my 3s swap story. Finally running!!!, car is home and first start video!!!!!! update Options

[cjh4l22]

Ok so about this time last year (july '08) i picked up a '91 mr2 3sgte long block & e153 tranny from a guy not too far away for ~$500 and these are some of the more recent events.
some facts from the get-go:
-I am 21 and until this car and these forums I had only the very basic knowledge when it came to cars. I am a computer nerd by profession and prior to cars. I'm also still a college student, working part time to pay for the project. and a friend of mine offered wrench time in order to build experience in that he had only just started working on his mechanics certification. -and he has since been much more informative.
-I had to go big, 3s swap or bust. (and doing all the work in my parents 2nd garage was not a favorite of my mom [who thinks its a waste])
-The daily driver would be the victim, a '95 ST w/280k miles (at the time). Regrettably, here are the first few pictures I took.
Here's how things began after tearing it all down...









Took the block and head to Suder Engine Services and had the following done:
Block hot tanked, cylinders honed, freeze plugs replaced and block decked. Head was cleaned, milled and rebuilt, replacing a burnt valve in the process.













mock up






After it was returned we painted it with a flat black HIGH temp paint and bought an engine stand!




And its at this point in the story that on St. Patty's Day the 7afe DIED. Pretty sure it was a combination of bad ideas including a castrol syntec oil change, highway driving from cincinnati-columbus-indianapolis-chicago and some 94ocatane. (no other upgrades) yes, bad choices + 293k miles = thrown rod.
the carnage:

yea pistons aren't suppose to sit sideways...







and so while the new engine work continues I borrow the 'rents '98 camry LE in... oh, you guessed it. gold. just like everyone else
and i also began tearing down the engine bay.













and after a very thorough sanding, 2 coats of high temp black paint and 1 layer of clearcoat
viola!








back to the engine-
Installed the bottom end






Put new CP pistons & Eagle Rods together






and then in the block








got head?




valve cover fitting




i have since made a bit more progress and more pictures to follow soon. questions and comments welcome.
thanks to anyone who has answered questions or helped me in anyway thus far in the project.

This post has been edited by cjh4l22: Sep 29, 2011 - 1:09 PM

[Stambo]

Are you going to continue to dd it?

So far it looks great!

[easternpiro1]

NICE MAN! what are your plans for the beauty?

[cjh4l22]

Are you going to continue to dd it?

So far it looks great!

thanks.
it will be DD for about 2months until summer is over and then it will be replaced by a new DD and winterized to be driven only in spring/summer/fall. or whenever weather permits.

NICE MAN! what are your plans for the beauty?

stock ct26 and basic tune (i want to see what all the hype is about a 3s)
and by next year i'll make the big upgrade to stand alone fuel management, a gt28 or gt30 series turbo, upgraded fuel rail and injectors. but i'm in no rush for power, just to get it running again.

[enderswift]

Great lookin setup you got going there. Im really impressed at how cleanly you're doing everything. How did you get so lucky to get a 3s AND an e153 for only 500? i think id crap my pants if i came across a deal like that. lsd e153 can get upwards of $1500 if these forums are to be believed.

also, props for managing to maintain an expensive hobby while going to school. It can get brutal. At one point I was doing 15 hours of engineering while working almost full time and it nearly killed me.

anyway, updates soon please.

[95st-celica]

this is looking really good...almost exactly what i just did...if you have any questions or anything let me know and i'll help you out the best i can...the ST is fun to do the swap in..lol..(not really) but by no means is it impossiable, and a hell of a lot of fun once its done. MOre pictures and please keep it up dated...im anxious to see how this turns out...good choice with refurbing the motor, new pistons and all that....thats good stuff man, keep up the good work and like i said, keep it updated

[CelicaST_CALI]

Great lookin swap!!!

[boosted185]

VERY Nice job on painting the engine bay!! I'm glad to see your taking your time and getting things together correctly! With that engine all clean and painted up nicely, your engine bay will look phenominal! GOOD LUCK!!!! KEEP US UPDATED!

[HerosBlade]

Nice engine looking great must post pics man must see for me!!!!! Hey where did you get those pistons cause looks fairly new to me??? Going AWD or FWD?????

[cjh4l22]

Great lookin setup you got going there. Im really impressed at how cleanly you're doing everything. How did you get so lucky to get a 3s AND an e153 for only 500? i think id crap my pants if i came across a deal like that. lsd e153 can get upwards of $1500 if these forums are to be believed.

also, props for managing to maintain an expensive hobby while going to school. It can get brutal. At one point I was doing 15 hours of engineering while working almost full time and it nearly killed me.

anyway, updates soon please.

its not an lsd e153, 91 isn't lsd, only 92/93, but still a good deal thanks.

this is looking really good...almost exactly what i just did...if you have any questions or anything let me know and i'll help you out the best i can...the ST is fun to do the swap in..lol..(not really) but by no means is it impossiable, and a hell of a lot of fun once its done. MOre pictures and please keep it up dated...im anxious to see how this turns out...good choice with refurbing the motor, new pistons and all that....thats good stuff man, keep up the good work and like i said, keep it updated

Great lookin swap!!!

thanks, starting to get down to the nitty gritty and i'm not a van of vacuum/coolant lines, nor sensors and wiring... but thanks

VERY Nice job on painting the engine bay!! I'm glad to see your taking your time and getting things together correctly! With that engine all clean and painted up nicely, your engine bay will look phenominal! GOOD LUCK!!!! KEEP US UPDATED!

its only gonna get better, i like how it cleaned up too and i'm pretty picky as you can tell.

Nice engine looking great must post pics man must see for me!!!!! Hey where did you get those pistons cause looks fairly new to me??? Going AWD or FWD?????

the pistons are brand new. CP pistons, Eagle rods... just as the story says. and fwd.

[cjh4l22]

Ok so not a lot of progress but here's the latest...

installed new crash bar




long 5.5" 3/8 bolts used for passenger side motor mount.




front mount behind bumper




replacing fuel pump w/walbro was a pain in the ass




future adjustable HID projector retrofit (from an rx350)




latest mockup




intercooler mockup




my version of the st->gt motor mount







ok so i dont have a lot more done than that, another update coming soon...
comments welcome as always

This post has been edited by cjh4l22: Jul 26, 2009 - 10:10 PM

[Ruroniarc]

Engine paint (power coat?) looks really nice. Can't wait to see the finished product in the bay.

[cjh4l22]

thanks it'd already be in the bay if i weren't waiting on gt4 motor mounts coming from the UK!

[CheesyLobster]

looks great! what exactly are you doing for the motor mounts though? Make sure that those are legit, as those are pretty important!

[presure2]

motor looks good man!

[boosted185]

Ok so not a lot of progress but here's the latest...

installed new crash bar




latest mockup




ok so i dont have a lot more done than that, another update coming soon...
comments welcome as always

Ah, I see you have the JDM "FTW" windshield guard. Very classy Also, did you paint your intake manifold also, or did you just get it THAT clean?! I might have to do that to mine!

[cjh4l22]

Ah, I see you have the JDM "FTW" windshield guard. Very classy Also, did you paint your intake manifold also, or did you just get it THAT clean?! I might have to do that to mine!

lol i was bored and thus= FTW. and the intake manifold was sanded down and painted with a high temp paint. it was pretty easy to paint really and i have a new plate to be put on the top. some TRD action.

[cjh4l22]

looks great! what exactly are you doing for the motor mounts though? Make sure that those are legit, as those are pretty important!

the new motor mounts are those of a '96 gt4 and instead of piecing them together i'm having someone send me all of them, in their entirety.

motor looks good man!

manny-fresh. lol yea i just came up w/that. but really it means a great deal to me to be complemented by you. you've done great work yourself! thanks.

[Malek]

Cincinnati??

hmm..I'm not too far away from you. I must not be too far away from an awesome deal like the one you picked up! I've been wantin to do something like this for so long.

This is really starting to inspire me on actually doing it. Good work!

[cjh4l22]

Ok so there have been many a setbacks since i've last posted including motor mounts not coming from the UK b/c some guy is super shady on GT4EC and took my money (british #*$&#@ ass). and generally not finding the parts I need, so if you happen to be reading this and know you might be able to help please contact me as i'm really pressed for time now and REALLY DON'T want to buy new parts from the dealer unless necessary.
Alas... here's the latest




some wiring in..




coming together...




another...




new 7th gen 3spoke steering wheel (need airbag)




again...




starting the move into the engine bay a little early but i need to make some sort of progress...




getting closer




kinda in




tranny side




again..


So I'm currently in need of:
-random couplers
-slave cylinder
-axle spacers .5" and .25"
-3 spoke steering wheel air bag
-fuel inlet/return hose descriptions

yea i think that about wraps it up... if anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it!
thanks.

This post has been edited by cjh4l22: Feb 27, 2010 - 2:07 PM