StorminMatt

I'm currently getting ready to swap my 240SX. And, although I would prefer to concentrate my time, money, and effort into getting the engine in the car and running, I had a thought the other day. My LS1 is a 1999, complete with crappy 853 heads. I would like to eventually go with 243 heads. But that can wait. Unless, of course, it's going to be a complete PITA to do it with the engine in the car. Is it VASTLY more difficult to swap heads with the engine in the car?

slowman

I wouldn't say vastly more difficult with it in the car. If you can clear the headers out of the way, you should be fine.

Here's a photo of the driver side head of the LS3 I swapped into our 95 S14 shop project car for a reference point.

2muchboostNY

iTrader: (8)

Yup the headers make it a pain in the *** once its in the car. I would say get her done now including any maintenance you would like to do in the near future. I had to change my starter once the motor was in and that alone was a pain in the ***.

redtan

iTrader: (5)

Even on a wide open bay I would say it's still much easier to swap out heads with the engine out. For how cheap 243s are, I would say do it now.

Nissan LS240

iTrader: (1)

Its a pain to take the headers in and out the car as you have to take one side off then push motor to the other side to get the other out, but to I just had to replace head gaskets on mine and the headers are easily unbolted and left in place, really wasn't hard at all, took plugs out and unbolted headers and pushed them out the way

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

I don't have a 240SX, but my Z31 300ZX is similar. I did a heads/cam swap in the car with no issues.

partemisio

iTrader: (1)

It is very easy in my 96 240 to take the heads off compared to other cars. I just unbolt the headers from the heads and let them hang. I can have both heads off in under 30 minutes.

Project GatTagO

iTrader: (7)

I pulled heads on a FC RX7...similar space...no issues.

Andrew