ST202 to 3rd gen 3S-GTE swap, After months of waiting and working hard the swap is almost complete Options

[Paul_Celica_GT]

In this project topic I'll descripe the swap of my 3S-GE to 3rd gen 3S-GTE.

After driving 245.000 km with my 3S-GE, the clutch started slip badly, the timingbelt and the other belts were severly worn and, well, 175 horsepower just wasn't enough . So I decided to swap to a 3rd gen 3S-GTE. From a Japanese export company, Japan Partner I bought a Celica GT-Four, for the engine and other parts.

These are the photo's the export company send me:

















As you might see, it has (original) TRD sideskirts, TRD rear splitter, Eurou frontlip and a Blitz Spec Nur Exhaust. After months of waiting, I've ordered the car half of August, got it February 14th, it was finally time to pick it up in Amsterdam Harbour.

I rented a carambulance and went to the harbour to collect the car. In the harbour I found out that the Eurou frontlip hadn't made it, unfortunately. In all my excitement I forgot to take jumpcables with me, and of course the battery was dead. So we had to push the car









When I got home (50 km drive) I got the battery from my car and put it in the GT-Four, it fired up immediately. After driving it warm, I've put the pedal to the metal, damn it's fast! Huge power! Next day I started striping the ST205. But first, this is my setup:

3rd gen 3S-GTE
E56 gearbox with oilcooler (standard on my car)
OEM viscous LSD (standard on my car)
ATW intercooler
ST205 Superstrut suspension (I had ST202, which is identical , except for some minor points)
ST205 brakes
ST205 front bumper
ST205 hood
Airconditioning (standard on my car)
JDM folding mirrors

I've renewed the following parts:

Clutchkit (pressure group, frictionplate and bearing)
Timing belt
V-belt
Sparkplugs
Hoodlock (LHD ST205)
Accelerator link (LHD ST205, turns out to be the same as LHD ST202)
Gaskets

Here are the pics of my swap, be warned, it's gonna be a lot, over a hundred . I can't post all the pics in one post and I have to translated everything what I've typed from Dutch to English. This is gonna take some time, so be patient . Expect updates regularly. For those of you who can't wait, here is my site (in Dutch): Celica GT.nl. I'll try to comment all the pics.

Part 1, extracting the engine from the ST205:


The 3S-GTE in the ST205


Removed front bumper


Removed side fenders, lightning, undercovers and intercooler


All the fluids out and removed the radiators and airco condensor (or evaporator, always forget what's what)


Removed wiring harness


Unmounted front suspension, and removed driveshaft


Worn driveshaftboot, though I'm using my own driveshafts


Removed front steering knuckle and shockabsorber

After this I've removed the properlorshaft.


Continues on the next post.

[Paul_Celica_GT]

Well I could have done that, but: I hate RHD, doesn't feel right, so if I wanted to drive the GT-Four it had to be converted to LHD. And in Holland we've got a nice government tax that you have to pay if you want to drive the car on the open road (what I did was illegal). So it is a lot cheaper to swap it and to sell the parts I don't need.

Besides I've got a E56 gearbox (with LSD), so the most grip on the front wheels.

[azian_advanced]

Well I could have done that, but: I hate RHD, doesn't feel right, so if I wanted to drive the GT-Four it had to be converted to LHD. And in Holland we've got a nice government tax that you have to pay if you want to drive the car on the open road (what I did was illegal). So it is a lot cheaper to swap it and to sell the parts I don't need.

that's understandable.. to me RHD is nothing special.. and it doesn't really make you 'stand out' cuz yur soo JDM! in the long run it'll be annoying making left turns, but the left hand shifting and right hand turn signals one can get used to... and if u don't really need the AWD, extra ~300lbs weight, plans for fairly high HP (where 2WD with LSD is no longer good enough), and high insurance cost, then your decision for swapping brakes and engine and selling the extra parts to get some of your money back is best. heck, i'd do the same IF i was in your position. except here, i need the awd

[phattyduck]

and if u don't really need the AWD, extra ~300lbs weight, plans for fairly high HP (where 2WD with LSD is no longer good enough), and high insurance cost, then your decision for swapping brakes and engine and selling the extra parts to get some of your money back is best. heck, i'd do the same IF i was in your position. except here, i need the awd

The stock ST205 motor in FWD with an LSD (my setup) is already too much. You can spin the tires in second (yes, both tires and yes, they are sticky) with just intake, exhaust and boost controller...

On the other hand, I understand wanting to work reasonably within the law...

-Charlie