F20c Engine SwapSwapping Honda's masterpiece F20C powertrain out of the S2000 into something as old as the AE86 Toyota Corolla isn't difficult. It's just expensive. You'll need to come up with an engine, transmission, engine and chassis harness and aftermarket standalone ECU. Using the stock S2000 instrument cluster will also save a lot of headache. Add in the custom driveshaft, exhaust, fuel pump, radiator and fans, and you're looking at easily over $5000 for the swap. More than most Corollas cost even in this over-inflated market.
Whether you choose an SR5 or GT-S chassis, almost all the original hardware has to come out, with the exception of the chassis harness for lights and stereo. While there currently aren't any bolt-in mount kits for this swap, HASport is rumored to be developing a kit to work with its off-the-shelf S2000 mount kit. Even if a kit is available, stuffing the F20C into the AE86 chassis presents two major issues. The F20C is too tall and the oil pan will not clear the Corolla's stock engine crossmember. The beefy six-speed is also too wide for the Toyota transmission tunnel. Modifying the crossmember and cutting out the tranny tunnel sheetmetal is something that can't be avoided.
Another snag: the electronics used on the S2000. In order for the stock ECU to properly manage the engine without jumping into a fault mode, it requires all the OE emissions hardware to be installed. And while emissions hardware isn't a bad thing, the complexity of transferring the pumps and sensors required for the closed loop EVAP system makes using the stock ECU effectively impossible. Instead, most cars that have the swap use an AEM EMS (which already comes with the stock tuning maps for the S2000), or a more affordable DIY Megasquirt system, which needs to be programmed and tuned.
Both options forgo the emissions aspect of the stock ECU and are only involved with running the engine. The EMS also allows the stock chassis harness to plug in and operate the S2000's gauge cluster.
In the end, is $5000 worth the 200 wheel-hp and close ratio transmission? The advantage is the stock Honda reliability and close ratio transmission that can take advantage of the F20C's meager torque. On the flip side, for the same money, you can swap in a streetable 20-valve high-compression 4AGE motor good for 140 wheel-hp or build a stock 16-valve motor that can spin to 10,000rpm all day long and make 160 wheel-hp without the hassles of the swap. We're still debating with our Project Corolla.