Malecrod's 3rd Gen 3SGTE Swap, Documenting a JDMGuy Garage 3rd gen 3SGTE Swap Options

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Hey All,
A Month or so ago, I got a PM from Eli (Malecrod), asking me if I was interested in doing a 3rd gen swap for him.
We exchanged a handfull of PM's discussing the in's and out's of getting it done for him, and settled in on a plan of action.
I went over the details of what he wanted to do to the engine as far as mantinence and what not, he let me know that he wanted to get everything done while the motor was out, just to make sure everything is fresh and ready to go when he picks the car up after the swap.
So, I made a list of all the mantinence parts we would need, and set him up with an engine set thru Jim.
I am currently waiting on the motor to arrive, and in the mean time, have been ordering and gathering all the parts to get the motor ready to go in.

His car currently has a 2nd Gen 3SGTE Swap, that was done by dr. tweak back in '06, using the stock S54 tranny, with a front mount intercooler, ect.
The one "issue" he had with the car is that for some reason, he's gone thru several clutches. He explained that for some reason, he kept spitting out the springs on whatever brand disk he tried. (spec, comp, ect) He is currently running an ACT 6 puck sprung disk clutch that he has had good luck with so far, but noted that it did have a heavy pedal feel, and that he was open to suggestions on which brand to go with.
Other than that, he said that the car runs just fine, he just wants to update the motor, and go to the cleaner 3rd gen intercooler setup.

So, for the Clutch, I suggested a Clutchmasters, with an unsprung 6 puck disk. I installed one in my cousin Joes 3rd gen swap last year, at the suggestion of the guys over on mr2oc and aaron @ ATS racing.
The pedal feel on this clutch is REALLY good, not nearly as heavy as the ACT, and the engagement on it is amazing for an unsprung disk.
I talked to my guy, and Clutchmasters will do the 3sgte disk, with the S54 spline, no extra charge, no problem, so that is what I ordered.

His Exhaust system is currently a 3" downpipe, into a 2.5" b-pipe, back into 3" after the crossmember.
For some reason, his exhaust guy couldnt fit 3" piping over the crossmember, so I will be making him a new 3" b-pipe in 304 stainless. I already ordered and recieved a U/J combo bend, 3"X6" flex pipe, and 2 3" flanges.

I also ordered and recieved a bunch of Toyota parts from Aaron from lithia toyota, just about everything I needed, he had in stock, the only thing he didnt have was the spark plug wires, but I have another source for those anyway, which is great. (thanks steff, your the best!)
Here is the list of parts:
Complete Gasket Set
T-Belt and Tensioner ( I will get the idler pully locally)
Oil and Water pumps
Distributor Cap and Rotor (plugs and wires locally)
Fuel Filter
PCV Valve
and some FIPG to do the Oil Pan
Axle Seals
T-stat is being picked up locally thru steff as well

The rest of the small stuff (coolant, oil, gear oil ect), will all be picked up locally when the car arrives.

And here is the kicker of this whole deal... He lives in MN, and will be driving the car to me in MA to perform the swap for him! Awesome!

According to Jim, the motor will arrive next week some time, so for now, here are a few pics of the stuff that has arrived so far:

The Clutchmasters Clutch setup (I still need to measure the disk, i want to verify that it is in fact a 3sgte disk.)



the Exhaust stuff:



and the Toyota parts:



Lots more to come over the next couple weeks once the motor arrives and I start tearing into it.

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Hey Manny quick question! Looks like you have the full engine overhaul gasket kit. I bought the same thing from Lithia Toyota. Was wondering if that kit included the small orange gasket that goes on the male end of the oil cooler that sticks into the block? I have found the outer gasket in my set, but not the inner, and i'm unable to locate the distributor gasket that goes on the male end that inserts into the head. I do have several black o'ring gaskets that i've not placed yet. Possible that the replacement for the oil cooler gasket is black and not orange, and that the distributor gasket is black and needs to be stretched onto the stalk?

I haven't opened or look thru the gaskets yet. It's prolly just a black replacement.

As mentioned above, the only real problem i had with it was the clutches. I quickly learned how to do my own clutch job right after my second failure and l always have one extra clutch laying around.

Do you launch the car at all or street/track race?
Since the clutch compound is so aggressive on a puck clutch and basically will never slip like a normal clutch disk, something in the setup has to "give" and the weak point becomes the springs and thats why you had so many issues with them. Going with an unsprung disk was a good call this time around.

I personally rarely launch my car, and my sprung puck disk (spec) has lasted for years without issues. But I will probably go unsprung next time as well, just to avoid the possibility of a problem in the future.

I agree 100%, art.
My ACT clutch lasted almost 5 years before it spit a spring. Sad part is the disk still had a lot of life left.
The comp clutch I got from tweak is designed so that the springs can't spit out the pressure plate side, but the flywheel side is just like all the brands I've seen that spit springs, and already looked like it had a lot of wear when I pulled it to install the 3s. I didn't have the cash at the time, or I woulda replaced it then.