Tuners, If you knew then, what you know now.... Options

[Cutrara]

If you can afford it, go with a professional. I wouldn't try a port job on my own. I want to hire someone to come into my house and install central cooling. I bet I could do it on my own, but I'd rather have a pro do it.

This is one of the better quality analogies I've heard in a while and it's the truth.

[brianforster]

my "then and now" only corresponds with a couple months but here goes:

i read all the swap threads, read till i could not read no more, i had an engine sitting in my basement, and i was searching for a shell. i had about 4200$ total for a regular celica saved up, but marks 1700$ engine+tranny+wiring fell in my lap and my friends convinced me to buy it.

so here i was, starting a swap project without even having a car, all on a budget of about 4k (including toys such as intercooler, boost gauge, ebc).

i never really posted about how small my budget was because i knew people on 6gc would be naysayers, much like my "9 days" estimated time.

i was stubborn though, and thought not only could i get away with doing it for so cheap, but i could also get it done in 9 days.

this didnt take into account like posted, the condition of used parts, and the trustworthyness of internet people.

i havent fired the car up yet, that should be coming this weekend, but a small parts of me regrets this choice because my celica will be fast, but not the dream celica i always pictured, i wish now i could have been content to buy a low milage nice condition gt, and save up for an engine swap.

my best advice to new tuners:

listen to the people on this site, even if what they have to say isnt what you want to hear, youll have a sever case of foot in mouth when you realize they are right.

edit: i am hoping it will eventually achieve my dream celica status, but it seems a far shot and quite a few pennies off for now

This post has been edited by brianforster: Mar 29, 2006 - 12:13 AM

[urbandork]

Im very happy with my 5sfte. the only thing i would have done is not gone with a cheap oil filter relocation kit that ran the hoses near the downpipe. I dotn know how many times the hose craked and i had to shorten the hose. Not to mention all the oil i laid down on the ground and all the smoke i make lol.

[eggman40]

Man i have to say my biggest regret was not having everything i needed before starting. I was kinda forced into starting cause the throw out bearing went on the 7a. But i cant stress that enough to anyone wanting to do the swap themselves, GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED! if you dont, you will greatly increase your car's downtime. this means gaskets, hoses, MOUNTS, and if you have the money to do so, aftermarket upgrades
(such as downpipe which is much easier to install when engine is out). Another piece of advice i will give is to
those that will use the e153 tranny. When you take your tranny to get welded, have them drill and tap the
threads for the shift linkages. I tried doing it myself and it only led to a piece of the tranny breaking off and me having to remove the tranny and take it to get reweled and re-tapped. One more thing i regret was not having DG Performance extending my harness for me, I thought i was saving money but in the end it was a huge headache. I was cutting, stripping and soldering wires for 3 days. (Hell!) Good luck to any future swappers.

This post has been edited by eggman40: Apr 4, 2006 - 5:16 PM

[Rjb23]

I would have done my own to begin with, in the end it took me by myself 3 weeks to do my swap and repair the mess ups from the guys who I had "do my swap" who didn't do anything.

[Green_MachToy]

I would have sold the ST as it was the day I did the swap. Spent all the money and imported a GT4 from Sweden or Denmark (I just like the idea of having a true gt4 left hand drive). Had it sent to a buddy of mine in Arizona to register it, until I put 7500 miles on it and registered it in Cali and been ok with the car as is and smoggable.

[Chanh55]

I would have sold the ST as it was the day I did the swap. Spent all the money and imported a GT4 from Sweden or Denmark (I just like the idea of having a true gt4 left hand drive). Had it sent to a buddy of mine in Arizona to register it, until I put 7500 miles on it and registered it in Cali and been ok with the car as is and smoggable.

Wait... so you're driving a real GT4 imported from Sweden? I don't get it... your tenses are all messed up.

[Green_MachToy]

EDITED:
If I had it over to do again: I would sell the ST and not do a swap. Spend all the money and import a GT4 from Sweden or Denmark (I just like the idea of having a true gt4 left hand drive). I would have it sent to a buddy of mine in Arizona to register it, until I put 7500 miles on it and turn around to re-register it in Cali: I would be much happier with the car stock and smoggable.

Wait... so you're driving a real GT4 imported from Sweden? I don't get it... your tenses are all messed up.

I wish I were driving a GT4. No mine is from Cali with a 3s swap. I have edited the comment...hopefully it makes more sense now.

This post has been edited by Green_MachToy: Apr 5, 2006 - 11:42 PM

[Chanh55]

EDITED:
If I had it over to do again: I would sell the ST and not do a swap. Spend all the money and import a GT4 from Sweden or Denmark (I just like the idea of having a true gt4 left hand drive). I would have it sent to a buddy of mine in Arizona to register it, until I put 7500 miles on it and turn around to re-register it in Cali: I would be much happier with the car stock and smoggable.

Wait... so you're driving a real GT4 imported from Sweden? I don't get it... your tenses are all messed up.

I wish I were driving a GT4. No mine is from Cali with a 3s swap. I have edited the comment...hopefully it makes more sense now.

LMAO You have no idea how much better I feel with you fixing that! hhaha
Cool. =)

[y2komar]

bump
I like this thread. Keep it going

[99GT]

Yup good thread! Starting my research.

[x_itchy_b_x]

i wouldn't have waste so much money on half assing builds before finally getting it right.

oh and went all oem exterior parts. gt conversion. legit style. with the c-one lip ofcourse.
no z3's and no invader skirts.

This post has been edited by x_itchy_b_x: Nov 12, 2007 - 11:14 PM

[1bwilson]

I wouldnt have impluse bought things. Decide on what you want and find it, dont decide you want it WHEN you see it.

[jgreening]

Nice to see one of my old threads bumped from the grave.

My new perspective is that I agree with DEF. RWD FTW in high powered sports cars.

As for the 6gc, my new perspective is that coilovers, slightly larger rims, and very good summer tires are all the performance modifications that should be done to a N/A model.

[Celiracer18]

i would have measured twice, and cut once to put it in other words

[97lestyousay]

This is a very good read, so far am happy with the choices I
have made. Other than having an st for the starting platform.
I will do the extra for a 3s, I totally agree with the stock form st205.
I desire dependability first. I am not knocking people who mod engines
many have proven it to be very dependable when done right.
haha listen to me, my old sig was " my car isn't stock it's restored" lol

[nik]

well im happy i started with my 7afte project learned alot about turboing etc

im really glad i had all my stuff done professional for my 7agte build only thing i would have done different a few minor mods different cams i wish i would have pulled the motor myself instead of the shop that was 500 bucks down the drain i wish i would have painted the whole car while the motor was out

and i wish i would have gone a different direction with my exterior (aka front bumper and fenders) but its ok for now

[95CelicaST]

I wish I would have thought twice about the location of my fusebox and it's relation to Washington weather...

Something else to fix I suppose...

[goferris]

jgreening this thread is possibly the most amazing thread i have read in a long time. since i haven't really done any performance or engine mods there isn't anything i can say about that but so far i am please with my choices and can't wait to see the end result. my only thing is that i wish i had more time and money to do the thing i want like paint my interior pieces and get my exterior mods installed.
i do plan on modding the bay in the near future and reading all these posts will help me a lot i am sure.

the only suggestion i can give is think long and hard about what you want to do b4 you do anything. don't just buy something because it's a good deal. buy it because that is what you are looking for and that's exactly what you want.