Engineering for a 1g-gte RA28

[stidnam]

Hi all,

I'm currently in the process of putting a 1g-gte into an RA28 (1/2 cut arrives in a couple of days). Anyway i've been a little worried over some engineering issues and getting it all passed in NSW.

I've just called an engineer in my local area to have a chat about what I should be looking out for when doing the conversion and how they are going to want to see things done when i'm finished.

The engineer ideally wanted to see the original brakes off the ga70 supra donored to the celica either that or clear proof that the brakes I am using (hilux/pug/corona) were off a same or higher power to weight ratio car to the supra. If this wasn't the case then a brake test was in order to the price of somewhere about around $1700 - $2000.

The exhaust was said to need a driveby test if it was near the limit of 90dB which was another 700 but I could get away with that if it was clear that it was more in the range of 80dB.

The engineer also mentioned same diff from the donor car etc. Which well isn't going to happen.

The other thing i've been concerned about is the clearance between the steering box and turbos. I want to retain the twin turbo's but i've been told awhile ago by another engineer that I must have at least 20mm between the engine and everything in the bay. ie firewall, strut towers, steering box etc. I've seen photos and read guides saying they end up with about 10mm with the heat shields on. Has anyone been picked on by an engineer regarding this problem?

I guess my main concern is that i'm going to end up getting to the engineering stage and be facing thousands of dollars.

Can anyone confirm if they've had this same conversion engineered in NSW recently? Who did it for you? What did you get pulled up on if anything? What did it end up costing you?

Cheers

Brad

[Pube]

Id talk to another engineer to get a second opinion. You should be able to get the car fully engineered for 1K.

[rob]

find another engineer cause "Captain El'rapeu-fo-dollarz" isnt giving you the best advice

do a search i think Draven started a thread looking for an engineer and some good engineers were suggested to him

[YLD-16L]

a brake test was in order to the price of somewhere about around $1700 - $2000.

The exhaust was said to need a driveby test if it was near the limit of 90dB which was another 700

As mentioned above the engineer sounds like a money hungry dude. Any engineer worth his salt will test your brakes regardless of what you fit won't charge those sort of crazy prices. Drive by dB test for $700 what a crock!

I'd definitetly talk to another engineer as those are some of the worst prices I've ever heard of.

Where abouts in NSW are you because the guy who engineered my current car and my last one is also a signatory in NSW. He is located near Canberra. His going rate at the moment for an engine conversion/driveline/adequate brakes is about $800-$1000 total. This includes brake testing and dB tests etc.

[STR8 2.8]

If this wasn't the case then a brake test was in order to the price of somewhere about around $1700 - $2000.

The exhaust was said to need a driveby test if it was near the limit of 90dB which was another 700 but I could get away with that if it was clear that it was more in the range of 80dB.

holy cow dude, take it somewhere else.
id like to know what exactly this $2000 "brake test" involves

if its done right it should be easily under $1000 for a certificate

[stidnam]

Heh,

Thanks for you replys so far guys. I'm in the hills district in Sydney.

I'm not sure whether this guy was just being over cautious or what but yeah I couldn't believe that an engineer would need $1700 to tell me that some 4 pot hilux calipers could pull a stock 1ggte in a celica up.

I was rather supprised at his price on that drive by. That included me coming down to do the test with him and having me drive the car while he did the test. If he needed to do the drive by without my help then it was going to be a similar figure to the brake test.

I'm more than happy to pay around the $1k mark to get it engineered (brakes, gearbox, engine) but theres no way i'm paying $3k to do this. At that price i'd be better off selling the whole project.

Brad

[Schmitt]

Hey mate

Try John Varetimidis at Consulmotive
Unit 15/17-37 Lorraine st
Peakhurst NSW 2210
Ph 02 9153 0011

I used him for my engineers report and he was very good and well priced. From what i have heard others on here have used him and have nothing but praise.
My whole report cost $500. This was for a 4AGE into TA22 and corona brake upgrade.

Ben

[stidnam]

Thanks Schmitt,

I might give him a ring. It really depends on each engineer to what they seem to be adamant they want done to the car to pass. I've since called another two engineers and I was told by one that the diff *must* be upgraded and he wouldn't pass it with a T-series. I've got plans for the diff but i'd rather see the car on the road first. I know that with a stock 1g and not being thrashed the diff will hold up fine for the time being.

The second engineer was ok with the stock diff but was more concerned with clearance issues and by the sounds of things making sure the brake upgrade was done properly.

If anyone else has names of engineers they've used when putting a 1g in a ra celica then i'd be very much appreciative.

Cheers

Brad

[Lambolica]

My advice would be to PM other RA28 1G owners and/or 3S-GTE RA28 owners and see who they used. Generally if they have done 1 similar conversion and you tell them what your plans are for the uypgrade ( ie specifics about brakes, diff etc and not just "I wantz twin turbozz in mah celi bro... how much?) with the backing of other engineered cars then they will find communications easier

Cheers
Simon

[stidnam]

Hi Lambolica,

Thanks for the advice there. That was my next step. Also when i've called these engineers i've explained to them exactly what i'm doing ie what components i'm using in my brake upgrade etc. I'm by no means being vague with them about what I want to do.

Brad

[Toy77]

G'day mate,

like you the first engineer i spoke too wanted supra brakes diff etc in the car.

i ended up going with athol mullen, here in newcastle.

he has approved LOTS of mods on my celica (do a search for a post of mine titled "engineering the toy")

he did the original engineering of my 1g into 28, plus all the later mods mentioned in that thread. if you look up my members rides thread i have all the stuff there that is on my car i think that thread is called "Stew's ra28 - toy77t" or something like that.

athol does his own noise testing - i think he charges a premium of $20 for that service.the last certificate he did for me had lots and lots on it, hence was dearer than a basic engine, box and brake conversion (which he also did for me years ago) and was around $500.
he wanted 10mm clearance on certain areas and 20 on others, but mine passed fine.

Any more questions - shoot.

Cheers
Stew

[Lambolica]

Hi Lambolica,

Thanks for the advice there. That was my next step. Also when i've called these engineers i've explained to them exactly what i'm doing ie what components i'm using in my brake upgrade etc. I'm by no means being vague with them about what I want to do.

Brad

I didn't mean that you were being vauge I was giving an example. These guys are professonals, and for them, talking to someone that has put no research into their project is a waste of time to the engineer as they won't spoon feed you the answers.

Sorry my if previous post came across harsh, It wasn't ment to.

Cheers
Simon

[IN 05 NT]

G'day mate,

like you the first engineer i spoke too wanted supra brakes diff etc in the car.

i ended up going with athol mullen, here in newcastle.

he has approved LOTS of mods on my celica (do a search for a post of mine titled "engineering the toy")

he did the original engineering of my 1g into 28, plus all the later mods mentioned in that thread. if you look up my members rides thread i have all the stuff there that is on my car i think that thread is called "Stew's ra28 - toy77t" or something like that.

athol does his own noise testing - i think he charges a premium of $20 for that service.the last certificate he did for me had lots and lots on it, hence was dearer than a basic engine, box and brake conversion (which he also did for me years ago) and was around $500.
he wanted 10mm clearance on certain areas and 20 on others, but mine passed fine.

Any more questions - shoot.

Cheers
Stew

thats the dude who did my 23...........id say best bet is to see him, mention that you know of 2 other celicas with the sameconvesrion that he has done previously....from the same car club...

blake

[stidnam]

Thanks heaps for that guys,

Sounds like the best option to follow that engineer up in Newcastle if he's already done multiple inspections of the same conversion.

I appreciate all your feedback.

Cheers

Brad

[Toy77]

Yeah mate,

he has done a few now, he will probably copy my report for you...... he did a similar thing for mine, a similar one had been done for a 1ggze, he just changed the details that mattered.

best to give him a call before you start cos he will be able to give you ideas to make it pass properly.

he is not dodgy, and will expect the conversion to be done safely, but he is pretty fair about stuff.

best thing is he is less than 2min drive from my house... hehe

Good luck with the conversion!!!! its deffinately worthwhile....

Cheers
Stew