the whole point is this... you are asking someone to take a HUGE risk with their car, invest a lot of money, and put a ton of faith in your fabrication skills (jb weld? ). why dont you buy a 6th gen, and swap it with something. im not talking about this 2jz nonsense... but im sure you could pull off some type of swap for next to nothing with all the spare parts you must have around the shop from the cars youve worked on. i always thought it was strange that you work on all these 6th gen swaps, yet you dont have one of your own.

if you really want to do an awd or rwd conversion, it shouldn't be the type of thing that you just weld/bolt on in a few months and hand it over to some kid thats going to do awd launches and 150mph runs on the highway. you would need at least 6months to a year of test driving to make sure that everything holds up over time, so that this doesn't end up killing someone. so, do it to your own car, weed out the bugs and show people that this isn't just talk. once you have something amazing to show, im sure people will start taking out loans and you'll be making even more money.

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Just to do a plug and play wiring harness? $350 plus $30 for shipping, if you have both uncut harnesses.

-Doc

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Very good point Art. People need to look at this logically.

This post has been edited by snapshotgt: Mar 1, 2007 - 5:26 PM

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What you don't understand is that I work a TON of different cars. Supras, Celicas, MR2s, Corollas, Tercels, Pickups, Echos, etc. I can't go and buy EVERY SINGLE CAR I WORK ON, do a swap in it for myself, so that I can go on each forum and be like, "oh yeah, I did that swap on my own car, check it out...". Let me put this very plainly:

If you live at home with your parents, or are in college, or are in a lot of debt, or don't have a good job, or you don't have much common sense, leave this thread now, this kind of conversion is not for you. On the other hand, if you have some clue about what's going on when I say that I'm going to turn your FWD Celica into a RWD, and you have the ability to pay for (or at least pay off) a large amount of money, and you want to do something crazy with your Celica that hasn't been done before, then we can do it.

I know for certain that while the 6th gen Celica is a first car for many people here, and the only car or second car for a lot of people who don't have a lot of money, or the only car of a college student, there are also some people at least watching who STILL have their Celica from when they were in that situation, but now they've graduated college, they're getting older, getting more money and buying power, have another (new) car or two, and maybe want to do something cool with their Celica.

-Doc

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I meant the whole swap. From what I've read, it's a hard swap because of fitment issues trying to get a RWD engine to work on a FWD setup. Then comes the wiring headaches. One or two people have got it to almost work by sourcing redtop BEAMS manifolds. But i'd rather get someone to make the original stuff work as I imagine finding redtop parts would be a huge headache. Finding a blacktop BEAMS itself would be hard, but I only have to do that once.
j.

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oh, so your on here strictly as a vendor, not as an enthusiast?

you have a good reputation for basic bolt in swaps and harness work, but no one has ever seen you do any form of fabrication. you're going to have a hard time convincing people that you have the skills to do a project of that caliber without giving them a real world example. this is the reason why many shops/vendors have shop test cars of their own. to show what they can do and to weed out the bugs. i mean, whats going to happen if, half way though cutting up someones car, you find out that you cant finish the project due to a mechanical issue or a financial one?

This post has been edited by lagos: Mar 1, 2007 - 5:41 PM

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Out of curiosity Art, why are you bustin his balls so much?

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Oh I gotcha. I'd have to quote it all out, but it's true that the manifold, among other things, would need to be changed. We could tig-weld up a custom manifold easier and probably cheaper than tyring to find one from a red-top. Just off the top of my head I'd put it around $5900 or so.


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Give me a break, of course not. I'm a TOYOTA ENTHUSIAST.

Anyway, I'm not going to argue with you all night on this subject. Your point of reasoning is that I should do it on my own car before I do it on someone elses. My point is: No. I probably am not going to. If the customer decides that they don't want to have it done because I haven't done it before, then they won't bring it to me to have it done and I won't do it. Simple as that.

Thanks for dissing my work by saying that I only do BASIC BOLT-IN SWAPS.



-Doc

This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Mar 1, 2007 - 6:03 PM

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because hes asking someone to "set up to the plate", but hes not even a player in the ball game.

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im really not trying to diss you or give you a hard time. but i have seen your work first hand and there were areas that in my opinion could have been done better. my impression was that you did a "quick and dirty" basic swap. i didnt see anything that stood out as "wow". please dont take that statement the wrong way tho... its just my opinion from what i saw. i know your customers are very happy with your service .

i'm very interested in a swap + awd conversion. i had no idea your shop could do the awd.

i've got the cash, at present. but, i bought a house in january and am fixing it up and spending tons on it right now. also, as of right now, i'm not very good at manual transmission, and only have my 1 car to drive. also not sure how much the governments will want from my tax-wise this year.

i think after 2-6 months i'll be ready for this. i should have gotten a manual transmission truck to practice with (and drive while my celica is with you), and spending on the house should have stabalized.

questions:
1) i am really paranoid where the law/government is concearned. i want a 100% legal (egr and newer than 1999 engine), also preferably a engine that toyota still produces for the us market so i can get replacement parts easily. which engine would you recomend, considering i want awd and hope to get a 250-350bhp depending on engine tuning and modification (which i know very little about). i'm leaning v6 or v8.

2) one of the reasons i bought the house was the hope of making a garage so i could do some stuff myself. would there be anyway i could be present and/or help out in the process? i understand if the answer is no.

3) i assume the shop is located in Savannah, GA, is this in fact the case?

This post has been edited by Zimluura: Mar 1, 2007 - 6:20 PM

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1. If you want a federally legal swap, then you are correct, the engine must be from '99 or newer. That being the case I would suggest one of the newer LS430 V8 engines (FWD or RWD) or one of the new V6 engines, like the 2GRFE out of the new Camry (AWD, FWD, or RWD). Since you said you want AWD, I would strongly recommend the V6, which makes 260hp stock.

2. I'm afraid that our insurance will not allow customers to spend time in the shop. You may, however, stop in from time to time to look at the progress.

3. That is correct.

-Doc

yup....

hey doc
do you know if a MZ block fits the alltrac/gt-four trans?

1mz and 3mz will mate to st205 box but issue is rear transfer case and engine clearance . I think it should fit but no way to tell until you bolted up ..
guy in uk who did 3v swap st185 with awd had to use a bunch of diff combo of parts from rav4 etc..

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Yeah, as mentioned it could be done but it would likely need some modification.

-Doc

you should choose a lab rat (one of us) and do it for free to show the non believers you can do it.. i'd be willing lol i know thats a long shot, but just thought i'd bring it up. good luck!

I think if you wanted to do somethin really rediculus, you should do a dual engine swap into some ones celi...like they do in alot of Renaults. a dual 5s powered celi? Use an MR2 tranny so you wouldnt have to mess around with the oem celi one. or better yet just use a mr2 5s. Maybe?? I think that would be more badass than a 4.0L or a AWD conversion. I still like the idea of the 2j though

I'd be willing to do that. I'm not going to do it for free though, because I'm already pretty much doing it for free

-Doc

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There is a Tiburon somewhere on the net that has one engine powering the front wheels and another in the back powering the back wheels. That was some sick s***

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yofZIcTkCiw

Hows this doc

I'll give you my 94 GT COUPE so you will have a 6th gen to toy with
and you can make my 94 GT HATCH RHD

This post has been edited by jcbass7: Mar 2, 2007 - 5:07 PM

So I have been lurking in the shadows but never straying away for last 8 months. I come back here once per week to check on how things are and how my fellow guys are doing.

Then I see this thread and it hits me like BAM BAM BAM Finally someone able to do super crazy conversions. So I spent next 6 hours plus 1 hour in traffic anticipating reading this thread at home as i could not read it at work.

I see this conversion, that conversion, and in the back of my head I see dollar signs lighting up.

Then I see lagos's and player's posts.. both of whom i met on several ocasions and learned to respect them for their ability to think critically and their knowledge on the specialized car matters.

Although I have a stack of money sitting next to me I am extremely hesitant to call you.

Yes I do want a car thats capable of some major butt whooping but I also want a car that is safe, reliable and will be in my possession as soon as possible. I called XAT racing and have been quoted a price along with a 7 percent state tax AND a quote on time it will take. 6-8 weeks from moment you contact them (meanwhile you are drivign a car for almost 2 months) then 2 weeks in their shop and back in your hands. Yes ladies and gentlemen this means that in 10 weeks time I dont have to rent a car nor send it far away from me and keep driving/modifying/upgrading it to my liking and when the shop is ready you just park your car ans walk away for 2 weeks time.
I also asked a local performance shop.. I have been quoted 2 weeks time as well.

Giving up your car for up to 3 months.. out of state, i might add, and at a risk of it have never been done before by non toyota racing team is scary, hairy and a huge risk to take.

I am not concearned with price at all.. that is something worth investing in.. but the thought of entrusting my vehicle to another person for 3 months is just plain frightening.

If this was a 2 week matter than I am sure more people would be interested.

these aren't some lil projects that can be done by just any shop. dr tweak has a good rep and does great work. i'm pretty sure he's not just gonna rush through the project so you get it back half*ssed. these things take time in order to make sure you get the highest quality of work. i live in the west coast and someday i'ma ship my car all the way over to tweak cuz i know he'll take care of my car and do great things to it. unless i find someone better and closer.

This post has been edited by j0e_p3t: Mar 2, 2007 - 8:13 PM

Ohh no doubt he knows his stuff but my point still could be summarized in one sentence.

For a person with one car and or a college student and or a person with work and or a person with family and or a person not leaving next to public transportation and or anone i forgot to mention.. can not afford to part with his or her vehicle for 3 months.

True if you have 2 cars then this is not an issue.. but for most of people here (age 16-26) that option does not apply as we only have 1 car.

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you bring up a really good point.... but.... there is an old saying that i think applies here. if a mechanic tells you 2 weeks, he really means 2 months. if he says 2 months, he really means 2yrs.

there have been countless of horror stories of people taking their car to some mechanic, thinking it would take a few weeks, only to end up without a car for a year or more. i think this even happened to coomer, if i remember correctly.

if you really want a crazy/unique swap, you have to give up some things. one of them is time, and the other is money. you also have to forget about something like that being reliable or a daily driver.

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My .02 is that not all mechanics are the same and this is an unfair critism of Doc given his track record. You might argue that you weren't necessarily talking about him - but this is his thread.

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no no no ... i was talking about the shops yarik said that quoted him "2 weeks" .

i know i give tweak a hard time sometimes, but i totally agree that, in general, he is an honest and trustworthy guy.

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I would have to disagree. Anyone with $10 000+ to spend on a swap, could afford to buy a temporary car IMO, and if they can't then they shouldnt be swapping. I have a $1500 car to drive around here during the winter, because of all the salt and snow...

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100% correct. Anyone who's thinking that they're going to spend $10,000 on a conversion like this put won't spend $1500 on a car to drive around in the meantime doesn't have all their screws tight. You can EASILY purchase a decent, reliable Corolla, Tercel, or even a Celica for under $1500 and have a super-reliable daily driver. I bought a 6th gen last year for $750, drove it for a few months without putting a penny into it, and sold it for $1600. Never had a hint of trouble with it.

And as Lagos made clear in his post, there is NO POSSIBLE way that XAT Racing, or any shop for that matter, will have one of these conversions done for you in two weeks. That right there is a SERIOUS warning sign that says STAY AWAY!


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*sniffle* *sniffle*

I LOVE YOU MAN!!!

LOL. I just may have to put that in my sig though.

-Doc

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permission denied !