Fuppylodder's '97 ST202 2GR-FE swap |
Fuppylodder's '97 ST202 2GR-FE swap |
May 3, 2019 - 12:57 AM |
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Enthusiast Joined Jan 9, '19 Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Hey, I'm a frequent member over on CCUK, but here is where I first found out about the 2GR-FE swap, I'd seen that njccmd2002 was one of the first to have one, and after reading through some of his Beams thread (photophuckit ruins it ), his Vert thread, and the thread titled 'never satisfied', I wanted to let him see what he helped inspire, as I was originally looking at a 1mz/3mz swap.
I have already had the Celica for about 3 years now, and 2 of those it has been in a body shop and engine shop. I work away 9 months of the year, so don't have the time (nor space nor know-how with regards to electrics, or welding capability/capacity amongst many other things ) but the job afforded me to make it happen anyway. So I still had the vision! Well, the project itself is not far from being complete already. Bodyshop to carry out:
Me to do:
Points of note for the 2GR-FE swap, The engine was hitting everything and in the way of everything. So it was lowered down about an inch (front subframe modified and reinforced), moved to UK passenger side an inch, and moved forward an inch or so. The sump is now sitting rather low so I'll be making an undertray to at least be some sort of first impact point for it should any rogue bumps get in the way (EXTREMELY Picture heavy incoming) Chrome door sill tread plates customised: Center Rear Brake Light: Some random ebay rear middle tail light for some random vehicle Poured in resin to smooth it out. Next attempt need to do 2 thin layers rather than one thick. Intention of making rubber seals too, but the one I used was seriously dry rotted and didnt take well to the silicone. It failed... Will try again though. I've actually produced about 6 of these, each progressing with lessons learned until I swapped to a longer curing resin, which gave me much clearer result, but never really cured properly so is always slightly tacky, and I learned another lesson why I still get big bubbles on the lens. Another silicone moulding method will be attempted to combat that issue. I WILL succeed! Current best result: Could be acceptible, if only seen from a distance, don't look too close But I'm a perfectionist and it's not acceptable to me... Especially if I'll be making them to offer for other people if wanted. Custom rear tail light units: First inception came because I saw an aftermarket center side/brake/reverse light unit for a 2015-2017 Mustang on google while looking for inspiration. An idea instantly popped in my head and I paintshopped a pic to see what it could potentially look like: Very happy with that! Wasn't sure on length of the light unit though, so I went ahead and ordered two. My next leave would be interesting! Research on angles of visibility required: Removing the LED unit from its casing-this would be as small as I can get it apart. Testing the lights at work-they're nice and bright! Rough plan on how I'd fit them in the JDM rear light housing: On leave-it's close, but looks like it could fit? Cutting up to fit the LED units in: Testing in the light housing, looking good so far: Now to start on the indicator. I wanted 2 sets of sequential LED arrow indicators next to each other, with a relay enabling them to be sequential as though they were one, but I was having issues with providing enough power through the relay to light the indicator arrow, so binned that idea, and went with one smaller arrow that is a simple on/off, and one sequential to the outside of that so it looks like it emanates from the on/off arrow. Wanted to make a cover plate out of perspex to sit the arrows into so they weren't sunken in, and the rest of the room could be used for something else! Expanding foam to shape some perspex over with a heat gun. Started the cover: An awful lot of filing and test fitting and heatgunning later, its done!: Perfect fit too! Coincidentally, the perspex was the exact same thickness as was the small lip that runs all around the indicator section, so sits flush: What's this? fiber optic tubing to make fiber optic LED side light for behind the indicator (further round the side). Trying to make my own lights has turned me into a bit of a light nerd and I've really ended up looking into different lights, and commonalities with modern day vehicle light designs. One thing most vehicles have in common nowadays is the side light can be seen from... the side. I wanted to replicate this, with a fiber optic tube light. Ordered some straight tube from ebay/china, arrived mega fast, from a distance of around 30cm and very carefully (after first attempt bubbled a piece) bent the tube to test bending capability. It worked out as below: Made a new piece, bent it specifically to fit where I wanted it to go, attached 2 of the LED lights-one on each end, and this is the result: The black cover plate will be bent in so it shows more of the tube and stops being able to see behind the cover plate. Will possibly put a reflector on the empty spot of the cover plate as I've no idea where else I'd want to put a rear reflector on the Celica's rear end. That's where I'm at, at the moment! This post has been edited by Fuppylodders: May 3, 2019 - 11:56 AM |
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