Operation: DARKSPYRO, AWD Conversion, Completed. Driven. Sold. Options

[Malek]

Mission: Do it right the first time

Phase 1:
-Gen 3 3sgte swap

Phase 2:
-Complete AWD conversion
-Clean


28 JAN 13
Purchased 1999 Toyota Celica from a private seller in Boulder, CO.
Apparent timing issue and suspected head gasket issue.
Drove it 30 minutes back to Golden, CO with coolant spewing. And when I got back, I beat on it some more.
Back at the shop, wasted no time tearing into it

Had to stop once to let it cool down a little


Ripping into it that night



29 JAN 13
Engine and transmission pulled

Signature Tweak pose


31 JAN 13
Ordered ST205 front clip
-coming with bumper, fenders, hood, lights and a set of projectors
-rear subframe
-rear diff, axles, brakes, drive shaft
-Ton of extra stuff I don't need






1-9 FEB 13
Ordered:
-Berk gen 3 downpipe ceramic coated with wideband bung
-Clutchmasters FX300 assembly for swap
-Triple gauge A pillar (for boost, oil press, wideband)
-Hose for remote oil pressure sender location
-Walbro gss342 + 400-765 kit
Cut a hole in the fire wall for wiring harness

9-15 FEB 13
-Have been collecting parts for the swap
-Installed new Walbro fuel pump

17 FEB 13
-Final decision has been made
FULL AWD Conversion
-I plan on using the GT suspension and GT4 brakes
-Have not decided yet to cut floor pan and weld or make custom brackets


ETA for clip 11 MARCH 13
Until then, I will be researching boost controllers and wheels.

11-18 March 13
PHASE 1: COMPLETE
see page 2
-3rd Gen 3SGTE
-FWD
-OZ Crono

30 April 13
PHASE 2: BEGINS
see page 3 and 4
-Fuel Cell
-AWD
-GT4 Brakes

This post has been edited by Malek: Jan 28, 2018 - 3:53 PM

[enderswift]

This is gonna be a good thread, I can tell already. AndI'm jealous of that clip. Let me know if you ever want to part with the rear floor

[cheela]

looks great! that clips is really clean too!

[Malek]

I'm really debating doing a full AWD swap.

I had a few subies. AWD is pretty damn cool but idk..it's quite a bit more work. I'd cut and swap floor pans..

What do you think? Do it all at once?

[richee3]

I'd keep it FWD for now and decide on the AWD conversion later. That's just me though That clip looks great! It's a shame that it's going to take so long to get here. Keep us updated!

[mkernz22]

You might as well do it if you have everything....You could just weld the front and rear clips back together, then just weld on what you need for the body / upper half and it would be a legit GT4....I mean the engine, transmission, rear end, and everything is already in there so you wouldn't need to remove anything. It kind of makes sense.

Edit: And where did you order it from?

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Feb 10, 2013 - 4:56 PM

[Malek]

You might as well do it if you have everything....You could just weld the front and rear clips back together, then just weld on what you need for the body / upper half and it would be a legit GT4....I mean the engine, transmission, rear end, and everything is already in there so you wouldn't need to remove anything. It kind of makes sense.

Edit: And where did you order it from?

I'd much rather swap over engine, tranny, rear end..than cut the top half of a car and reweld it to a different bottom half. I am not THAT confident in my welding for all of that

Ordered it from Ho Wong at Sun Shing Trading Company. They're on eBay as new_stars. I lowballed them hard core and they took it

[mkernz22]

You got a lot of good sh!t for a cheap price then! usually they send less of a rear floor pan than that lol
I'll have to write down that name for when I do something with my car in the future!

[Malek]

For sure! Not only did everything look clean, he sent me a TON of pictures, a video of it running AND has responded to my emails within 15 minutes with perfect english.

I was extremely impressed with his service.

Small Update:
Getting packages in the mail feels so good!

[Ted95]

You have a really good start to the awd conversion, this is the first clip I've personally seen as complete as this one with the rear floor ect.. There aren't many awd conversion celicas state side and would probably be one of the only ones in Colorado unless imported from up North. You could always swap down the road it's your choice.

You'd piss off alot subies up there with a fasttt awd celica haha

You have a great parts list and parts at hand should be a fun build to watch good luck man!

[ClevelandGaint]

Do you have a website or a telephone number where i can order the st205 front clip with engine?

You might as well do it if you have everything....You could just weld the front and rear clips back together, then just weld on what you need for the body / upper half and it would be a legit GT4....I mean the engine, transmission, rear end, and everything is already in there so you wouldn't need to remove anything. It kind of makes sense.

Edit: And where did you order it from?

I'd much rather swap over engine, tranny, rear end..than cut the top half of a car and reweld it to a different bottom half. I am not THAT confident in my welding for all of that

Ordered it from Ho Wong at Sun Shing Trading Company. They're on eBay as new_stars. I lowballed them hard core and they took it

[Malek]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The AWD swap is happening.

That is all.

[Ted95]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The AWD swap is happening.

That is all.

[mkernz22]

WOOOOO

[Malek]

OK, so let's get into more of the details here.

We're talking full conversion.
E154F with axles
Super Strut, hubs, brakes
driveshaft, rear diff, gas tank.

what the hell, might as well do GT4 gauge cluster and auto climate control swap while I'm at it. Should be pretty easy since I am keeping it LHD. I'd just need to swap out interior harnesses right?? I know the auto cc has 3 sensors and I'd need to swap the 3 fan assembly but as far as the GT4 interior harness, it should fit with quite a bit of extra slack right? Correct me if I'm wrong on that..

AWD conversion:
I plan on dropping the engine and transmission in and getting everything bolted up and connected (As if it were a normal swap). Swapping out the front axle, hub, and strut assembly as one unit, if I can haha From there, I plan on starting from the transmission and working my way back making sure the brackets for the drive shafts are straight and strong. And when I get to the rear, I'll need to figure out just how much of the GT4 floor pan I will need to cut and transfer over. I'm hoping it's just the trunk area but that will most likely not be the case.

Well, damn..no longer need that hybrid clutch haha

[Malek]

yep..just collecting parts haha

[homebuilder]

Mind if I ask, where did you get the front clip with engine? What did it cost?

Looks great!

[playr158]

for the rear all you need to do is remove the spare tire well and weld in a flat panel.
Then you can remove the mounts from the underside by drilling out the tack welds and moving it over.

see here:
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...5&hl=mounts

[Malek]

Mind if I ask, where did you get the front clip with engine? What did it cost?

Looks great!

Check ya PM!

for the rear all you need to do is remove the spare tire well and weld in a flat panel.
Then you can remove the mounts from the underside by drilling out the tack welds and moving it over.

see here:
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...5&hl=mounts

Much obliged

[Ted95]

Which stage clutchmasters did you go with? .. Looks like a CM box in the pic.