so tax time is here and im hoping for a good check coming back in a few weeks heres my thinking, sorry if i ramble but alot of thinking going on. i need to do some maintenance timing belt water pump tensioners rack and pinion (already have) tie rods both front lower control arms (or at least drivers side) ball joints hub and wheel hub bearing (both sides) shocks (badly) rims and tires calipers (mainly drivers side) bleed brakes and adjust back drums so im sitting here wondering if im gonna do all this and pull the motor at the same time why not do a 5 speed manual swap at the same time right? but also if im ordering new rims and tires why not do the 5 lug swap at the same time correct?....following me? i found a blown gts near me for 400, havent looked at it (no clue whether hatch or coupe)...this will give me not only the manual swap but the lug swap at the same time......and i can part off the extras and then scrap the body. but will the suspension stuff all swap over, ex.....lower control arms etc...? its an 88 or is it still best to order all new parts? is it best to use the gts tranny if it doesnt have any problems or source a used 3fe tranny? should i go full coilovers (megans) or just do the shock swap with agrs or whatevers and lowering springs? with all new mounting stuff and bumps and what nots.....(lists?) and heres to my #1 problem TIME i dont have alot of time and have never done the timing and frankly cant waste time trying it out to only get it wrong i can take my vacation and have several days off. so advice and anyone wanna make a trip out for a weekend and get all of this done?.......you can part hoard off of the parts car when were done and the beer and food and lodging is on me. i wouldnt set this up till i had ALL parts in hand whos in? OR SHOULD I JUST GET A HALF CUT? AND GO TURBO....LOL DISCUSS:
you gotta remember if you use the GT-S trans the starter ain't gonna fit under your stock exhaust manifold, and more than likely your crank isn't gonna fit the GE flywheel cuz you have an early 3SF (6 bolt). not sure if you're gonna have that or 8 bolt crank. you gotta use the GE flywheel as the GE starter can only be mated with the GE flywheel, and the GE starter is the only one that fits the GE trans. as far as i can see, the suspension bits should just swap over. lowering springs are 200, struts gonna run you another 200, new boots/bumpstops maybe another 50-100 so tax in probably close to 500. if you're considering megans, it's 500 away! i can help with the struts/springs, but i have yet to touch the control arms timing/waterpump...i can comfortably take it apart/change items, but i can't quite guarantee in getting the timing exactly perfect. i was able to do it for my GT-S, but that's only one try... as for dropping by, i'd rather take the amtrak/coach than drive 300 miles LOL. i've abused the celica quite much with 4 trips to seatac area in the last year, couple of trips up north as well as daily driving even if you do a turboswap, you're still gonna have to work with your suspension bits, transmission, routine maintenance on the motor
So the turbo was a joke....... So best to source a 3fe tranny.......ive done control arms so i feel comfortable doing those. Another thing is......should i just get a shop to do it? 1250 for the timing water pump and replacing of the rack..... I can save 1000 by doing it myself tho. I have a budget of 3k total.
Or should i just skip all the swap and just have the shop do the qork and do the brake suspension and order 4x100 rims? And stay an auto which i honesty dont care about
if i had 3k id just do the maintenance yourself definitely look into a manual swap cus auto sports cars well you know. and id stay 4x100 so many awsome wheels to choose from. and coilovers definitely worth it so my dream list for you. diy maintenance megan coilovers sexy ass wheels tranny swap but thats just me lol.
well...i'd do it all myself. leave the 4x100 alone. go find nice rims in 5x100. anything less than a 17 is a no find.
