Crazy Engine Swaps I'd Like To Do...., Who's up for a real crazy swap in their Celica? Options

[Dr_Tweak]

You guys all know that I've been doing swaps in Celicas for a long time, and after doing enough of the 3SGTE, 3SGE, 4AGE swaps, etc, I'm feeling the need for something a little off the wall. I have a feeling that there are some Celica owners out there who are thinking the same thing, they want something a little different. I've got three projects in mind that I'd be interested in doing, and I might even give a discount if someone steps up to the plate to have one done.

1. 1UZFE swap. The 1UZFE is the 4.0 V8 engine from the Lexus LS400. It makes between 265 and 300hp depending on the version. I would like to swap this engine, FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, into a Celica, using an E153 or E58 transmission (LSD optional). I have personally seen this done sideways in a MK1 MR2, which is no bigger, if not smaller, than the Celica engine bay. We have all the equipment needed at my shop, and besides me, we now have another expert fabricator and tig welder that we just hired.

2. AWD 3SGTE conversion. This one has been done before and there's a number of threads recently on the subject. I've been ready to do one of these for a while, so if there's someone out there serious about having it done, I'm up for it.

3. 1JZGTE or 2JZGTE swap and conversion to REAR WHEEL DRIVE. Not a typo. You know what it is, you know you want it. We can do it.

Updated 7-23-08, prices were removed. Please contact me for current pricing.

Here's some more practical swaps that I'd like to do:

2ZZGE (7th gen Celica GTS 180hp) into '96+ Celica (OBD2 emissions legal)
2AZFE (Scion tC 160hp 160ft/lbs) into '96+ Celica (OBD2 emissions legal)
2GRFE, 2GRFSE, or 3MZFE into Celica (OBD2 emissions legal)

This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Jul 23, 2008 - 10:31 AM

[Dr_Tweak]

Well, maybe it's not that crazy, but I'd still like to see a plain old 3sge blacktop swap into a FWD GT. Ive heard of some people attempting it, but never seen one running, mostly because of wiring/electronics issues. Tweak, how much to get one of these running for me?

Just to do a plug and play wiring harness? $350 plus $30 for shipping, if you have both uncut harnesses.

-Doc

I meant the whole swap. From what I've read, it's a hard swap because of fitment issues trying to get a RWD engine to work on a FWD setup. Then comes the wiring headaches. One or two people have got it to almost work by sourcing redtop BEAMS manifolds. But i'd rather get someone to make the original stuff work as I imagine finding redtop parts would be a huge headache. Finding a blacktop BEAMS itself would be hard, but I only have to do that once.
j.

Oh I gotcha. I'd have to quote it all out, but it's true that the manifold, among other things, would need to be changed. We could tig-weld up a custom manifold easier and probably cheaper than tyring to find one from a red-top. Just off the top of my head I'd put it around $5900 or so.

What you don't understand is that I work a TON of different cars. Supras, Celicas, MR2s, Corollas, Tercels, Pickups, Echos, etc. I can't go and buy EVERY SINGLE CAR I WORK ON, do a swap in it for myself, so that I can go on each forum and be like, "oh yeah, I did that swap on my own car, check it out...". Let me put this very plainly:

oh, so your on here strictly as a vendor, not as an enthusiast?

you have a good reputation for basic bolt in swaps and harness work, but no one has ever seen you do any form of fabrication. you're going to have a hard time convincing people that you have the skills to do a project of that caliber without giving them a real world example. this is the reason why many shops/vendors have shop test cars of their own. to show what they can do and to weed out the bugs. i mean, whats going to happen if, half way though cutting up someones car, you find out that you cant finish the project due to a mechanical issue or a financial one?

Give me a break, of course not. I'm a TOYOTA ENTHUSIAST.

Anyway, I'm not going to argue with you all night on this subject. Your point of reasoning is that I should do it on my own car before I do it on someone elses. My point is: No. I probably am not going to. If the customer decides that they don't want to have it done because I haven't done it before, then they won't bring it to me to have it done and I won't do it. Simple as that.

Thanks for dissing my work by saying that I only do BASIC BOLT-IN SWAPS.



-Doc

This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Mar 1, 2007 - 6:03 PM