Phoenix Tuning Project: 3SGTE swap into '97 Celica ST

[Dr Tweak]

Hey all,

Today the swap begain for bboy's '97 Celica ST auto. The car is getting a 3SGTE engine and an auto/manual conversion, along with a rear disc conversion if I can talk him into it.

Today I pulled the AWD tranny from the engine, pulled the clutch and flywheel off, and discovered a bad rear main seal and pressure plate. The flywheel is also in dire need of machining, which I always do anyway.

I also removed the turbo and disassembled it, it will be cleaned up and then clocked to a different position for optimal intercooler setup.

Now for pics!

AWD tranny seperated


Nasty flywheel and leaking rear main seal


Disassembled turbo (which is in great shape BTW)


So bud, I'm going to be ordering a new rear main seal from Toyota, and go ahead and start looking around for a pressure plate, I'll get a price from Toyota on that as well. Along with the timing belt and drive belts

[Dr Tweak]

So, I figured out what I'm going to do with the turbo to clock it and keep the wastegate in the correct position. Took a little while to get it just right but I wanted to me sure. I have to bring the compressor housing up to the machine shop for a little modification and then it'll be all set.

While I'm waiting for those parts there is plenty more to be done, so I took the interior out in preperation for the auto/manual conversion, along with getting the engine harness out. I also drained pretty much everything and get the engine ready to pull, so first thing Wednesday morning it's coming out. Then I'll work on the conversion.

Now for pics



The engine ready to come out (pretty much)


The interior taken apart...

[Dr Tweak]

I just came in for lunch and thought I'd post some pics of my progress


The cleaned up turbo and newly machined flywheel:


The extraction:


Pull complete:


To think, I was paying this slacker $10 an hour to help!!!


Empty engine bay (not for long )


Dr Tweak inside... It's ALIVE!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

[Dr Tweak]

Aight so this morning I fixed the windows in the Corolla wagon swap, and took some videos of it. Laz and I will be sharing them later

But to the topic at hand, once that was done I built the custom bracket to hold the wastegate for the turbo's new clocked position, and then I started on the wiring. Next week, it's all wiring... and Thursday I'll be down in MD for the meet...

Pics!

Turbo, clocked and assembled:



Starting work at the wiring station:




-Doc

[Dr Tweak]

I soldered so much today, I think I soldered my nostrils closed. I feel like that dude on Fantastic 4 who was turning into metal.

 8O



That there folks is a pretty much completed 3SGTE/ST hybrid harness! Woot!



And Ruel, your car is now officially a 5-speed.  :twisted:

-Doc

[Dr Tweak]

Aight well I'm not going to tear the engine apart again to show you, so you'll have to settle for the assembled pics! HAHA  :twisted:

Engine ready to drop in:





Carefully placing the engine:



And there it is... sorta!



We had a mixup with the engine mounts so we'll be waiting for a couple parts, but in the meantime I'll be working on some INTERCOOLER PIPING  :twisted:

-Doc

BTW that clip in the background is Mark's 3000GT VR4 Twin Turbo...  8O

[Dr Tweak]

Message returned!

Yeah, I've been working on it quite a bit, also running into and solving lots of problems, heh. Anyway my computer crashed and so it's a pain to get the pics taken care of, but here you go!

This is the custom front motor mount that I built since we didn't get the right part that we needed:



Mocking up the intercooler:



How the intercooler is installed:



Intercooler piping done on one side:







Front view:

[Dr Tweak]

Save your beans

You guys only get one pic today, but I think you're gonna like it

[Dr Tweak]

[Dr Tweak]

So I've completed the car pretty much, except for a few items that have come up. First off, the engine coolant sensor (for the guage) isn't working, and I don't want to run the engine without knowing the temp (the engine runs great though). I got the exhaust all taken care of, but the power steering system is acting up so I need to fix that up (just bleed it out and whatnot most likely). The major issue at this point is the clutch is making a lot of noise when engaged, so I dropped the tranny today and I'll check it out further on Monday.

Here are some pics of the completed intake and intercooler piping system:

[Dr Tweak]

[Dr Tweak]

[aaron7]

Looks factory... with lots of chrome! Awesome job man... the more I see the more I'm excited! I must say... you are the only one on the East coast that I know of that does this kinda thing, with the patience you have (for the cars and pestering customers   )

I sure hope you hire a secretary, because I think you're going to be booked till you retire!