6G Celicas Forums

Indeed. Found a few LS1 cars, but they've been autotragics... Odds are it'll be a 95 Formula/Trans Am. Then can run long tubes and not worry about the cats.

Just get an LT model and swap in a T-56 transmission and a Vortec 5300

all you have to swap is the intake to get it to fit under the hood, but you could throw LS1 heads and cams in there if you want a couple extra horsepower.

a 700r4 or a 4L60E would be perfect auto trannys depending on if you got an auto ECU or not, the 4L80E is definately overkill for a mostly stock LS engine in an F body

No swapping. Basic bolt on parts, nothing else. I only do swaps on cars without ECU's.

I hate these cars... I always want to kick the front end in... it's too long and blah looking.




This is the only one I'd own.

um thats not true at all. its 90% the same as the 2JZ-GTE. same block, same crank, same rods, higher comp pistons, and slightly different (better) flowing head. the NA 2JZ is VERY boost friendly and you can make 500HP in stock trim all day long.

im in the market now for a 97 SC300 and yes i will boost it.

Not at all what I said. Read it again- N/A 2JZ isn't a powerhouse. Boosted, a 2JZ is a legendary engine. In naturally aspirated trim, it's not really any different than any other six cylinder. My IS 300 was a dog. Boosted it would've been extremely fun but it was outrun by my BEAMS running on a defunct ECU.

Edit: I will add that it was an auto IS 300 and had an SRI for a short period but was more or less stock.

This post has been edited by richee3: Feb 25, 2013 - 2:26 PM

Toyota Supra ,BMW M3 2 door, ermm TVR! Lotus Elise?

If reliability and draining the world's oil reserves wasn't a concern I'd just get one of my (realistic) dream cars:


OR



But seeing as reliability and remotely decent mpg is needed, that pretty much leaves it to the 4th gen Trans Am. Plus I always liked the look of the 4th gen, I'd say it's my third choice as far as looks go. Pretty much ruled any Euro cars out. Japanese cars I'd consider obviously, but I want a V8. Just for the sound above anything else. I could sit and listen to a cammed OHV V8 all day. 4 cylinders just sound like ****, 6 cylinders are in that halfway point. Most 6's sound good at idle, but in the higher rpms sound like ****. I hate high pitched raspy exhaust, I refuse to deal with it. Mainly in part why the Celica has its stock exhaust still. I've gone back and forth among the various options available, and keep coming back to the Trans Am. It's what I really want, and I've wanted one for a long time. So what if it's not the best handling sports car out there. I'm not using the car for racing, nor driving it at illegal speeds. It's more than capable for what I'll use it for. It's more about the image if you will. The car just seems to fit me better than the others. I'll be sure to update on whatever I end up doing.

Well I've given it some more thought and here's where I am now, and in no particular order at the moment:

1977-1978 Datsun 280Z


1987-1992 Chevrolet IROC-Z/Z28


1987-1992 Pontiac Trans Am


1989-1992 Toyota Supra Turbo


1989-1995 Chevrolet Corvette


So I suppose any of the aforementioned cars will work. Of course gave thought to keeping the Celica as well. If I could do the 1MZ-FE swap for $1,500 or less I'd heavily consider it. Would just have to find the perfect donor car first though.

This post has been edited by Box: Apr 7, 2013 - 10:46 PM

With a little (or a lot) of work, the 280Z is my favorite car out if the group. But they look best with small tasteful body accents and an RB engine never hurts anything. The Corvette would be the most bang for the buck, although I don't know how hard they are to work on. I don't know if its just local to where I live, but the Camaros and Trans Ams are all ragged out in comparison to the Corvettes, I'm assuming due to the lower price tag and easier access. You've already had a mkIII Supra, so I'd say just pass on those head gasket issues.

That 911 is the best option yet.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Apr 8, 2013 - 8:17 AM

I do indeed like the look of the 280Z, so much in fact I've decided to hold out for it instead of the ZX. Shave those terrible bumpers, weld in some metal and smooth it out and you're golden. Throw in your V8 of choice and it's all good. Yeah, the Corvettes do seem to be in better shape usually. I guess price difference has a lot to do with it. From the looks of it I'd say the C4 Vette isn't too bad.

I like the MKIII Supra though. The head gasket is only a problem if when you redo it, you torque to the "original" specs. The head was erroneously torqued to 56 ft lb, when it's supposed to be 75 ft lb. If you're lucky you can just re-torque the head bolts before it becomes a problem. The one advantage to owning the Supra is that it's a Toyota, my uncle is an ASE Toyota Master Technician. So if anything goes wrong I can just ask him for help. Plus I still have lots of Supra parts for whatever reason from the last one. That and out of the group is probably the most comfortable. I don't know, still thinking about it. It'll most likely be one of the aforementioned though. I had considered the Z32, but being a pain to work on and having an interference engine is a turn off.


Meh... I had thought about getting a 944, but then I checked out the parts prices. High maintenance is an understatement. The cheapest clutch kit I could find for it was over $600... That and everything else for it costs a fortune. The 944 is the cheap one too, I'd hate to see 911 parts prices...

C4 vette's are a steal right now. Just like the c3's were ten years ago. I bought my C3 not only because I always wanted one, but I know that at the price I got it, it would be a (semi) reasonable investment as opposed to buying a brand new one.

You know my vote is for the vette

Oh I'd love to have a C3 Vette. Though that'd mean getting a project car or selling my organs on the black market for money. They're all good cars in their own way, just doing lots of research on all of them at the moment. Though I am leaning more towards the Vette, Supra, and 280Z at the moment.

You don't really want a 7mgte, do you? haha

My friend's old supra gave him sooo many stupid problems. Or maybe his was just a dud

edit: nevermind..your uncle can fix it everytime!

This post has been edited by Malek: Apr 8, 2013 - 5:39 PM

Sure I do. The only problems with them are the head gasket issue, which is easily remedied. That and I'd keep mine mostly stock. Start to run crazy levels of boost on stock internals, that's when you start to have problems.

My mind and circumstances have yet again changed. Seeing as my knee doesn't like the clutch of the Celica, odds are very much so it won't like the clutch in the F-body or Corvette. So that leaves the option of either of some kind of Honda/Acura since they have light clutches, or just get an automatic. I don't trust the automatic used in the F-body and Corvette, my dad went through 3 of them in his 96 Z28. So as far as automatics go I'm now thinking about the 92-95/98-00 Lexus SC400.


That or a 93-95 Acura Legend Coupe if the clutch is light enough.


Both are about evenly equipped and offer similar levels of performance. Only downside is the economy of the 4 speed auto SC400 leaves something to be desired, but the 5 speed auto in the 98-00 years remedies that. The 4 speed is OBDI and has the non-interference engine though. The 5 speed gains 40hp and some fuel economy, but has an interference engine due to the VVT-i and is OBDII. Honestly kind of leaning towards the 98-00 for the extra power and economy despite my hatred of OBDII. Though both being luxury cars it'd seem the backseat is still useless, not like I care anyway. Mainly it boils down to sound vs control. Sound of a V8 with an auto, or have control granted by a 6 speed and the sound of a V6. Though from what I've found the 3.2 V6 doesn't sound too bad, but still is nothing compared to even the relatively small 4.0 V8 of the Lexus. Then again if my knee doesn't get better and/or can't even handle the clutch of a Honda it won't matter anyway. Sad thing is I had started to come back to liking the Celica.

Don't get a Camaro with an LT1. They're fun but maintenance is a bitch especially the spark plugs.

Yeah, I've already moved away from that due to health reasons. I've decided I'll be getting a Lexus SC400, preferably a 98-00 model.

Nice I've always have had a soft spot for those.