<As requested info below pics>
Hi all, for the last year I have been driving my 1987 Supra with the 1UZ-FE W58 swap. In that time I managed to put just over 14,000 miles on the swap, and had a few problems but more positive inspiring things than anything. I just wanted to give a reflection thread about the swap.
First, I want to say the 1UZ-FE is a amazing engine, even when its not at its prime it still provided a massive improvement over my 7M-GE and just gave that warm fuzzy feeling inside when I was able to pull five thousand rpms and hear that chunky V8 sound all the way there. Although the road to this point was wavy with problems, it still provided me with a great learning experience and a big fun factor.
Over this past weekend, I pulled the 1UZ-FE that I put 14,000 miles on, from the beginning I had a problem with it, on cold starts it would bounce around in rpms, pop, and just run badly until it warmed up. I was never able to exactly pin point the problem, and with a positive outlook I hopped it would get better with time and running it. This was not the case, but like said before, it was fun.
I get a lot of looks from the older guys looking at a Supra and hearing a V8, kinda giving that confused look, but not sure if what they saw is what they saw, haha. Occasionally I one of them comes up to me and says something like "Hey, what kinda engine is in that" or "A Supra isn't supposed to sound like that!". It makes my day when someone comes up to me and asks that, to me its a compliment. I don't often go to car shows but when I have been at any car meet I have got nothing but compliments and people loving the combination. A few know what they see and ask the right questions, and others just admire it and walk on. I think the best one was when a friend of mine came to look at the car after we originally got it running and he said, "Damn, that aint gonna sound like any ricer piece, that sounds good" and this guy is a full domestic Chrysler guy only.
I think the 1UZ is a great plat form for further modifications, I would love to see more of these, if the right person did this swap with the right parts and mindset, it could be a nasty combination that would provide a lot of fun and plenty of stories. When I did this swap, I intended on keeping it stock as possible, and if I felt the need to add something like a turbo or supercharger I would try later. All I can say is I'm plenty happy with it in its stock form, I don't know, maybe I just like to go slow:icon_bigg. I will all ways be curious what could be done with it. During the planning stages a manual trans was a must, so I looked around and at the time the most complete kit for a Supra W58 transmission was from quantum-auto.com, so I placed an order. The kit seemed quite good, and with a few other additions it became a full complete swap kit. The guys at quantum are good ones, they helped me out and I did what I could for them.
I just got the car back on the road tonight, and felt a major change from a engine that was not at its peak vs one that is. It sounded different, in a good way. And after 14,000 miles I was impressed the components I used in the swap for the most part were holding up great. So, if anyone is contemplating this swap, I can vouch for it. If you find your self a good running base to start from you can have quite a fun car.
Thanks for reading, and since we all like photos, here are a few:
As requested, Info:
Some are rough estimates from memory
$300 – Original engine
$1000 – W58 swap kit from Quantum-Auto
$160 – Howel throw out bearing
$130 – 1985 Toyota Pickup brake booster (2.4L non turbo 22rec)
$350 – Misc used parts, IACV, AFM, ALT, Wiring harness connectors, SC factory headers, LS mech fan
$275 – Header back true dual exhaust with Headman glass packs at the tail
$100 – Engine oil, tranny oil, anti-freeze
$75 – 5 Speed Supra brake and clutch pedal set
$75 – W58 two piece driveshaft set
$60? – 5 Speed Supra shifter boot plate (plate welded to trans tunnel to bolt rubber boots down to)
$100 – ProComp electric fans, 9” and 14”
$70 – 1994 Lexus SC3/400 EWD (ended up needing the 1997)
$45 – 1986.5 Toyota Supra EWD
$60 – Wiring (New wire, New connectors from Eastern Beaver)
There is some more but that’s just the main things I can remember right now, so total right around $2800. It could be done cheaper, but what I did I’m happy with.
Stuff I ran into:
Engine mounts, I started right before “rubber” mounts were available. Other than a few passed around versions of solid engine mounts I had nothing to go on. I originally planned to use the stock Supra sub frame and perches, but time and space restrictions forced me to go another route. I used the SC400 mounts and rubber liquid filled isolators. This sat the engine low in the bay such that the power steering pump would hit the frame, so since I wasn’t going to use the PS pump I gutted it and sealed the ports. That made enough room to keep the pump in place as a idler pulley.
Headers, The SC400 headers are the ones I ended up using. I tried to use aftermarket 3UZ headers for a Tacoma but the drivers side would not fit. The LS400 I looked at but they looked to bulky, so I didn’t use them.
Hydro fan, I ditched the hydro fan for a mechanical fan set up. The LS400 has a push style mechanical fan that bolts right up in place of the hydro fan. Like I said, the LS has a “push” style fan where the Supra has a “pull” so the fins were backwards. I swapped the fan blades over, but the fins hit the upper radiator hose. I believe if the hose was cut down differently it may clear, but I have not tired.
Radiator hoses, upper fits fine with some trimming. Lower I flipped around and trimmed both sides. I have no clearance issues. The 1UZ radiator hoses are a larger diameter than the Supra ones, so I had to tighten the hose clamps a little more on the radiator side of the hoses.
Brake booster, it’s been a big topic, I used the Supra booster for the first 14000 miles. Put a “dent” in the side but the engine still hit it. I just recently swapped over to a 1985 Toyota Non-Turbo Truck booster, its about the same diameter, but much shorter. Supposedly it fits upside down, but I couldn’t get it to work so I just used a little extra rubber hose to reach the fitting. My valve cover still touches the booster… Brakes feel good though, they are a little stiffer.
Hi all, for the last year I have been driving my 1987 Supra with the 1UZ-FE W58 swap. In that time I managed to put just over 14,000 miles on the swap, and had a few problems but more positive inspiring things than anything. I just wanted to give a reflection thread about the swap.
First, I want to say the 1UZ-FE is a amazing engine, even when its not at its prime it still provided a massive improvement over my 7M-GE and just gave that warm fuzzy feeling inside when I was able to pull five thousand rpms and hear that chunky V8 sound all the way there. Although the road to this point was wavy with problems, it still provided me with a great learning experience and a big fun factor.
Over this past weekend, I pulled the 1UZ-FE that I put 14,000 miles on, from the beginning I had a problem with it, on cold starts it would bounce around in rpms, pop, and just run badly until it warmed up. I was never able to exactly pin point the problem, and with a positive outlook I hopped it would get better with time and running it. This was not the case, but like said before, it was fun.
I get a lot of looks from the older guys looking at a Supra and hearing a V8, kinda giving that confused look, but not sure if what they saw is what they saw, haha. Occasionally I one of them comes up to me and says something like "Hey, what kinda engine is in that" or "A Supra isn't supposed to sound like that!". It makes my day when someone comes up to me and asks that, to me its a compliment. I don't often go to car shows but when I have been at any car meet I have got nothing but compliments and people loving the combination. A few know what they see and ask the right questions, and others just admire it and walk on. I think the best one was when a friend of mine came to look at the car after we originally got it running and he said, "Damn, that aint gonna sound like any ricer piece, that sounds good" and this guy is a full domestic Chrysler guy only.
I think the 1UZ is a great plat form for further modifications, I would love to see more of these, if the right person did this swap with the right parts and mindset, it could be a nasty combination that would provide a lot of fun and plenty of stories. When I did this swap, I intended on keeping it stock as possible, and if I felt the need to add something like a turbo or supercharger I would try later. All I can say is I'm plenty happy with it in its stock form, I don't know, maybe I just like to go slow:icon_bigg. I will all ways be curious what could be done with it. During the planning stages a manual trans was a must, so I looked around and at the time the most complete kit for a Supra W58 transmission was from quantum-auto.com, so I placed an order. The kit seemed quite good, and with a few other additions it became a full complete swap kit. The guys at quantum are good ones, they helped me out and I did what I could for them.
I just got the car back on the road tonight, and felt a major change from a engine that was not at its peak vs one that is. It sounded different, in a good way. And after 14,000 miles I was impressed the components I used in the swap for the most part were holding up great. So, if anyone is contemplating this swap, I can vouch for it. If you find your self a good running base to start from you can have quite a fun car.
Thanks for reading, and since we all like photos, here are a few:
As requested, Info:
Some are rough estimates from memory
$300 – Original engine
$1000 – W58 swap kit from Quantum-Auto
$160 – Howel throw out bearing
$130 – 1985 Toyota Pickup brake booster (2.4L non turbo 22rec)
$350 – Misc used parts, IACV, AFM, ALT, Wiring harness connectors, SC factory headers, LS mech fan
$275 – Header back true dual exhaust with Headman glass packs at the tail
$100 – Engine oil, tranny oil, anti-freeze
$75 – 5 Speed Supra brake and clutch pedal set
$75 – W58 two piece driveshaft set
$60? – 5 Speed Supra shifter boot plate (plate welded to trans tunnel to bolt rubber boots down to)
$100 – ProComp electric fans, 9” and 14”
$70 – 1994 Lexus SC3/400 EWD (ended up needing the 1997)
$45 – 1986.5 Toyota Supra EWD
$60 – Wiring (New wire, New connectors from Eastern Beaver)
There is some more but that’s just the main things I can remember right now, so total right around $2800. It could be done cheaper, but what I did I’m happy with.
Stuff I ran into:
Engine mounts, I started right before “rubber” mounts were available. Other than a few passed around versions of solid engine mounts I had nothing to go on. I originally planned to use the stock Supra sub frame and perches, but time and space restrictions forced me to go another route. I used the SC400 mounts and rubber liquid filled isolators. This sat the engine low in the bay such that the power steering pump would hit the frame, so since I wasn’t going to use the PS pump I gutted it and sealed the ports. That made enough room to keep the pump in place as a idler pulley.
Headers, The SC400 headers are the ones I ended up using. I tried to use aftermarket 3UZ headers for a Tacoma but the drivers side would not fit. The LS400 I looked at but they looked to bulky, so I didn’t use them.
Hydro fan, I ditched the hydro fan for a mechanical fan set up. The LS400 has a push style mechanical fan that bolts right up in place of the hydro fan. Like I said, the LS has a “push” style fan where the Supra has a “pull” so the fins were backwards. I swapped the fan blades over, but the fins hit the upper radiator hose. I believe if the hose was cut down differently it may clear, but I have not tired.
Radiator hoses, upper fits fine with some trimming. Lower I flipped around and trimmed both sides. I have no clearance issues. The 1UZ radiator hoses are a larger diameter than the Supra ones, so I had to tighten the hose clamps a little more on the radiator side of the hoses.
Brake booster, it’s been a big topic, I used the Supra booster for the first 14000 miles. Put a “dent” in the side but the engine still hit it. I just recently swapped over to a 1985 Toyota Non-Turbo Truck booster, its about the same diameter, but much shorter. Supposedly it fits upside down, but I couldn’t get it to work so I just used a little extra rubber hose to reach the fitting. My valve cover still touches the booster… Brakes feel good though, they are a little stiffer.
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