Cressida Grande wreck NOW WITH PICS 56K WARNING!

[PureHell]

I have found a 1990 Cressida Grande wreck (rear damage) to use to replace my engine and gearbox in my 89 Cressida. I would also like to change the whole dash instrument cluster (speedo etc...) and was wondering if it's a straight swap or is something different?

[MacroP]

It will fit no worries but from memory you may have a speedo problem that's all, which can be fixed. You car will have a mechanical driven speedo where's as the Grande will have an electric speedo system. The cable system can be removed completely if you use the Grande cluster. I did what you are planning last year (engine, tranny, ECU and cluster).
Just need to use the Grande ECU as well. It's a pretty straight forward swap.


Also don't forget the to take the diff out of the Grande too, it a LSD.

Also if it has a Grey interior you need to take out the leather gear shifter(I need the O/D button) and drivers seatbelt and sell them to me for some good money.

Good luck.

[PureHell]

Thanks for the heads up on the speedo issue. Why do I need to use the Grande ECU?

I already thought about the LSD, so gonna take it

Sorry but all of the interior is already spoken for (by me ). I will do a post here when I finish taking what I want so the people who need bits and peices can get it. I will most likely have all the panels except for the back half (rear smash) and all the brakes and suspension up for sale. I will also sell my interior (blue velvour) and all the bits I take out of mine

[MacroP]

Why do I need to use the Grande ECU?

I bloody cant see to remember now, I did this 12 months ago. Man, my memory must be getting bad. Maybe it wasn't important after all, sorry. From memory one of the engine loom plugs is different but the 3 engine ECU plugs are the same. There are 5 or 6 engine loom plugs in total that connect behind the glovebox. 3 for the engine ECU and 2 or 3 for the body loom.
The conversion you are doing is about 95% compatible so there is a couple of things to modify to get everything working 100%. I think the engine and tranny will run fine first off no worries. I did what you did in a day and had the car running around in the arvo. I might have kept the original speedo cluster in with this upgrade but changed it over(to the GRande one) when I put a 1UZ in a month or two later.

Good luck.

[Mos]

If you are replacing the engine and gearbox you will need to be aware that it also has the ABS speed sensor in the extension housing - the 89 model does not. You can either swap the bits of the gearbox from your original box, or use the ABS out of the wreck.

In terms of dashboards, the looming behind it is different. The dash loom (runs along the dashboard itself) has minor differences but needs to be changed if you want to use the electronic cluster and the climate control.
The cowl loom (runs along the inside of the firewall) is also different, mainly to support the climate control, but also to accomodate the ABS.

If you don't want to go to the hassle of understanding what's going on, I'd suggest to swap everything out of the Grande - including the electric seat etc.
On the other hand if you are willing to put some time into working out the differences you may be able to get away with only adding some wires.

For instance for the cluster you will probably only need to add the extra wire for the speed sensor signal - there is one other difference between the mechanical and electronic clusters, but I can't remember what it is - I think it might be something to do with the PWR and ECON lights in the cluster - the Grande doesn't have the ECON - it's something you would need to research yourself. I had to modify an early dash loom to replace a Grande loom - but that was 4 years ago, so memory very hazy.

Mos.

[PureHell]

Thanks for the replies. I will go ahead and replace everything as it will make it easier in the long run for me. I will change all the looms at the front. The looms coming from the rear will plug in with no problem?

[Mos]

The looms coming from the rear will plug in with no problem?

Some of it probably will, some of it won't. The ABS computer is in the boot and there's plenty of cabling running to that. Once again a case of either working it all out or swapping everything.

Mos.

[PureHell]

Do I have to use the ABS for everything to work ok? Can I leave it disconnected?

[Mos]

The engine computer uses the ABS computer for the transmission... as I said in the previous post, you will either need to replace the ABS speed sensor from the Grande with the non-ABS speed sensor from the 89, OR use the ABS computer (don't really need the ABS hydraulics or front wheel pickups, but the ABS light will remain on if you leave it in), OR don't worry about that particular speed sensor, but then your O/D OFF light will flash (the transmission should still shift properly).

Mos.

[PureHell]

I think I'll swap the bits off my gearbox so I don't have to worry about the ABS

[PureHell]

Just got back from the auction and purchased the car. Interior is in not too bad shape (drivers seat is ripped) so I have decided not to use the interior. I will take the speedo instrument cluter bit out and use that. When I am finished taking what I want, I will put a thread in the for sale section with a list of what's available

[jet81j]

will you be using the front bumper and lights

i'm using a jzx81 front bumper but i want a grande one

[PureHell]

I won't be using the front bumper and lights. Please send me a PM with your address so I can get a price for postage

[PureHell]

UPDATE TIME

I have taken photos throughout the short life of this wreck at my place.

The first photo is around 2 days into the stripping of the car. Most of the attention was focused on getting the diff out which proved to be a bigger job than normal (photos will tell the story )



As you can see some work had been done but not a great deal

After 2 days of work and mucking around the diff is finally out!



YAY LSD



Taking a diff out is usually pretty straight forward, but not in this case





As you can see, not the ideal body to take it out of We had to get the bumper off and the metal beam that is hidden under it had to be cut, pulled, kicked and anything else you can think of to be moved. One tough cookie.

[PureHell]

After a few more days of stripping it, it lays out front waiting to go to car heaven





All of this work to get this baby into the mechanical condition that I would like



Now for the bit people are waiting for, the left over parts!

What is taken so far is the engine, gearbox, steering rack, diff, gear knob, driver seat belt mechanism and the cd player. I left the seats in the car because they aren't in the best condition (drivers seat has tears in it and the rest are ok but not too flash). So far I have people interested in the sun visors, head lights, front bumper (guy hasn't got back to me) and door trims (except rear left as it's buggered). If you need something, let me know and I'll check if I have it. I also have a tape and radio from my Cressida