Fastbird's '99 Celica: 3SGTE Swap, Finally got the project rolling!!! Options

[Dr_Tweak]

Well it's been quite a process working through my move down south and into the new shop here at Southern Car Customs, but finally things are settling down and I've been able to get to work on Fastbird's Celica. I didn't have a camera available to show the first phase of work, which was replacing the timing belt, water pump, front main seal, thermostat, rear main seal, clutch, valve cover gasket, cap and rotor, and a few other things. I guess you'll have to just use your imagination for that. The following pics were taken on Tuesday, yesterday I was off, and I'll be back to work on this today.

Also, please excuse the mess since we're still in the process of moving!

Dropping the engine out of the car:



Engine all resealed, with new stage 2 Spec 3S/5S custom clutch set:



Now with the GT tranny removed from the 5S and installed onto the 3S:



And getting the wiring done! Whoo what a mess!



I should be able to post up some more today.

-Doc

This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Jul 6, 2006 - 7:26 AM

[dustin15brown]

Looks amazing Tweak keep it up

[jcbass7]

lookin good doc

thanks for all the help with my swap, what kind of Down Pipe is that and where could i snag one?

[playr158]

probably just an EBay downpipe...

[Dr_Tweak]

I'm afraid so, those are about the only ones you can get and you pretty much need one to go FMIC.

-Doc

[j0e_p3t]

i wish i knew someone like you in my area that can do that for me.

[Defgeph]

Sweet !!! I'm happy for you Fastbird. Tweek you should reinforce that downpipe so it doesnt crack on him later down the road. Its easier to do it now, I wasnt to thrilled when I had to pull mine out of the car.

Yes, It will crack. I have seen 3 so far, all cracked.

[Kadett]

Guess nobody knows about Aussie here

[jgreening]

Guess nobody knows about Aussie here

Or, if you are going to retain the ct turbo, just get a 2.5" KO downpipe. The fabrication is top notch and will be not as raspy as a 3".

Lookin good Doc!

[lagos]

looking good. im sure you love having a real lift to work on. its so much better working with one.

[playr158]

now doc is that lift at your house or your shop that you work for?

cause if its at your house.....i'm mad jealous i wish i had a lift

tweek congradulations looks great you and the wife will defenitly enjoy that

[snapshotgt]

More great work from the doc!

~snap

[Dr_Tweak]

The lift is at my new shop, and yeah, it sure is nice!

Finishing up the harness work, check out my badass wiring workstation



You could believe this is a totally stock harness, couldn't you?



I finished up the day by installing the harness and clocking the turbo. You can see here I just finished making a new bracket to hold the wastegate actuator. I'll be producing these after a little more R&D.



More is coming tomorrow

[snapshotgt]

Nice chair

[Fastbird]

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!

The wife and I can't WAIT to get the car back!! Awesome looking work so far!!

[zipstrips]

looking good!

[Dr_Tweak]

Okay, another update

Here's the engine pretty much ready for installation, you can see the turbo has been clocked and the wastegate actuator slightly relocated.



Engine going in...



Oh no! We forgot the "Dr Tweak" pose! Hmmm, I'll fix that...



I just realized that pic looks kinda bad... hmmm....

I just took this one about 5 minutes ago, there it is



I'm doing a late night tonight so there should be another update later on.

-Doc

[lagos]

looks like your having fun!

[Fastbird]

Right on Doc!!!!! Nice pose pic btw. Everything looks great!

[Dickster223]

Looks Good lets keep the momentum going and Knock Out my 4agze swap LOL


Richard

[gtfc115]

is that an ATS TB inlet? looks nice. i ordered one last week!

[Fastbird]

is that an ATS TB inlet? looks nice. i ordered one last week!

Yup, I ordered that and the GM Knock Sensor Conversion for Doc to install. Along with the healthy dose of goodies that he's putting in the car.......should be really niiiiiiice.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

Fastbird, I have a question for you. Sent you PM regarding the old motor.

[burneeed]

I wish I had that much fun when i did my swap... Makes me want to do another one.

[eggman40]

i wish i knew someone like you in my area that can do that for me.

I did my own and helped chahn do his im in the Valley

[Dr_Tweak]

[brianforster]

wheres the blow off valve?

and thats exactly how i routed my IC piping, i suppose great minds think alike?

[snapshotgt]

[Fastbird]

!!!! Sweet!!

[Dr_Tweak]

wheres the blow off valve?

and thats exactly how i routed my IC piping, i suppose great minds think alike?

I guess it depends on how you routed the rest of it. From the clocked turbo, I make a compound 45* back towards the engine (to straighten it out from the turbo) and towards the passenger side, then a 45* makes it level towards the passenger side of the radiator. A 3" hole is drilled in the sheet metal between the a/c lines and the radiator, and the piping makes two 90* turns through that hole and into the inlet of the intercooler. Then out of the intercooler, it makes a series of three 45* turns to move around the driver's side foglight and back into the engine compartment, then another two 45* turns up to where it comes into view in the above pic. One 90* to make the turn and then a final 45* into the inlet

-Doc

[lagos]

wheres the blow off valve?

and thats exactly how i routed my IC piping, i suppose great minds think alike?

I guess it depends on how you routed the rest of it. From the clocked turbo, I make a compound 45* back towards the engine (to straighten it out from the turbo) and towards the passenger side, then a 45* makes it level towards the passenger side of the radiator. A 3" hole is drilled in the sheet metal between the a/c lines and the radiator, and the piping makes two 90* turns through that hole and into the inlet of the intercooler. Then out of the intercooler, it makes a series of three 45* turns to move around the driver's side foglight and back into the engine compartment, then another two 45* turns up to where it comes into view in the above pic. One 90* to make the turn and then a final 45* into the inlet

-Doc

did you ever try going from the turbo to the driver side and from the throttle body, to the passenges side? seems more simple, because there isint that much room down there next to the 3in piping and radiator fans, dont you think ?

This post has been edited by lagos: Jul 12, 2006 - 11:03 PM

[Dr_Tweak]

I have thought about that, and I've seen it done a number of times. I don't really like the way it looks, personally, and it "seems" like it would pick up more heat from being directly next to the downpipe on the way up and over the manifold on the throttle body side. That said, in the past I used to go on about avoiding running the piping near the hot exhaust parts, but real world experience has taught me that EVERYTHING under the hood gets extremly hot and the routing of the piping make a very marginal, if any, difference. Since then I've aimed more for going with the most direct route with the fewest bends... so that route you mentioned could be something that I may very will try out in the future.

I personally think that the most ideal route of all would be to use a top-flow intercooler with the inlet and outlet both on the driver's side, and route both pipes on the driver's side of the engine bay, with a clocked turbo (of course ) and a side-feed intake manifold. That would be a very direct route and would also totally avoid the hottest areas of the engine bay. However, those top-flow intercoolers tend to be very expensive, and their size also makes them a little more difficult to mount.

-Doc

This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Jul 12, 2006 - 11:18 PM

[lagos]

I have thought about that, and I've seen it done a number of times. I don't really like the way it looks, personally, and it "seems" like it would pick up more heat from being directly next to the downpipe on the way up and over the manifold on the throttle body side. That said, in the past I used to go on about avoiding running the piping near the hot exhaust parts, but real world experience has taught me that EVERYTHING under the hood gets extremly hot and the routing of the piping make a very marginal, if any, differince. Since then I've aimed more for going with the most direct route with the fewest bends... so that route you mentioned could be something that I'll try out in the future.

id like to see it done someday. if i ever clock my turbo ,thats the route i plan to take. all you have to do is heat wrap the piping that goes to the throttle body over any hot exhaust stuff.

[jgreening]

routing of the piping (to avoid heat sources) make a very marginal, if any, difference. Since then I've aimed more for going with the most direct route with the fewest bends...

I agree. Glad you came around to the dark side Doc!

clocking the turbo thread

By the way, the install looks great. Keep up the good work. I hope you have adjusted your prices upward so that you are getting fairly compensated for your experience doing these swaps. People who have not gone through a swap themselves (or folks, like me, who have gone through one with a shop that left alot of unresolved issues) do not truly appreciate the value of a turn-key install by an experienced and skilled craftsman.

Jay

[Fastbird]

By the way, the install looks great. Keep up the good work. I hope you have adjusted your prices upward so that you are getting fairly compensated for your experience doing these swaps. People who have not gone through a swap themselves (or folks, like me, who have gone through one with a shop that left alot of unresolved issues) do not truly appreciate the value of a turn-key install by an experienced and skilled craftsman.

Jay

Jay, I can assure you that I do after doing my own work on one of my Trans Am's for the past three years diagnosing a mysterious oil consumption and poor vacuum issue. It's actually the reason I went with Doc, because I know for a fact that I could have easily done the motor swap sans wiring harness myself having done a motor swap on an 89 Celica St back in 03. The removal/replacement is the easy part. I didn't want to deal with the finer details this time around.

[Dr_Tweak]

Well guys, I don't have any pics for you today, but I finished up things under the hood and started it up for the first time. It cranked right up! I've got a few things to finish up, then installing an SMT6, Greddy Profec S, then getting the exhaust done and finally a dyno tune.

-Doc

[Fastbird]

Well guys, I don't have any pics for you today, but I finished up things under the hood and started it up for the first time. It cranked right up! I've got a few things to finish up, then installing an SMT6, Greddy Profec S, then getting the exhaust done and finally a dyno tune.

-Doc

We're still shooting for 15 PSI right?

[Dr_Tweak]

Yes we are

-Doc

[Aaagogo]

thumbs up.. on another monster unleashed.

sigh... i wish i have the spare cash to have the professionals do it.

[lagos]

you are your own best "professional" . best thing about a swap, is what you learn about your car while doing it.