WRX motor into a TA23

['ol_skool_'75]

I've lined up a FREE!!!! (thats why its going in to the car) motor that happens to be from an early model WRX. Just wondering if theres anybody on here that could help me by offering information on the likes of an adapter plate to the gearbox and the moving of engine mounts. Any help is appreciated.


Cheers
Dan

[tomvale13]

Buy a brumby, a far more forgiving donor car for that motor

dont put scooby into a celica

[jezza323]

best of luck, i hope you have lots of money

[skiddz]

will be too wide to it in easily and it will sound like arse

[Talasas]

There's a few members rides thread where people have made custom engine mounts. A good welder is what you need to weld the thicker steel. If these guys are right and the engine is too wide for the Celica engine bay then you may be stuck as lifting the engine up to allow the rocker covers to clear might not work.

of course, you've touched on a delicate topic because putting a Subaru engine into a Celica is considered blasphemy around here by the purists.

The only other bit of advice I can offer is if that motor doesn't do you any good after your efforts ring Paul from Subawreck, I'm sure he'd be happy to buy it off you.

[Norbie]

I have a feeling such a low, wide engine won't have much chance of fitting in the narrow space between the chassis rails. Get your tape measure out before you commit to anything.

Also where are you going to find a RWD gearbox for a WRX engine? It seems very unlikely anyone makes an adapter plate or bellhousing, which means you're stuck making your own, which means any financial benefit of a "free" engine has just evaporated.

The smart option is to sell the WRX engine and buy something which is going to fit without massive headaches and expense, like a 1G.

[oldcorollas]

i reckon it could have benefits
in the rex, there is a gearbox under the engine, so they don't sit as low as they could (?) so it could potentially sit lower in the celica.

engine moutns are easy, assuming they are in a relatively sensible place.

gearbox = adaptor plate and stuffing around, same with clutch and flywheel...

other than that is is just like any other engine swap.. except it might not fit

edit: pic... gearbox is not low?
http://members.home.nl/bogink/images/wrx-engine.jpg

[o_man_ra23]

All other practical considerations aside (though I agree that width is likely to be a problem)... your anal virginity will be in doubt if you go through with it, and your soul will be condemned for an eternal existance in Afghanistan.

Further to this, your car will sound like its running poorly on 3 cylinders (my 18RG sounded like a WRX when one of the ignition leads failed and the cams where out of whack).

As previously mentioned, a Brumby would be a better car to install the motor into, as they are designed to fit. I think if you sit down and crunch the numbers, the 'free' motor's appeal will soon tarnish... a bit like the 'free' dog I got... became expensive after 4 puppies popped out

[JP]

the WRX motor is not a straight fit in a brumby, chassis rail modifications are required to fit it.

Measure up your bay with the space between the rails to make sure the engine can physically fit between them. If you're getting a box with the engine, there's adaptors available to convert them to RWD.

With a set of equal length headers it takes a lot of the WRX burble out if you don't like the sound.

[tomvale13]

Ahh well, screw the brumby and sell the motor for an inhouse (re: toyota) engine donor for the conversion, there is a wealth of support here for putting alternative toyota motors into this type of celica, I'm guessing you could sell an ej20 for an ok amount as well..

[o_man_ra23]

Being a TA23, the humble 3T-GTE isnt too hard to bolt up, much easier than the cramped TA22... and even that is a relatively straightforward job. Even in stock form they have a fair whack of torque, and will give you comparable performance to an EJ20, but with a lot less of the headaches (and costs). I would have to say tomvale is on the right track.

[Stock_22]

trying to keep old school cool

wrx motor in Ta23 = Fail

Seriously, its a nice idea, but alot of headaches for not much gain. The ideas suggested above are a much better way to go. A 4age is also another option.

[hybrid_turbo]

i dont see whats wrong with this, props for being different.. ive thought about putting
one into the RA60.. but.. i cbf lol...

i say do it if you have the money/time/ know how... (and if it fits lol)

[o_man_ra23]

RA60 has a wider engine bay, which makes it more of a consideration. 4AGE is too low on torque to work in the 23, been suggested many times, and just doesnt work.

Rarely does a conversion which you want to do because 'I got the engine for free' actually work out in the cheap pile. Normally these are the conversions that get started, and either they wind up costing a heap and not working properly, or they get abandoned and you lose not only a lot of money, but also a previously working vehicle.

Bottom line, this is going to cost a fortune... if it is do-able.

[{Mr Crabs}]

Hi

Best of luck to you i love the EJ20, sounds fully sick,do you have a tape on hand? and do you think it will fit? I have a TA23 and a MY04 WRX the EJ is wide and ugly!

Hope it fits and i would be only to happy to part with the 1G,