How much would you estimate this endeavor would cost? I could be way off base but I bet it’d cost at least something like $10k-$12k to do the swap even if he used a running stock junkyard motor and transmission, no rebuild. I’m not sure if he’s a fab guy or not but he’d probably better be if he’s trying to do it “cheap.” Maybe my idea of what a shoestring budget is is different than the OP’s but $12k is a lot of strings to me.
OP, How much power can the FRS handle before it blows? If I were you I’d price out the cost of a turbo kit for your stock FRS motor (if there is one) and all of the necessities that come with it (fuel, clutch, etc) that would put you at somewhere around the 300+ horsepower at the wheels. You’re liable to get nickel and dimed to death by doing a motor swap. Maybe even $15k if you have to farm much out. It’s going to be expensive homie, there’s really no way around it. Just the other day a guy on here said that he got an $8k labor estimate just for a cam swap for Pete’s sake. Do you own an engine hoist? If no then add it to the list. Nickel & dimed.

 

The general consensus is to either keep the FRS engine stock to let it stay at it's most reliable form but there are a few successful turbo builds I think, I just do not wish to deal with the boxer engine and its not very reputable tuning potential. Even a bone stock 5.3 is way better mainly due to reliability imo. Thats the reason for considering a project like this. Its probably cheaper to swap a LS into a MK3 supra compared to the FRS for example, but with the MK3 supra you'd have to deal with rust and endless power chasing because of the heavy body etc etc...

I have rebuilt an engine before and I know a little bit of things, that rebuild was an OEM plus spec rebuild because the cylinders of that old engine I rebuilt were all good. Anyways I should have no problem doing the swap solo or with the help of some friends since there are those available fabricated swap parts to buy off the shelf pretty much, my idea of the "budget" is mainly to shave down the cost when it comes to parts that I can get away with by using a cheap brand new OEM parts from another vehicle's LS or stuff like that, but for the specifically made swap kits etc that are impossible to find else where I'd still have to purchase those anyways so no worries about that. This is a long term project and its in no rush, Im just thinking about shaving down little costs here and there but without using clapped out cheap used ebay parts for safety reasons etc.