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How much work and money is actually required to switch a car from an I4 to a V6 engine (in particular a Gen 5 Camry)? This is probably a pretty dumb sounding question for all you under-the-hood gurus but guys like myself who really don't know squat about the mechanics of an engine (except that a V6 performs better and burns more gasoline than an I4) would like to know. Please limit your sarcasm. lol.
By the time you do it, it would be cheaper to sell your car and buy a V6 in equivalent condition. Can it be done? Anything can be done given sufficient resources. Therein lies the rub.
How do you turbo the I4 and what does that do to your car exactly?
I didn't plan on getting a V6 now. I was just wondering if it was an option when my car gets older (>250k).
Also, I want to make it clear that I am not really trying to make an I4 engine function as a V6. I'm not trying to do such a funky conversion. I am talking about an engine swap basically. How much work and resources goes into an engine swap (from I4 to a V6)? I'm not sure that leasaunce understood my question completely
Not too quick to sell. This is basically my first car since I had my actual first car which was a '95 Camry for less than a year before I traded it in. Distrust being an issue in that trade-in. Other than it being my first car, I have also started to give my car an identity installing small things like an auto-dimming mirror w/ compass, oem dash kit, altezza tail lights, door sills, chrome license plate cover, and plenty more accessories to come. I haven't done any engine or exhaust work because I basically have a HELLAVA lot to learn.
I do love my I4 but sometimes I wish I had more power and faster acceleration.
Also, I want to make it clear that I am not really trying to make an I4 engine function as a V6. I'm not trying to do such a funky conversion. I am talking about an engine swap basically. How much work and resources goes into an engine swap (from I4 to a V6)? I'm not sure that leasaunce understood my question completely.
I think he understood it perfectly! If you are able to do everything yourself it might be worth a try. Otherwise it is cheaper to sell your car and pickup a V-6.
Gary
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Don't worry about what other people think....as most of them don't!
you turbo a i4 by going all custom, and you would have to do custom internals because the stock ones wouldn't be able to hold much boost...it gives you more horsepower (more or less)
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Weasel(n.)- A naive user, one who deliberately or accidentally does things that are stupid or ill-advised.
- V6 Engine (obviously) - V6 ECU - Tranny (Not sure about this) - New Gauges - Intake Piping - New MAF - Bigger Exhaust Piping - Extractors
hmmm that's all i can think at the moment.....
I'm not much of an expert on engine swaps, or the actual mechanics under the hood, but this job is not a simple engine swap. The V6 engine takes up more space and has more components, so you would have to do some rearranging of some things and probably need some additional parts. I'd imagine some work also needs to be done to get the engine to mount correctly.
I think the only reason you'd want to do something like this is if your car has some sentimental value to you and you don't want to trade it in, or you have way too much time to spare. Even adding turbo to the I4 is not worth it, IMHO. If you don't care about letting go of your car, just trade it in for a V6 model. Now, I know that a lot of us probably do care about letting go, maybe myself included, so I'll just leave it at that.
- V6 Engine (obviously) - V6 ECU - Tranny (Not sure about this) - New Gauges - Intake Piping - New MAF - Bigger Exhaust Piping - Extractors
hmmm that's all i can think at the moment.....
The I4 and V6 models do use the same basic automatic trannies, but they're still different trannies because they have different gear ratios and some other things I don't quite understand.
Add one more thing to the list: the little V6 emblem! GOT to get that if you're going to all this trouble.
If he doesn't know what a turbo does, chances are he knows nothing of internals.
What on earth do you mean when you say you don't want the I4 to function as a V6? Gonna have two of the cylinders pull a double shift?
I think you need to go to howstuffworks.com. Search for "engine". Start there.
What I meant by this is that I don't want to take my I4 engine and basically turn it into a V6 engine (some crazy mechanics)? I was not referring to the basic functionality of an engine. lol. I will still read up on engines though because my knowledge is limited to this: An engine is the heart of a car. Without the engine, a car is useless. A bigger engine and more cylinders usually means more horsepower and faster acceleration. It also means more gasoline is burned. My engine is an I4 therefore it burns less gasoline but lacks the power of a V6 or V8. No, I don't know anything of internals. That is about it.
Don't do it. it's definitely worth it.
1. Parts alone will cost a lot
2. What are you going to do with you I4 engine and tranny. If you can sell it, you won't probably get a good return on it. So you lose money there too.
3. The amount of time to put it together. If you hire a mechanic, its going to cost you tons. if you do it yourself you wil be spending hours working on it. And when finally done, will it be as good as a factory V6, probably not.
4. What about the brakes. does you I4 have all disc brakes, etc
The amount of money you put in, you can buy a used V6 Camry.
5. There may be some other difference between the I4 and a V6 that are not obvious. Are the CV joints the same, for example. The axel? Who knows. Are the struts the same, maybe not. Maybe it is. Too issues.
Sell your I4 and buy a V6 Camry. This way it's simple and economical.
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Converting from I4 to V6
If you are able to do everything yourself it might be worth a try. Otherwise it is cheaper to sell your car and pickup a V-6.
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