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Thread: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

  1. #1
    Forum Member 1st year Apprentice
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    Default 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    Hi Guys,

    I have just started a new project to fit a 3S-GE BEAMS engine into an RA23 Celica. I already have the engine which I have removed from a crashed 2001 Altezza RS200, along with 6 speed manual box, all wiring, ancillaries etc.

    I have recently bought a knackered RA23 (loads of rust + crap bondo and fibreglass repairs) which I can use as a test mule for the conversion, before later fitting the parts into a Celica that will hopefully have a body that’s in better condition!

    I have done some reading into the project, thanks to MISFIT and Ryan for doing such a great job of documenting your projects!:
    http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/for...-beams-v2.html
    http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/for...6k-beware.html

    I am also in the process of sourcing a Corolla KE70 engine cross member and steering rack etc. for the conversion.

    I think that the engine conversion should be relatively straight forward, but now I need some advice on what I can do with the front suspension, brakes and rear diff setup. There seems to be a hell of a lot of information on this forum about different suspension setups, rear disc brake setups etc. etc. and it's kinda difficult to pick through all of it and get an idea of what would be best for me!

    I have heard about using AE86 parts for the front suspension and the early AE86 rear diff, can anyone give me some advice on this?

    It would be good if I could use the AE86 rear diff as I would like to upgrade to rear disc brakes and LSD. I have heard that you can use the AE86 diff assy on the RA23 but that it is 20mm wider each side – this shouldn’t be a problem as I plan to use the TRD style wheel arch flares anyway. Can anyone give me other tips or advice on using the AE86 diff?

    Also what AE86 parts can I use for the front and rear suspension?

    Parts for the AE86 aren't too difficult to come by here in the UK, so that's why I am keen to use them!

    Thanks,

    Jon

  2. #2
    The Evil Director Backyard Mechanic jfallen's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    Welcome to Toymods.

    Don't bother swapping in an AE86 diff, they're significantly weaker than the diff in the RA-series celica's. As for disc options look at what guys are doing with old escorts in the UK. You're in the UK so every man and his dog have put an LSD and disc rear end in an escort, so I'd look there. Probably some cheap stuff floating around. You'll of course need to change mounts but you'd have to do that with an E86 diff anyway. You'll want an adjustable panhard rod if you lower your car, but if you do it smartly when you get the mounts changed have the panhard rod mount located in the correct spot and it wont be an issue

    The front end is a different story.
    Front struts are interchangeable. Freight may be a killer but AJPS.com.au do a very nice RX7 4-pot disc upgrade that I use, in conjunction with a coilover setup.
    Camber tops are still available from Cusco
    Don't want to give you a bum-steer on the LCA's and Castor rods, these may be interchangeable but I'm not sure. I use TechnoToyTuning (T3) gear specific for the TA22 which is different, so... yeah...
    Front sway bars are still available from whiteline.

    Hope this helps
    JA
    Past rides: 86 Hilux, 3x ke55 rollas's (2coupes,) 5th Gen GT4 x2, RA28, TA22 x3, KE10, P610 datto, RT40 corona x3, RT132, MX13

    Currrent: , CA-A22 Celica living life as a Sports Sedan, 2000model ST215W Caldina GT-T manual, RT40 corona.

  3. #3
    Forum Member 1st year Apprentice
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    Default Re: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    Thanks a lot for the info JA. I have emailed the guys at AJPS, the RX7 brake upgrade looks good and there are a few sets of RX7 calipers on eBay UK at the moment so that could work out well :-)

    Will have a look into what front shock absorbers and struts I can get hold of now...

    The rear diff is another story though....hmmmm, might just go for an early AE86 TRD LSD and then try to get hold of some Corona calipers and discs. I wanted to stick with as much bolt on stuff as I could to be honest - not because I'm lazy, just swapping mounts etc on other diffs sounds like it might be a bit of a PITA.

  4. #4
    Junior Member Automotive Encyclopaedia
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    Default Re: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    look for any ra40 gt celicas over there or ra23 gt as they have a bigger diff center F series which you wont break

  5. #5
    Forum Member 1st year Apprentice
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    Default Re: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    So if I go for the 23/40 GT diff, do I need the whole diff assy or just the centre? What about shafts/axles, do I need those to get the GT diff to work?

    I have the A03B LSD diff from the Altezza sat here isnt that an F-Series diff? :-)
    1977 Toyota Celica Coupe TA23
    1977 Toyota Celica Coupe RA23

  6. #6
    Junior Member Automotive Encyclopaedia
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    Default Re: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    you need the whole rear end as its bigger and so are the axles and the altezza diff will bolt up to the center as well

  7. #7
    Forum Member 1st year Apprentice
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    Default Re: 3S-GE BEAMS into RA23 Celica, AE86 rear diff, suspension and brakes?

    Very interesting! Thanks for the info - just need to track a rear end down now...
    1977 Toyota Celica Coupe TA23
    1977 Toyota Celica Coupe RA23

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