1jz into xa6x

[Diz44zy]

I read this thread recently as i have been considering this nutcase conversion.

http://forums.toymods.org.au/index.p...t=0#msg_121917

I guess i just want to clarify a few points.

Handling: This appeared to be the main cause for concern. The problem is that some think the conversion will make the car too nose heavy and hence handling is adversely affected. Can this be alleviated by adding weight to the rear of the car? in my case battery (10kg) has been relocated and the stereo replaced with back seat (~40kg).

gearbox: What difficulties if any are there with fitting the R154?

Cost: I know this is a how long is a piece of string question, but someone must done this and know how much they paid. Assuming i won't be doing the engine consersion myself so include labour.

Also has anyone attempted a 2jz or is this just simply not possible?

Any other problems that people know of from experience would need to be taken into consideration?

Budget for this conversion is 25K (this does not include engine or gearbox)

Yes i know most of you are just gunna say not worth the money, but i love my car and it is just the way it has to be.

[wilbo666]

I'll be the first to say it.

"search" (harder)

The consensus is if you want a JZA6x start with a MA61 and make it a JZA61. It came with a 6cly so the JZ engine fits well.

That said I will let you search for JZA61

Cheers
Wilbo

[timottaway]

i agree, i really like celicas over ma61's, but the amount of work to fit a jz and even just w box in a reasonable spot (ie. far back as possible) it's just smarter to get an ma61...

[Diz44zy]

alright i'm gunna cut in here to say, yes i know ma61 is a smarter option but this car is more important to me than anything else. Its my first car, shit i even got my first shag in it, also first car i ever got out sideways as i said it just has to be this car. Besides when you say too much work it just makes me wanna do it more.

[mrshin]

I hear what you're saying, and don't let anyone tell you it can't be done. The biggest issue you'll have is being rather tight for length at the front. Moving the engine/gearbox back isn't too hard, you just need to mess with the tailshaft, which you'll have to do anyway for a 154. 154 will fit with a bit of Big Hammer Love, which is my favourite part of any conversion

Just do it, then come and show me how it went. I must ask though, how was the first shag, in a wedge celica, with no back seat? I love my gearknob and all, but...

[Norbie]

Can this be alleviated by adding weight to the rear of the car? in my case battery (10kg) has been relocated and the stereo replaced with back seat (~40kg).

No, adding more weight at the extreme ends of the car makes it handle worse, not better. For good handling and response you want almost all of the weight well inside the wheelbase, which obviously cannot happen with your proposed engine conversion.

gearbox: What difficulties if any are there with fitting the R154?

The R154 is a bit wider at the back so you will need to "adjust" the transmission tunnel a bit in that area. It's nothing major though, a big hammer and possibly an oxy will be enough to get it sorted. It's important to get the trans all the way up in the tunnel so it's on the correct plane, don't take the easy way out by using spacers on the gearbox crossmember like some I've seen!

Cost: I know this is a how long is a piece of string question, but someone must done this and know how much they paid. Assuming i won't be doing the engine consersion myself so include labour.

Really can't answer this in any meaningful way, but I'd say between $10k and $20k. There are a million variables though so your mileage may vary.

Also has anyone attempted a 2jz or is this just simply not possible?

Just as possible as a 1JZ, but you might want to check it's legal before you commit to anything. The only difference is the 2JZ is ~25mm taller so there may be bonnet clearance issues, it's a tight fit in an MA61 but I don't know about a Celica.

Any other problems that people know of from experience would need to be taken into consideration?

Brakes, suspension, drivetrain, fuel system and cooling system will all require significant upgrades. It's not enough to just dump the engine in there and hook everything up if you want to have a car that's worth driving.

Budget for this conversion is 25K (this does not include engine or gearbox)

Budget higher, see above for reasons why.

Yes i know most of you are just gunna say not worth the money, but i love my car and it is just the way it has to be.

If you absolutely must keep your Celica, give some serious thought to a different engine conversion. There are lots of options that won't make your car handle like a 1976 Ford, so how about you give us your power/performance goals and we'll suggest something more reasonable than a 1JZ? You really want something a lot shorter and lighter in a Celica - lots of people have had success with the 1G and it will make more power than you can realistically use on the street, but that's the longest engine I would consider putting in a car like that, and even then it's pushing it a bit IMO. Even better would be a 3S-GTE or, dare I say it, an SR20DET. Another interesting option would be the alloy 1UZ V8.

So you see there are lots of options, don't restrict yourself to one engine straight away! Just because something is possible doesn't mean it's sensible.

[Diz44zy]

Ok suspension and brakes are already taken car of, so they won't be factored into the conversion.

As for handling, when i relocated the battery and stereo pretty much over the back wheels it tended to stick to the road a little better as i had to put my foot in a bit more to lose traction. Also when getting sideways it seemed to wanna hang out there a bit longer. Can someone explain this to as i'm not fully into drifting just enjoy the occassional sideways action?

As for power, i'm just looking for something that once in the celica has plenty of potential for further modifications. But if you want a figure 300 - 350 rwkw thats responsive and i'd be pretty happy (after further modifications). I pretty much just want something that i can work on later that doesn't draw attention to itself like most harry's that drive skylines and silvias.

The shag was uncomfortable but awsome. Passengers seat and she was on top. Handbrake and centre console was stabbing me in the side but all it really did was make me last a bit longer than i normally would, so i guess i didn't look that bad for the first time.

Cheers

[Norbie]

But if you want a figure 300 - 350 rwkw thats responsive and i'd be pretty happy

Holy crap, that's a ridiculous amount of power for a Celica - have you ever been in a car with that sort of power to weight ratio? My MA61 has 236rwkw and it's a real handful on the street, it kills almost everything in roll-on acceleration... an extra 100kw in a smaller car would be a bit frightening IMO. Exactly how much power can you use in a street car anyway? More power than that will just mean more wheelspin, not more fasts!

In any case a well built 2 litre engine like the 1G will get you to the 300 mark without making too many compromises; I really do think this is the sensible option.

[Diz44zy]

Holy crap, that's a ridiculous amount of power for a Celica - have you ever been in a car with that sort of power to weight ratio?

I was driving my uncles mustang for a while don't know the exact power figures but when ever i put my foot down in any gear the wheels would just loose traction. This gave me shivers down my spine which is why i loved it so much. Aside from that a few of my mates car skyline (272rwkw) Rex(249rwkw). so i guess not really. Then again i like to be different.

As i have said the 300-350rwkw won't be initial i just wanna get the conversion done and then modify from there.

The reason i didn't like the idea of a 2lt eng is that 300rwkw would require a huge turbo and hence a shit load of lag which i thought was silly for the street as its not practical to be driving around constantly at 5000rpm. Even then it would take a lot to get 300rwkw from a 1ggte or alike.

reasons for choosing the 1jz was that its been done before hence people can help if there are issues. Secondly the 1jz and 2jz are becoming more and more popular by the day so aftermarket modifications are gunna become cheaper and more easily accessible. Thirdly its a beasty toyota engine, i guess it wouldn't be the same if it wasn't toyota. I guess thats just loyalty more than anything.

The 3sgte you mentioned while i have considered this i came to the conclusion that the amount of fabrication work would be huge and end up costing me more than a 1jz anyway.

Don't know much about the 1UZ as in potential power figure so if anyone can fill me in that would be great.

cheers

[wilbo666]

3RZ?

Cheers
Wilbo

[BeRad]

agreed with wilbo keep the toyota love, bulletproof even when boosted....300-350rwhp is achievable with the 3rz in an unopened state push harder and it will live but for how long comes down to lots of variables.

[Norbie]

The reason i didn't like the idea of a 2lt eng is that 300rwkw would require a huge turbo and hence a shit load of lag which i thought was silly for the street as its not practical to be driving around constantly at 5000rpm.

Lag is much less of a problem in a lighter car like the Celica. A modern 2 litre engine will have plenty of torque when you're cruising around off boost, and when you want to get up and go it's just a matter of selecting the right gear. Remember your car weighs less than an S15 or WRX, both of those have 2 litre turbo engines and they can be made to go VERY quick.

Don't know much about the 1UZ as in potential power figure so if anyone can fill me in that would be great.

JustenGT8 is getting a lazy 500hp or so out of his 1UZ with bolt-ons only, and ridiculous torque with small-ish turbos. For a streeter it would be hard to beat a low-boost 1UZ simply because of the very broad powerband.

[Diz44zy]

hmmmmmmmm.... The 3rz sounds like a nice option. A couple more questions though. What are the weights of the 3tgte, 1jz and 3rz? Also i read somewhere that the 3rz will create problems because it is too tall, is this claim true or just rubbish?

After some inital reading i'm starting to lean toward the 3rz. If what BeRad said is correct then 300rwkw is quite achievable.

But is the conversion any easier than the 1jz?

thanks for all the help so far and Wilbo nice call on the 3rz

[Stefan]

i agree, i really like celicas over ma61's, but the amount of work to fit a jz and even just w box in a reasonable spot (ie. far back as possible) it's just smarter to get an ma61...

Everyone note that this is coming from the guy WITH a JZA65 already

[Norbie]

Yeah but he won't sell his car because he had sex in it once. It's the same reason I still sleep in the single bed I slept in as a teenager.

Um...