The REAL cost of conversion

[The Witzl]

... draza aint finished though!!!

I never asked how much it all added up to Finney, do you have a breakdown posted anywhere, cos yours is a pretty exemplary 20V conversion!

I mean, you did:

- engine conversion
- new engine parts + seals
- CV joint reco
- wiring
- clutch + flywheel machine (i think)
- brake upgrade
- and engineering.

[inertia]

Don't forget the HECS fees of 3 failed uni subjects

[Simple]

Thanks guys for your honesty. I can now put the idea of a 3SGTE upgrade for my put to rest, cus I simply cant justify spending 5-10k on a 17 year old car

even though it would be cool.

[finney]

i haven't added it up yet.. don't know if i want to, i've got a rough idea that it was around $4-5k for everything incl engineering. I don't think i have all the reciepts for everything like water pump, seals, fluids, exhaust (new cat and less restrictive muffler) etc to give an accurate idea. but i think i could guess those things.

btw you forgot the $1550 speeding fine that came with the new engine

[thechuckster]

Thanks guys for your honesty. I can now put the idea of a 3SGTE upgrade for my put to rest, cus I simply cant justify spending 5-10k on a 17 year old car

why not?

there was a 162 at our committee meeting last night with 3SGTE.

Cool1 is stuffing a 3sgte into a TA22

why justify it? just do it and:
learn
learn a bit more
???
profit!1

[fixeruperer]

dont be like that man the differance with buying a car already done and building one is that your building your car not buying someone else's, you will actuly like it and appreciate it alot more.
i bought both my 1980 projects for under $1800 each and ive spent friggen heaps on both of them, everyone sez why dont you just buy one done or buy a hsv and you can only respond with the most disgusted look on your face because they wouldnt have a clue.
do it man build your project finish your dream you wont understand till you do.

[finney]

these guys do have valid points. you have to go nuts at least once. there is no way i'd sell my car for quite a while now. i've built it to be exactly what i want it to be, i know what has been done and don't have to stress so much about whether or not the previous owner cut any corners or not.

it's definately a learning experience and will make you appreciate it a lot more once it's done, not many people here care about how much has been spent as it is all in pursuit of thier ideal car.. well thats my point of view and one of the reasons why i haven't bothered adding up what i've spent, no real point as far as i can see.

[Simple]

I know what you mean guys,

I do have wonderful long term plans for my car, & I do plan on keeping it untill I can give it to my Grandkids.

I will do it one day, I just need to build on my tool collection & experience working with my car. So that when i do it I can put it in myself.

For now though I think ill do what i can with the suspention, body & interior,
Thanks.

[EldarO]

im putting a 1J in my car, probably selling it soon afterwards then too...

why? well, im lusting after a 4 door, JZX90 is the name!

why dont i just sell it before i do the conversion? well, that would be the smart (logical) thing to do, and save myself some money, but im pretty damn sure that the new power + manual change will tempt me to keep it a bit longer, at least until i start needing the 4 door

we all have "dreams" and while we may not sit there, staring into space fantasising about them, its healthy to have your mind set on something, and work towards acheiving it.

im pretty sure that people like Norbie, who have sunk thousands of dollars, into car older than your, wouldnt even be thinking of selling them, and would only do so if they were'nt given the choice.

its one thing to own a car, its a completely different thing to build one up, and make it YOURS.

Eldar.O.

[Jag7799]

If you want a workshop to do everything - that's you drive up with engine 1 and the bits of engine 2 hardware and parts on a truck & trailer, then drive off with engine 2 installed and running and engineered - then $10k would probably be a realistic number.

$10k was what johal paid in total for getting other gimps to do everything except clean and polish the newer 1JZ that was stuffed into his MZ1x.

Given that Wilbo probably spent $4-5k over 6 months sourcing all the parts, doing all the work and fabricating himself of a 1JZ into MA61. That's from removing the old to new engine/box/electrics/driveshaft/zorst etc installed and running. And the MZ1x and MZ61 are mechanically similar cars (the MZ being the easier to install intercooling in).

ergo: If you pay someone to do all your installation, labour and fabrication will cost around the same for what you spend in parts.

I know this is a bit of an old thread, but I only paid 2k for all the labour on my car, and I sourced all the parts and mounts and everything myself. The rest of the cash was in parts and bits and bobs.

[EldarO]

and i still have my car!

so i guess the conversion did make up my mind, made me happier with it, and i spent less in the long run, rather than swapping cars.

i love cars

Elmo.

[doobs]

to REPLACE the 7MGTE in my car, not including the cost of the engine, was around 400-500.

this was in gaskets, oils, fluids etc. alone.

just to give you an idea of how costs rack up in no time, this price was for parts only, as all the work we did, and all the tools used (engine crane, hoist etc.) was a mates stuff

keep in mind, the halfcut you get, may have some defunct parts (sensor, alternator, whatever) that you may need to replace, its just how this works.

my new engine had the suprise for me of..... BHG of death :/

Eldar.O.

off topic I know, but correct me if im wrong... surely you are not refering to the "perfect" 1JZ , when you say the new engine had a BHG?

[Andrew162]

so you're making a GT2 conversion? well it's simple, Simple... talk to Karl (warrior), AndyTTR and matt86sx about this first as they'd know just what goes in and out of everything in these 162's. a 3S-GE half-cut should go for ~$700 - 1500 depending on who you know and where you are, and condition of the engine. a GTE half-cut should be about 500-1000 more again depending on the above factors. having put a 3S-GTE into a RAV4 all I can offer here is buyer-beware and always plan to spend more than you can afford, in the form of a short-term loan.

[JustCallMeOrlando]

off topic I know, but correct me if im wrong... surely you are not refering to the "perfect" 1JZ , when you say the new engine had a BHG?

Nope, 7M love.