how much does a engine swap cost

Ah, the classic engine swap quandary—because why settle for the factory when you can gamble your wallet on a new heart? Expect to fork out anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 AUD, depending on the engine's pedigree and the complexity of the job. A basic swap with a similar engine might sit at the lower end, while importing and fitting a turbocharged monster could blow your budget sky-high. Don't forget to factor in additional costs like ECU tuning, custom mounts, and the inevitable trips to ServiceCentral for troubleshooting. Used engines can be found on Tradingpost or CarShowroom, often cheaper but with the risk of hidden gremlins. In short, it's cheaper to buy a new car—but where's the fun in that?