Rhode Island Project Celica Options

[LimitedGT4]

hey, not sure if this is the right place to post this and sorry if its not, but here goes.

I live in RI and am trying to do an engine swap and cant decide between the Beams, GT4 or a 4age silver or black top.
i know theres a couple of people in this forum that live in RI and have awesome cars but i havent been able to get their attention or help so lets see if you guys can.
i have a 97 ST limited and so far ive gather that i need new mounts, tranny, possibly exhaust, trans axles, and complete engine for a beams or GT4 swap
and ill need an engine if i plan to go with the 4age or am i missing something else also.

as far as the wiring goes for the beams engine is it a plug n play if i get a celica st202 front clip? or am i better off getting parts seperately

as my project progresses i will continue to post updates, hopefully batman and hurley will help me out.

ill also post pics later

thanks for help in advance




This post has been edited by LimitedGT4: May 3, 2011 - 5:14 PM

[Batman722]

ok, some info.
converting the awd tranny to just fwd is not simple.
I would suggest you get a GT (s54) tranny and you need all the GT mounts. The mounts in your clip are for a different series tranny, just put them aside for now. You'll also need the GT axles.
You could use a different tranny (e153) from an MR2 turbo or late 90s Camry/Solara V6, but then you would need a custom axle set up, which would be st185 outers and MR2 turbo inners. Depending on the tranny, the inners may need to be machined to fit correctly. Also, you might want to custom fab a spacer on at least one of the axles, some people have problems without, some don't.

You need a clutch, each tranny uses a different set up.

Do you plan on doing any sort of maintenance on the motor ? like valve cover gasket, thermostat, plugs, wires, cap/rotor, timing belt, water pump, tensioners, seals ? If so, some of the parts are available in the US, some aren't. Decide what you want to do and start sourcing parts.

Doing a rhd conversion would be a little more time consuming. A few have done it, pipes and jmeyer for example, most don't bother.
You could just cut out the firewall of the clip and your car, weld the clip fw into your car and start swapping everything over like the column, rack, all the brake lines, ect. Then doing the interior you would swap over the wiring, dash, heater core, just everything everything from the clip to your car. Swapping just the climate control without everything else is a pain, some have tried and not many have succeded.

What do you plan on for an exhaust ? what size ? where are you gonna get it or have it done ?

IMO the first thing you need is research.
The best way to do a swap is to know (or al least have a very good idea of) what you need, what you need to do, then buying the motor.

[LimitedGT4]

ok, some info.
converting the awd tranny to just fwd is not simple.
I would suggest you get a GT (s54) tranny and you need all the GT mounts. The mounts in your clip are for a different series tranny, just put them aside for now. You'll also need the GT axles.
You could use a different tranny (e153) from an MR2 turbo or late 90s Camry/Solara V6, but then you would need a custom axle set up, which would be st185 outers and MR2 turbo inners. Depending on the tranny, the inners may need to be machined to fit correctly. Also, you might want to custom fab a spacer on at least one of the axles, some people have problems without, some don't.

You need a clutch, each tranny uses a different set up.

Do you plan on doing any sort of maintenance on the motor ? like valve cover gasket, thermostat, plugs, wires, cap/rotor, timing belt, water pump, tensioners, seals ? If so, some of the parts are available in the US, some aren't. Decide what you want to do and start sourcing parts.

Doing a rhd conversion would be a little more time consuming. A few have done it, pipes and jmeyer for example, most don't bother.
You could just cut out the firewall of the clip and your car, weld the clip fw into your car and start swapping everything over like the column, rack, all the brake lines, ect. Then doing the interior you would swap over the wiring, dash, heater core, just everything everything from the clip to your car. Swapping just the climate control without everything else is a pain, some have tried and not many have succeded.

What do you plan on for an exhaust ? what size ? where are you gonna get it or have it done ?

IMO the first thing you need is research.
The best way to do a swap is to know (or al least have a very good idea of) what you need, what you need to do, then buying the motor.

Thanks for the advice ive done my reaserch but somethings were still unclear as no one single writeup addresses everythin
As far as the exhaust goes u got a pretty sweet setup but i think ill go for a 3" setup noy sure if the ones being sold for the st205
Are actually any good, anyways the tranny is the thing i cant decide on can someone shed some light on the 3sge tranny ive heard of people doing it
Anyone know how good is it compared to the s54 will i have to get a billion parts to make it work or is it more bolt on
And the reason am interested on using the awd is because i read a writeup that made it seem possible the question would be
Which one would be more cost effective if someone can let me know id appreciate it heres the writeup





from CTech by Torn.


"Im currently converting my AWD tranny that came with the 2nd gen 3sgte I used for my swap.


Converting the AWD to a FWD tranny is not as hard people would think, and when finished, it will be exactly as an MR2 tranny, except with the shifter cables already going in the right direction. Also, with this method, your center differential won't burn since it will be completly removed.


Goodies needed :


-Alltrac tranny.

-GT4 shift cables.

-MR2 turbo differential (open, OEM Toyota VLSD, aftermarket LSD)

-MR2 differential cover.

-Speedometer drive for the differential if it does not come with the diff.

-2 axles seals (optional, but recommended and cheap).

-1 set of alltrac outer axles.

-1 set of inner MR2 axle with passenger axle carrier (get LSD inner axles if going with the OEM Toyota MR2 turbo VLSD unit).

-A puller and access to a press to replace 5th gears on transmission.

-An Alltrac crossmember with the transmission rear mount (or modify your existing one).


I'll try to do a step by step guide (I will really need to post pictures later):


1 - Remove the transfer case by unbolting it from the bellhousing case. Inside this transfer case there is the gear that drives the propeller shaft (that goes to the rear differential). Also there is the center viscous coupling unit. Remove the transfer cases (3 parts) and everything inside. You won't need these anymore.


2 - Open transmission by removing 5th gear case. Remove 5th gears. Remove bellhousing case. Remove shifting forks. Finally you can remove the center/front differential from the bellhousing.


3 - Change drive axle oil seal from the bellhousing if your tranny has high milage (cheap at dealer).


4 - Buy an MR2 differential. I suggest getting an LSD unit, since opening that tranny is a pain and getting LSD with a 3sgte is a must IMHO You either can buy an open MR2 turbo diff, a OEM toyota VLSD diff, or better yet, aftermarket torsen diff. The MR2 differential will work perfectly in the AWD tranny. The bearings will sits nice and thigh.


5 - Remove ring gear from the AWD front/center differential by removing the 16 bolts, and tapping it with a brass hammer (or place a piece of wood and hit it).


6 - Place the ring gear on the MR2 diff, place the 16 bolts.


7 - Order a speedometer drive from Toyota dealer (cost me 80$ can, but I bet you can get a better price than that). Place the speedometer drive on mr2 diff.


8 - Install diff. If your AWD tranny grinds, and you'd like to replace the synchros for not too much, now is a good time to do it.


9 - Re-assemble the tranny: Place the input/output shafts, selecting gear forks, oil cooler lines, bellhousing case, 5th gear, 5th gear cover.


10 - At this point, you'll need the differential cover from the MR2 that will bolt on where you removed the transfer case. You can get this from a toasted MR2 tranny. This cover has the passenger axle seal. Replace it also if worn or old.


11 - Get MR2 turbo inner driveshafts. You need axle with turbo and LSD if using the OEM Toyota VLSD diff. Otherwise, if using open differential or aftermarket LSD (TRD, cusco, etc) use the normal turbo axle. The normal Mr2 turbo non-LSD axle can be modified also to fit the OEM Toyota LSD diff.


12 - You need to make hybrid axles. Use the celica alltrac OUTER axles, and the INNER MR2 axles. The outer axles is those that enters the hub with bearing at the wheels. The inners enters the transmission to plug into the diff. You can separate the outers and inners axles by removing 6 8mm Allenkey bolts.


13 - Install the new alltrac/mr2 hybrid tranny. Use the celica alltrac shifting cables, use either electronic or cable driven speedo by swapping the correct one on tranny. Use 3sgte clutch/flywheel/pressure plate. Place the alltrac/mr2 hybrid axles.


14 - The rear transmission mount will be different. This also happens if you swap the MR2 transmission. You need to get an alltrac crossmember, or modify your existing one (the mount is not at the same place).


15 - Drive

As far as maintenance for the engine not sure i wanna mess with what already works :-/ lol

Any advice is apreciated guys

Ps if some one has a parts list that theyve used and doesnt mind sharing it id appreciate it