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to those of you who did your own 3sgte swaps - 6G Celicas Forums

Topic #34118 63 posts Started by brianforster
brianforster
#1
what were your car experiences when taking on the project..

lets say 1 is you didnt even change your own oil, 5 is being able to change your timing belt and 10 is doctor tweak (<3)

what would you rate yourself? how long did it take? what was the most frustrating part? (besides wiring, because my harness is already complete)

PS. doc if you read this, i still wann have the swap done by you, because of your crudentials, i trust you, and i know everything would be done right.. but my friends have some good points and are really trying to make me do this myself!

thanks all

-brian
Defgeph
#2
I would say I was about a 3 or 4. I did tune ups, exhaust work, suspension work. Never did a timing belt though, its a PITA with the engine in the car. Well, to me anyway.

So I was a 3 or 4, now I think I'm a 9. The only thing I don't do is wiring harnesses, I'll extend them, but I wont convert them.


Good luck in your decision
DEF
I will return one day.
brianforster
#3
basically what im hearing from my friends is that the hard part is the wiring (but that is done for me!)

and they want me to do the swap that way i know the ins and outs of my car, i learn a lot, and i know how to fix things when they go wrong (plus the saving of money)
brianforster
#4
oh yeah, i forgot to add, i think im like a 3 to 4 as well, and my friends are 5's and 6's. i can had a taurus SHO that i did all my maintenence on, but nothing major. my friends can do timing belts and headgaskets in a day. it seems like it might be a fun thing for us to do over spring break.
lagos
#5
>
QUOTE(brianforster @ Feb 23, 2006 - 1:04 AM) [snapback]398265[/snapback]
>
basically what im hearing from my friends is that the hard part is the wiring (but that is done for me!)

and they want me to do the swap that way i know the ins and outs of my car, i learn a lot, and i know how to fix things when they go wrong (plus the saving of money)



i would have to agree 110% with your friends. i didnt know anything when i did my swap. had a basic understanding of things, but never did more then remove my sparkplugs, install an intake and basic minor tune up stuff.
the greatest thing youll gain from a swap, is the amazing understanding and pride you will have from driving a car that you basically built on your own. its such a great feeling when you get to learn how to pull out a motor for the first time, or get to drive it the car you put so much hard work into.

if you have your own garage to work on, and a few buddies that are willing to hang out, then do your own swap. youll really be glad you did. as long as youre hard working, and do a lot of research about it you should have no problems doing the swap. the hardest part that i got stuck on, was when i tired to do all the wiring myself (with manny), without ever reading a wiring diagram before in my life. luckly now we have DG performace (who helped me out), drtweak, chrisD ,etc... that you can just mail your harness out and not have to worry about it.
15PSI - 30MPG - Megasquirt Tuned
brianforster
#6
>
QUOTE(lagos @ Feb 23, 2006 - 6:18 AM) [snapback]398274[/snapback]
>
>
QUOTE(brianforster @ Feb 23, 2006 - 1:04 AM) [snapback]398265[/snapback]
>
basically what im hearing from my friends is that the hard part is the wiring (but that is done for me!)

and they want me to do the swap that way i know the ins and outs of my car, i learn a lot, and i know how to fix things when they go wrong (plus the saving of money)



i would have to agree 110% with your friends. i didnt know anything when i did my swap. had a basic understanding of things, but never did more then remove my sparkplugs, install an intake and basic minor tune up stuff.
the greatest thing youll gain from a swap, is the amazing understanding and pride you will have from driving a car that you basically built on your own. its such a great feeling when you get to learn how to pull out a motor for the first time, or get to drive it the car you put so much hard work into.

if you have your own garage to work on, and a few buddies that are willing to hang out, then do your own swap. youll really be glad you did. as long as youre hard working, and do a lot of research about it you should have no problems doing the swap. the hardest part that i got stuck on, was when i tired to do all the wiring myself (with manny), without ever reading a wiring diagram before in my life. luckly now we have DG performace (who helped me out), drtweak, chrisD ,etc... that you can just mail your harness out and not have to worry about it.


so far thats what everyones talking about, the wiring, but mark gave me the wiring and ecu straight out of his car, so all i gotta do is run it through the firewall and plug and play.

seems like a no brainer to anyone i ask now.. provided i can get my hands on a garage i think i might undergo this one myself
x_itchy_b_x
#7
well, id say i was like a 6 when i started. having done headgaskets,exhaust work, turboing, and tuning.
so far the hardest thing was remember where you pulled each bolt from.
but after looking in the BGB it all comes back.
my swap would have been done if i had the funds to have everything here at once.
so to reduce downtime make sure you have everything.
(ps spec makes a great 3sgte/5sfe tranny clutch. made perfect to fit)
make sure when pulling axels u dont pull the cv apart lol.

this is how i see it lol. if you were good with legos as a kid then u can do this.
all of the parts are ment to go together you just need to find the correct way to do it.
Visit My Automotive & Tech Blog.
brianforster
#8
the transmisssion is already attatched to the motor with all necessary swap components in there, thats the benefit of having it pulled from a running 3sgte swapped celica
Defgeph
#9
I think I could get your engine in and running using only a spoon LMAO
I will return one day.
brianforster
#10
put your spoon where your mouth is and come do it! ill pay gas money.. hahaha
Supersprynt
#11
As long as you have a place to do it I think your already 75% done with your swap. Shouldnt take you more than a weekend to finish it.
MyFlickrMyeBay_Perpetual Aperture_
brianforster
#12
hey super remember me? hehe, looks like ill be back in the 6gc action soon, and as a 3sgter smile.gif

whered you get ahld of your stock WTA intercooler and parts? Id really love to go with that over FMIC.
Supersprynt
#13
Yeah I remember how can someone forget driving 6 hrs to take out an interior while sweatin' bullets. LOL.

I got mine from Chico Race Works, its a lil banged up but works perfect. Clayton just sold his and Chris Dittrick was also selling one, I dont know if that was bought, probably tho they are a hot item. Look to spend about ~600 for the entire setup.
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brianforster
#14
ah, maybe ill be going with fmic then hahaha.. but i still have no idea what bends to get and who makes good intercoolers and such.. i have searched a million times and find hardly any threads dealing with intercoolers that have specific information on them
Supersprynt
#15
Spearco is probably best bang for your buck.
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presure2
#16
brian, to build a effective FMIC, if you buy high quality stuff will cost you very close to as much as a used 205 setup if you look around long enough.
a GOOD FMIC will run around 250+
cheap side aluminized piping 100+ aluminum/stainless 250+
couplers and clamps ~200
BOV and flange..
205 setup will run you in the 600$ range depending on who you get the parts from.
Former Team 5SFTE pro member ;)13.6@108MPH, 5SFTE Powered
brianforster
#19
i did figure the ebay kits were crap.. which bends do you all think i will need?
Dr_Tweak
#20
Brian, I noticed that you had an SHO, did you ever check out www.shophoenixproject.com? I built that site and did all the how-to guides (mostly), that's one of the cars that I learned on.

smile.gif

-Doc
-Dr Tweak, 6GC's resident engine swap wiring expert extraordinaireClick here to see my swapsdrtweak@phoenixtuning.com
brianforster
#21
nope but i did post on www.shoforum.com for a little while, my car was kind of a beater, so i didnt do much bu t maintenence to it, it was 500 bucks! haha, was a quick litle car though.
BBoYRuGGeD
#22
i bought my fmic piping kit from ebay and theyre good...same goes for the silicone couplers. the only bad thing about those ebay kits are the clamps. they suck big time kindasad.gif i changed all of my clamps after the first week

bboy
..(formerly daily driven) 3S-GTE powered celica currently set @ 12psi..
eggman40
#23
if probably say a 3. I had done bolt on exhausts, intakes, suspension before. Not timiming belts though. The most annoying part was preping the e-153 to work right.
brianforster
#24
bboy could you happen to show me which kit you got? and what bends where in it etc.. thanks man.
lilsteeg
#25
ha ha ha i dont think a timing belt is that big of a deal, my brothers girlfriend changed hers and her radiator in 1 weekend, but i am probally a 4 not done a swap on my 6gc yet
BBoYRuGGeD
#26
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QUOTE(brianforster @ Feb 23, 2006 - 10:59 PM) [snapback]398566[/snapback]
>
bboy could you happen to show me which kit you got? and what bends where in it etc.. thanks man.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-5-TURBO-I...1QQcmdZViewItem

i got 2 of this kit from this very same guy. its all 90 degree bends since i got a clocked turbo and dont need the 180 degree bend up top most people go with. the piping and the silicone couplers are great quality tho like i said i had to replace the clamps. also i'd like to add i've bought a few aluminum bends and silicone couplers off ebay and they've all been great quality.

bboy

This post has been edited by BBoYRuGGeD: Feb 23, 2006 - 8:31 PM
..(formerly daily driven) 3S-GTE powered celica currently set @ 12psi..
Chanh55
#27
eggman40 is gonna help with my swap bowdown.gif I'm in the process of sourcing all the parts.
I'm hoping to go from a level 1 to a level 7. smile.gif
brianforster
#28
>
QUOTE(BBoYRuGGeD @ Feb 24, 2006 - 1:20 AM) [snapback]398635[/snapback]
>
>
QUOTE(brianforster @ Feb 23, 2006 - 10:59 PM) [snapback]398566[/snapback]
>
bboy could you happen to show me which kit you got? and what bends where in it etc.. thanks man.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-5-TURBO-I...1QQcmdZViewItem

i got 2 of this kit from this very same guy. its all 90 degree bends since i got a clocked turbo and dont need the 180 degree bend up top most people go with. the piping and the silicone couplers are great quality tho like i said i had to replace the clamps. also i'd like to add i've bought a few aluminum bends and silicone couplers off ebay and they've all been great quality.

bboy



so it took you 12 90 degree bends to route your intercooler? im confused as to how you did it all with no straight pipes, maybe im missing something about intercoolers.. hehe

also, whered you buy your new couplers (im asking you a lot of questions because i really like the look of your intercooler hehe)

This post has been edited by brianforster: Feb 23, 2006 - 9:47 PM
brianforster
#29
actually bboy, i took the liberty of using one of your pics and photoshop, is this how you are routed?

http://img78.imageshack.us/my.php?image=myguess2ky.jpg

is it something like that? (i will take the image down if you are mad i used ur pic, if so sorry)

i just traced an example of the approximate size of one 90 degree bend and bended/twisted them to work, its not exactly right because i obviously didnt have the exact copy of the bend, and sometimes the image skewed when i was transforming it.
BBoYRuGGeD
#30
lol well its sorta like that except you have the turbo side connected to the intake laugh.gif lemme see if i can find some pictures and if not i can always take some pics.

btw for mine 9 90 degree bends were used

bboy

This post has been edited by BBoYRuGGeD: Feb 24, 2006 - 1:24 AM
..(formerly daily driven) 3S-GTE powered celica currently set @ 12psi..
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