to do the DET turbo Sys on my USDM DE... a good place to start for my unknowledged turbo ass..

Though I hear FMAX is cool..

As someone said in short... no matter how fast you are... some one is there handing your ass...

good topic though..

Sorry to bug, I'll search next time. But thanks a lot for the info/advice!

1025 right there. 200whp done and reliable
youre forgetting about a cltch and motor mounts but good point

Trust me, I remember ALL of that... It can be expensive. But all and all, I think it's all preference, I want a New engine (BB) I was looking into F-Max myself but I rather get the new engine and install it myself. But which eva way you go it should be good.
Good luck and send pictures.

personally i would try getting the pulsar gti-r motor. you get a t28(which is great for street driving but big enough for some se-rious hp), ITB's, 440cc injectors, huge ports, and thicker head studs.

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personally i would try getting the pulsar gti-r motor. you get a t28(which is great for street driving but big enough for some se-rious hp), ITB's, 440cc injectors, huge ports, and thicker head studs.
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The argument for that would be that you have a difficult install. Once you are running you own a rare motor, with an even more limited and expensive parts supply.
Ben's argument is that you can build a nice set-up on a good motor. You can do this by crowing parts from DET motors, and stuff from home depot if you like. You can retain all that other stuff that is easy to find at dealers in the states.

whats so limited about the parts supply? if its broke, replace it with an aftermarket part. usually aftermarket parts cost a lot less than OEM replacement parts anyways.

Dude; You can't even possibly deny that there are difficulties associated with running the gti-r set-up. It's a harder install, it's got special parts. This makes it less practical, and more expensive.
Some special knowledge is required. The engine sourcing can be dubious. I'd rather drill, and tap the block on a known quantity.
You do get nice things out of the box with that route, but these are also unknown quantities. That's all I'm saying.
Ultimately it depends on your goals, and the way you use the vehicle. Your own knowledge, and ability to deal with the problems that coem up are also factors.