📊 How much does a 1UZ engine swap really cost?

Are you considering a 1UZ V8 engine swap for your project car? I have received many requests to break down the total cost of my Lexus IS300 build. As Freddy notes, the grand total for this whole swap to the best of his ability meant the gross cost of this whole project was $7,001.

Your net cost will look different based on your specific goals. If you can buy a 1J for $6,000 and a 1UZ for $800, the V8 makes incredible financial sense. Use this calculator to estimate your true out-of-pocket expenses.

The engine and ECU are just the starting point. This calculator adds a baseline $1,500 for gauges, mounts, and miscellaneous wiring.

Your biggest variable is the gearbox. As Freddy explains, just about $2,000 of his budget was just transmission related, so if you stay with the automatic transmission, that could knock a significant cost off. You can also save money by running stock manifolds instead of $600 aftermarket headers.

You can significantly offset your build costs by parting out your old engine setup. A stock 2JZ-GE cylinder head, intake, and accessories hold solid value on the used market.

As Freddy points out, you can probably sell that engine and cylinder head for $700 to a thousand dollars possibly. Enter your estimated parts sales below to calculate your final net cost.

Based on content by Freddy on Poor Man Mods (YouTube).

Original: Lexus IS300 1UZ swap total cost breakdown | Was it worth it?