3SGE Beams powered Celica, Her replacement has arrived Options

[S8S8]

Shane,

I enjoyed the story of your Celica. I have been considering installing a Beams engine in my 90 Celica GT-S. I am in the USA so a couple of things will be different from your build. I was unhappy to hear you were disappointed with the power of your Beams engine at first. Now that you have had it for a while what do you think of the power output?

Yeah I was disappointed at first, but within a month or so I was happy with it and now I just love it. It's such fun to drive on good roads, especially when combined with the coilovers.

A little more power would be nice, but I have a cousin with an 800hp street car who still says the same thing!

Does the low end torque below 3,500 RPM suffer compared to the 5sfe? How is your fuel mileage?

I think in comparison to the 5SFE it's more or less the same up to 3,500 or even 4,000 rpm. That's good though, because you can drive it around like a normal person when you want to, then let it rip when the time is right!

My fuel consumption improved considerably after the swap. With my 5SFE I was getting around 450km from a tank, but with the Beams I generally get at least 500km and sometimes up to 600km if there's a bit of highway driving in there.

Definitely love the Beams now.

[Syaoran]

Lucky he didn't break the tail light or wheel

[Box]

SUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[S8S8]

Lucky he didn't break the tail light or wheel

For sure! The tail light was one of the first things I looked at!

There's a minor scratch on the wheel, but I can't be sure whether or not it was from the bus.

This post has been edited by S8S8: Jul 25, 2013 - 5:28 PM

[Box]

Even if it wasn't, say it was. Take the city for everything they have.

[JoshuaM]

My Celi got hit by a bus last night!

It was the bus driver's fault so the insurance claim should go through smoothly.

New paint must be on the cards now!

That's painful -.- At least it was a big company that has admitted fault though... much easier than trying to squeeze money out of an uninsured teenager

And yes.... very good time for a paint upgrade

CDR Paint and Panel in Archerfield is pretty good if you get a choice of repairer. Just make sure you find one that is happy to split the bill for you and do the whole respray at once

[S8S8]

That's painful -.- At least it was a big company that has admitted fault though... much easier than trying to squeeze money out of an uninsured teenager

And yes.... very good time for a paint upgrade

CDR Paint and Panel in Archerfield is pretty good if you get a choice of repairer. Just make sure you find one that is happy to split the bill for you and do the whole respray at once

For sure. I've been dealing with the council's insurance broker and they've been pretty good so far. It helps that I run an insurance brokerage too.

Thanks for the tip. I've got a couple of quotes so far from places up on the north side where I am. Looks like the extra paint work is going to cost a few grand more, but it will be worth it.

[rentaspace]

Even if it wasn't, say it was. Take the city for everything they have.

Australia has by-laws in pretty much every local council that means you cannot sue them or hold them accountable for anything... It's retarded, but if the bus driver hadn't said he was at fault then there would of been nothing that anyone could of done...
This happened to my dad when a bus driver actually rammed his Mazda 121 with his 8ton bus. The driver then had the nerve to tell both the police and the council that my dad attack his bus in a freaking Mazda 121, and the result was: either both parties were fined or neither...



I am also wanting to get a beams swap done... The fuel consumption dropping will just sweeten the deal for me

This post has been edited by rentaspace: Aug 4, 2013 - 7:03 AM

[ricochet1490]

I'm seeing 34 mpg all day. Fuel savings with 50% more power really makes me want to sell my 5s Celica, keeping my rhd one of course.

[ILoveMySilly97]

I'm seeing 34 mpg all day. Fuel savings with 50% more power really makes me want to sell my 5s Celica, keeping my rhd one of course.

By RHD you mean the one in your sig right? LOL! J/p. I really wished and can't wait for my car to become 25 years old and get wavered through emissions. Then I'll get an engine swap. Preferably a beams.

[Box]

Even if it wasn't, say it was. Take the city for everything they have.

Australia has by-laws in pretty much every local council that means you cannot sue them or hold them accountable for anything... It's retarded, but if the bus driver hadn't said he was at fault then there would of been nothing that anyone could of done...
This happened to my dad when a bus driver actually rammed his Mazda 121 with his 8ton bus. The driver then had the nerve to tell both the police and the council that my dad attack his bus in a freaking Mazda 121, and the result was: either both parties were fined or neither...

That's bullshìt and the other end of the spectrum... America lets you be sue happy, then Australia won't let you do shìt. Has to be a happy medium somewhere... That being the case I commend the bus driver for being honest then. Though, with that many witnesses would that not make a difference?

This post has been edited by Box: Aug 4, 2013 - 10:05 PM

[S8S8]

With our laws it's more about getting what is considered to be reasonable and fair rather than the "sue sue sue" mentality that seems to be prevalent in the US.

Like in my case, it's reasonable that the council pays to have my car restored to it's previous condition, but it's not reasonable that they'd have to pay $100k or whatever in damages just because the bus driver stuffed up.

At the end of the day I wasn't hurt, my car can be repaired and all will be fine.

PS. The council's insurance company is sending out an assessor to have a second look at my car tomorrow, so hopefully the claim will be finalised shortly and I can get her back on the road.

[Box]

But now your car has a black mark in its history, that won't be compensated.

True, at least no one was hurt. Perhaps now you can redo some things you'd been wanting to do.

This post has been edited by Box: Aug 5, 2013 - 8:25 PM

[S8S8]

Well it's finally happened. The Celica has been replaced...

Our first child is due later this month so we've gone with a nice new family car. Sticking with Toyota of course!

Here she is...



It runs the 3.5 2GR-FE engine. Nowhere near as exciting as the Beams, but it's nice to be reintroduced to my old friend torque.

The Celica still sits in the garage gathering dust, but it will be sold off soon enough.

PS. Thanks to everyone here on 6GC who helped me through the Beams conversion. Hopefully the person who ends up with my Beams will enjoy it just as much.

[Box]

Kids fit in small back seats.

[S8S8]

Kids fit in small back seats.

True!

It's the baby capsule that's the problem though. Even in my wife's car (Ford Focus) it's a tight squeeze, and the passenger ends up with their knees touching the dash.

I've had the Celica for 8 years, which is a decent amount of time I think. My only regret is not getting to any track days. I used to do plenty in my previous cars, but time has got the better of me.

This post has been edited by S8S8: Oct 3, 2013 - 6:23 PM

[Box]

Just turn the Celica into a track day car then, you won't be able to get anywhere near what you have in it. Might as well turn it into a fun toy for the weekends.

[S8S8]

My Celica has been sold.

It was definitely a little sad seeing it drive away for the last time, but we had a great eight years together and it was time to move on.

Thankfully it is going to a good home where it will be getting the attention it deserves, and I'm super happy that it's not going to be broken up for parts.

I don't imagine that I'll be posting much on 6GC anymore (not that I did much before) but I'll still be checking in on the projects section from time to time.

Cheers
Shane.

PS. If anyone is reading my build thread because they are thinking about doing a Beams conversion, my advice is to do it!

[S8S8]

I'm still missing my Celica, but my in-laws bought me this for my birthday to help ease the pain!



I've already ordered some new wheels on eBay to match my real ones.

[SwissFerdi]

That's so effing cool. I love Tamiya kits, such intricacy and quality, and they're expensive too! I bought my father a Martini 935, to accompany the Jägermeister model we built. Incredible fun.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Jan 28, 2014 - 3:02 PM