Engine Swap Comparison — Which engine swaps are actually worth the pi cost
Understanding engine swap comparison is what separates casual players from consistent podium finishers in FH6. Most people slap on the part with the biggest stat increase and call it a day. Works fine against AI. Does not work online where everyone else did their homework. Here's what I've learned about which engine swaps are actually worth the PI cost after way too many hours testing.
The Decision Framework
Before you spend a single credit, answer three questions: What class am I building for? What kind of tracks? What's my driving style? A drag build wants completely different parts than a circuit build. A technical track rewards handling. A highway sprint rewards power.
| Level | PI Cost | Gain | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street | Low | 10-15% | Budget B/C class builds |
| Sport | Medium | 20-30% | A class — best PI-to-performance ratio |
| Race | High | 35-50% | S1/S2 where every tenth matters |
Common Mistakes
- Maxing every part. A maxed S1 899 car loses to a carefully built S1 892. PI efficiency beats throwing parts at the car.
- Ignoring weight reduction. Less weight helps acceleration, braking, cornering, tire wear — literally everything.
- Wrong upgrade order. Handling first, then power, then weight. A 600 HP car that can't turn is a 600 HP car in a wall.
- Not testing between upgrades. Add one part, run a lap, check the feel. The PI system lies sometimes.
Build Templates by Class
| Class | Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D/C | Tires (Street) | Weight Stage 1 | Suspension (Sport) |
| B | Tires (Sport) | Suspension (Race) | Exhaust/Intake (Sport) |
| A | Tires (Semi-Slick) | Suspension (Race) | Weight Reduction (Race) |
| S1 | Tires (Semi-Slick) | Full Race Suspension | Race Weight Reduction |
| S2/R | Race Everything | Max Aero | Engine Swap if beneficial |
Bottom line: buy the RIGHT parts, not the most expensive parts. A car 10 PI under the limit built with a plan gaps the maxed-out car with no strategy. Every single time.