RA40 1UZ-FE Conversion

[slopshua]

Gday all,

Have owned my RA40 for 6months and love the thing but with an 18rc under the bonnet ive decided to undertake a 1uz engine conversion on it. Havnt seen anyone else who has done this conversion so i'm just wondering if anyone has heard of one being done so that i know i'm not undertaking the impossible.. If anyone has info on what i'm in for with the conversion it'd be greatly appreciated

Cheers

[MWP]

It will be very similar (if not identical) to conversions into RA23/RA28 Celicas.

Its not impossible. Just takes time and $$$s.
It depends greatly what you want out of the car too.
If your happy with the factory 1UZ auto trans, and wont be pushing the car too hard, then its not all that difficult.
If you want a manual trans, to be able to race the car and have it bullet proof (like my build), its quite a lot more difficult.

Have a look at my build: http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/sho....php?p=1161144
Also look at conversions on here: http://lextreme.com/forums

[slopshua]

Wow.. its my dream to own an ra28 with a 1uz in it one day but for the moment the ra40 is great.. Ill want to be using it as a daily driver.. not planning on pushing it too hard and will pair it with a w58. Not intending on racing it and couldnt ever really see it being anything other than naturally aspirated. The 18rc i run at the moment is on lpg so its all plumbed up for the possibility of having the 1uz on lpg eventually but atm i'm just focused on getting it in there and running. Stupid question.. if i do all the work myself could you give me a rough total price on the conversion?? Do you know which sump config ill need for the ra40? Cheers

[MWP]

Youll want a front sump 1UZ.
Getting the exhaust around the steering box is almost impossible, so most people convert to rack & pinion steering. Easiest way to do that is using a KE70 engine xmember and steering stuffs.

Urgh, asking for total price is very difficult. Doing a manual conversion increases the price significantly.
Youll be looking at over $6k, and thats not including front brake upgrades which would be a *very* good idea.

[slopshua]

yeah i've been told the steering box is a problem... could custom headers avoid converting to a rack and pinion?? In regards to the year of the engine, what 1uz will work for me? Front sumps were in the soarer?? but is there any difference between the older 1uz's and the later ones?

[stradlater]

Just make sure you don't spin one of the bearings... then It's painful...... :-(

If you happen to want to come and help me pull my engine (1uz) out of my car (ra23) next weekend to help me change them over to a new engine, you can quickly learn what's involved in changing them over. :-)

[slopshua]

Im flat out at work on weekends where are you in vic?

[stradlater]

North / North East - Near Epping.. (eppink for the locals)

[slopshua]

Made a few phone calls today.. the front sump 1uz's were in the ls400's?? and the higher compression 1uz's were sep 94 onwards. Can basically get an ls400 front cut for around the $2000 mark.. but is it best to buy a whole front cut or am i wasting my money?... is $2000 even a reasonable price?

[MWP]

Yes, you are after a LS400 engine.
The later high-comp 1UZs have weaker rods. Dont buy one if forced induction might be considered later on.

For a front cut, $2k is reasonable. You probably wont need it though.
An engine package will have most of what you need.
Make sure you check the package over to make sure everything is there before you buy it.

[tomvale13]

Wow.. its my dream to own an ra28 with a 1uz in it one day

Join Australias fastest growing club.




And best of luck!

[stradlater]

Yes.. Check thoroughly.
I got done recently.

However, if you want a deal on an engine package, I'm buying a 1uz at the moment, we could buy two and get a deal...

[slopshua]

do you have a place in mind that sels 1uz packages? How much will i save buying just an engine package over a front cut? Let me know asap because i'm calling a mate who's a car engineer tomorrow morning and if he gives me the all clear to do this conversion i'm going to compression test a front cut tomorrow arvo and buy it if i'm happy..

[slopshua]

also will the engine height affect the ra40? I've noticed the distance between my 18rc and the bonnet is quite close, i'm not sure a 1uz will fit with the standard bonnet? Are ta22 etc. bonnets able to be fitted on an ra40?

[stradlater]

A) I have a place in mind, but I want to buy the right engine from them first, so I'll buy then give you their name. :-)

B) If the engine height is a problem, you can just lower the cross member a touch and it'll be ok.