Possible engine transplants

[johnp]

I apologise if this has already been covered a lot but can someone summarise for me the options that are 'do-able',i.e.not beyond the scope of a competant home mechanic.
I'm looking at N/A rather than turbo,since 170/180bhp would be enough for me.Also don't want to chop the car about very much and want to retain the existing boot compartment.
Mk2 rev3--5??

[PW@Woodsport]

You have quite a few options to go for....

3vz-fe V6,190bhp stock,huge wall of torque,but will mean moving the rear boot wall back a little.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kirvkbXXd ... re=related

1mz-fe V6,205bhp stock,same torque,no rear wall to move and 20-30 kgs lighter than a 3vz,i have the supercharged version in my own mk1.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IuIOSqLzm ... re=related

Rev 3- 3sge,175bhp,no firewall cutting,we have done one,it was ok,didnt really set my hair alight if im honest,but for the effort needed to do it you might as well stick the 3sgte in there and 300bhp is easy.3sge donor clips are cheap as hell though,under £500.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eYJj_kUyuFA

2zz out of the celica,190bhp, never been done yet in the UK,would make a great swap.

With the help of the lads on twobrutal all of these options are doable at home,but it all depends on your skill level,good welding skills are a must,the rest is just knowledge and determination.

Hope that helps.

[johnp]

Thanks very much for the information.
You read my mind with the last one,the 190 Celica engine,that would be great,but these are quite rare so not surprised it hasn't been done....YET

[PW@Woodsport]

oh i dont know,there are lots of smashed celicas about

[Jim-SR]

Thanks very much for the information.
You read my mind with the last one,the 190 Celica engine,that would be great,but these are quite rare so not surprised it hasn't been done....YET

its been done a few times, there is a well detailed build on the US MR2OC forums from someone who has done it. its my engine of choice for the mk1 MR2 if you want to stay N/A. im going to be putting this engine in my car sometime next year once the rest of it is sorted (assuming i pull my finger out and get the rest sorted!)

i think the hardest parts of the install are wiring and emissions control systems. but in the UK we get away without so many of the emissions control items compared to America, but the wiring will still be tricky.

as far as sourcing an engine goes, its really not that hard. they sell by the half dozen on ebay at most times (prices range from £500-1800, from private sales to breakers selling them from crash damaged cars, etc). the gearboxes are the harder item to get hold of in my experience, but they pop up occasionally. your best bet is to try and buy a front cut from a Corolla T-Sport or a new Celica, that way youll get everything, including the ECU and wiring loom (which often arent included, and are the hardest parts to get hold of for sensible money)

P.S. im surprised we havent had the usual hordes of people on here yet telling anyone and everyone how engine transplants are the work of the devil, and 4A-GE and 4A-GZE are the only options, but you cant tune them beyond 10% over stock, and MR2's should remain 100% original.

[kevin..in]

oh i dont know,there are lots of smashed celicas about

also look for corolla T sports

[PW@Woodsport]

For what its worth a well installed 1mz-fe v6 in a mk1 is amazing,very little weight increase over the stock engine (weighs about the same as an SC engined car) ,but i recently drove one we converted and it was outstanding.

That's the engine choice for me in a mk1 although a 2zz would be brilliant.

[MarcsMR2]

Paul,

What would you be charging to supply and fit a 1mz-fe without the charger (at the moment)?

[PW@Woodsport]

not allowed to say on the forum so pming you

[cmux]

For what its worth a well installed 1mz-fe v6 in a mk1 is amazing,very little weight increase over the stock engine (weighs about the same as an SC engined car) ,but i recently drove one we converted and it was outstanding.

Mine?

Because it was well installed

[johnp]

Another thought:

What about the various Honda fwd V-tec series of engines and boxes.e.g.

Civic VTR 1.6...?
Prelude 2.2...?
Integra 1.8...?
Accord type 2.2...?
Obviously NOT the S2000...front engine but rwd.

OK,not Toyota so that would spoil it for some,but I think their revvy nature would suit the Mk1.

[PW@Woodsport]

There is a honda vtec powered mk1 over on TB,the problem with using a honda engine is that most rotate anticlockwise so you need to install them with the honda box too,which throws up a few problems that you don't have if you simply use the mr2 gearbox and fit the engine to that..... in other words,driveshafts/speedo/gear selection/clutch operation are all problems you don't have to work out using the mr2 box.

For this reason Toyota engines make the best transplants....plus it keeps it all in the family.

[johnp]

Thanks again.
Avoiding the difficulties you point out makes a lot of sense.