What Engines Can You Put in Kia Stinger?

Thinking of swapping out your Kia Stinger stock engine for something different? There are many reasons you may by considering making this change. You may be looking to make more power, replace an unreliable powertrain with a more dependable one, upgrade an older engine for a modern one, or in the event of your current engine failing, choose an alternative that is more cost-effective or readily available.

Regardless of your reason for choosing to perform Kia Stinger engine swap, the following information and subsequent steps to complete the job successfully will all be equally as important.

Before you begin the job of replacing your stock engine with one originating from another car, it’s crucial to ensure that the new engine will be compatible with your current setup.

To verify this, check out our Stinger engine swap compatibility chart located below and follow these easy steps to determine if the engine you’re considering is compatible, as well as what other engine options you might not have known about.

Scan down the table to find your current engine name. Each row below contains information about makes and models with specific years of production that have the same engine installed.

By clicking the specific year, you will see the trim levels list of the potential “donor” vehicle with the engine specifications like type, horsepower, torque, etc.

Unsure of exactly what trim your Stinger is or what engine your vehicle has? Keep reading on to the next sections for an easy guide to finding out your Stinger's specific engine model and trim level.

What Kind of Engine Does My Kia Stinger Have?

Even after scanning through our engine swap compatibility chart, you may still need clarification on the engine model of your Kia Stinger. You must know this if you intend to perform a powertrain swap. Luckily, this information is easily obtained and can be found from multiple sources. 

The first place to check for this information would be your Stinger's user guide or owner’s manual. This booklet provided by the manufacturer will contain every aspect of the car’s assembly, including the facts and figures of your engine, such as its size and weight, displacement and cylinder setup, and even its internal identification code. This will usually be a series of letters and numbers such as LS1, 2JZ, or 13B.

If you do not have or cannot find your owner’s manual, this information can also be found with a simple internet search. However, to find the most accurate information, you will need to know the specific trim level of your vehicle, as car manufacturers will often develop the same car sold with many different powertrain options.

For instance, if you drive Kia Stinger, you may spot several different engine configurations and displacement sizes. If you do not know the trim of your vehicle, this might be indicated by the badging on your car, such as “Limited” or “Sport,” or by the VIN Number located on the driver-side door sill, which additionally can be searched on the internet to provide you with the exact specifications of your vehicle.

Once the trim level has been determined, simply input your vehicle’s make, model, year, and trim level into a search engine, and this should provide you with the engine information you would need to utilize the engine swap compatibility chart above accurately.

The last and potentially easiest way to discover your Stinger’s engine size and configuration is to open the hood and look at it simply. Like most manufacturers, Kia will imprint the displacement and cylinder number on the plastic cover over the engine or a plaque attached to the engine itself.

How Do I Know if an Engine Will Fit in My Kia Stinger?

So now that you’ve determined the specific details of your Stinger’s engine and you’ve chosen an alternative powertrain to swap into your vehicle, how can you be sure if the new one will fit?

Even if it does sit nicely in the engine bay, how can you be sure that all the other components of your vehicle will link up correctly and everything will have enough clearance?

The simple answer here is you have to do your homework. Research into the swaps that other people have done previously will oftentimes address any questions you may have, as most problems you could run into have been seen by someone else before you.

The internet will be your best friend when it comes to preparing for, and troubleshooting during an engine swap, and forums will be your greatest tool for finding that information.

Here is where you will find discourse and discussion amongst people who have shared their own tips, tricks, advice, and experiences, and often times there will be a forum specific to your Kia Stinger.

Be sure to find and record any information pertaining to Axles and Drivetrains, Pedal Assembly, Shifter, Fuel System, Cooling System, A/C and Power Steering, Intake and Exhaust, Electrical Assemblies, Suspension and Brakes, and general components that could get in the way.

More often than not, when swapping in an engine other than the original one from the factory, you will find that many of the above-mentioned components on your Kia Stinger will either need to be more sufficient or compatible, even though the engine itself may fit.

This will be especially true when swapping in a larger or more powerful engine than the original, as the increased horsepower and weight will require upgrades to most Stinger components. More extensive and stronger brakes and a stiffer suspension may be needed to compensate for the increased performance. 

A more free-flowing intake and exhaust and a higher output fuel system will need to be added to deliver a higher air-fuel ratio and efficiently evacuate exhaust gases from your system.

Pedal, shifter, and drivetrain assemblies may not be compatible with the new engine setup, and may need to be sourced from the vehicle the new engine originated from, or from a third-party manufacturer who makes aftermarket parts that specifically support your build.

Finally, some components might need to be removed completely as they will no longer fit or be supported in your new setup, such as the power steering or the air conditioning assembly.

The particular circumstance for your engine swap build will vary depending on your specific situation, so it is crucial that you gather as much information as possible before getting started so you don’t encounter any surprise pitfalls during the job.

The Benefits & Reasons to Consider Swapping Your Stinger's Engine

Swapping out your engine can provide you with several benefits compared to your original powertrain. The primary reason most enthusiasts change out their Stinger’s powertrain for another would be for performance reasons, as a larger or higher output engine car give your car the extra boost of horsepower you may be looking for.

Larger displacement, more cylinders, or even a stronger engine that can take a power tune, or the addition of a turbocharger can provide you with a performance increase to take your Kia Stinger to the next level.

An engine swap might also benefit you in terms of reliability or accessibility. You may be in a situation where you like the car you have, but the stock powertrain may have some known flaws that could become problematic or expensive down the road. You may also have a classic or late model Stinger, but the powertrain can’t keep up with today’s traffic, and you want to provide some modern performance to your retro ride.

This swap will also benefit you in the accessibility of parts and support, as in the case of older Stinger vehicles or ones that are more unique and have lower production numbers, where replacement components and knowledgeable mechanics will become increasingly difficult to find as time goes on.

How Long Does Engine Swap for Kia Stinger Take?

The question of how long the job will take is a complicated one with many factors that could influence the timeframe. The short answer is that the time it takes will be directly dependent on your personal knowledge, preparedness, and availability of tools and equipment to get the job done, as well as the number of helping hands you have.

The job could be done with one person and rudimentary tools. However, it will be at the direct cost of time and efficiency, not to mention safety. However, by taking the time to do the necessary research beforehand, as previously mentioned, having all the required parts and additional components to ensure the new engine’s fitment and function, and having a quality set of tools to do the job efficiently, such as an engine hoist and high-powered impact wrench, can save a lot of time and frustration when doing the swap.

Finally, a few good friends with a free weekend can make the job smoother and more enjoyable than attempting to do it all yourself.

How Hard is it to Swap an Engine for Stinger?

The question of how hard an engine swap job on Kia Stinger will be is also one where your own personal abilities, knowledge, and equipment will play a large role in the answer. In the grand scheme of automotive work, an engine swap is a fairly moderate task regarding skill and difficulty; it won’t be as simple as an oil change but won't be nearly as intensive as an engine rebuild.

If you utilize our engine swap compatibility chart to select a new powertrain, you will find that most aspects of the swap job are plug-and-play. This aspect should make the process “paint-by-numbers” for the most part; simply detach the necessary components from the old engine and reattach the new ones.

As always, it’s crucial that you double and triple-check your work at every stage of the swap before moving on to the next, as a mistake made earlier on can be difficult and time-consuming to identify and correct by the end. Just take your time, reference your build notes from your research stage, and if something looks or feels wrong, it probably is and may require a new approach or additional information to correct.

How Much Does Kia Stinger Engine Swap Cost?

After reading through this article and assessing your own capabilities and time availability, you may now be considering having a professional install your swapped engine for you instead and wondering how much that might cost.

While the cost to do Kia Stinger engine swap yourself is confined to the cost of the new engine and accompanying accessories, having a mechanic perform the swap for you will carry not only those same parts costs but also labor expenses as well.

Most automotive shops will charge by the hour at varying rates, and depending on the complexity of your specific requested engine swap will determine how long that job will take.

For direct fit swaps or ones where minimal changes will be needed for fitment and function, this labor cost could be as little as $500. However, this cost could get up to $5,000 or even higher for more intensive jobs.

Ultimately, you will have to determine what your budget is and what your time is worth, and from there, make the decision to do the job yourself or shop around for a good deal at a local shop.