New with some dumb/easy questions

[scottryana]

Hey guys I am looking at buying an '88 MKIII and stripping it down to bare metal, and doing a 2JZ swap. I just have a couple of quick questions, I did a quick search but I didn't find anything.

1. Body Molding and Weather Stripping - is this still available new from Toyota? I had a 71, Toyota FJ55 and no OEM and no aftermarket and it sucked. I would like to just be able to buy all new.

2. The 7M-GE has a R154 behind it right? Is this the same transmission behind the 2JZ-GTE? I guess I would just need a bellhousing and clutch?

3. Anyone have any cooling issues? I would like to track the MKIII, I just know my 4.5L 1FZ-FE generates a lot of heat and it isn't even turbo'd

4. What is there for aftermarket road racing suspension components? I have seen coilovers, but what about upper and lower control arms, etc?

Excited to possibly get started, has anyone fitted a 335 rear with custom wheels and replacement rear fenders?

 

[rodama5anthony]

1. IIRC my friend got brand new body molding from toyota for like 800$ and i think i remeber seeing the weather strips for 400-500$

2.ge has a W series trans the R is in the turbo models and be bolted to a 2j with the proper bellhousing

4. not sure about road racing but check out beech motorsport. they have suspension stuff for our cars

btw this is all info you could have easily found with a quick google search.........

 

[destrux]

1. Yes, but it's expensive. There is also aftermarket for the side trim that wraps the whole car. The lower trim and window trim is OEM only but is still available. Weatherstrip, I don't know.

2. Yes the 7MGTE should have the R154, but the W58 will also bolt up, so either is possible on a used car. The 2JZGTE never came with the R154 behind it. However, the 1JZGTE did (in the soarer and supra MKIII), and since all JZ engine share bellhousing and flywheel bolt patterns, you can use the 1JZ flywheel and bellhousing on a 2JZ/R154 combo. The clutch is the same as the 7MGTE.

3. Get a larger radiator, use a fan shroud, make sure your engine undercover is in place, and stick with the belt driven fan. Also, an external oil cooler is a good idea, the OEM oil/water cooler isn't enough. The car's aren't known for overheating with the JZ in them though, not unless electric fans were swapped in.

4. There are rear arms available, but they are generally for high powered cars because the stock arms will bend.

There's a widebody kit thread going on right now, check the other threads around this one. Those guys are fitting tires that wide.

 

[D.J.T.]

Weatherstrip is obtainable from Champion Toyota. $140 ish IIRC

 

[scottryana]

Awesome great to hear parts are still available.

Oh I didn't know that the manual in the non turbo MKIII was the W58, that is good to know. I don't know why I assumed the 2JZ had an R154, I guess it comes with the V160, so probably best bet is just to pull the old 7M-GE and W58 out and see if I can get a little for it, and just buy a complete 2JZ, V160 combo? Or maybe since it is a boosted engine just go with the automatic so that you can maintain some boost during shifts? I was kind of looking for a front engine, rear wheel, manual car, to get back some of the "driving" I lost when I went to an all wheel drive, paddle shifted car.

I guess I better get busy and sell my GT-R so I can build an old Supra. lol.

If anyone wants a 2011 GT-R making 600hp on E85, the sooner I sell the sooner I can start my MKIII build! lol

 

[MNBmk3T]

2) Fitting the V160 in the MK3 is possible yet requires significant modification to the trans tunnel as well as trying to find a significantly lower rear end gearset as the pre-89 Turbo LSD generally comes with the 3.91 gears in the rear. To make 1st and 2nd functional on the V160 in the MK3 you will need a 3.13 or 3.23 gearset (just like the MK4 came with). Personally, I think you should just find an R154 and a 1JZ bellhousing and bolt it to the 2JZ as the R154 is quite robust and can handle ~800BHP safely before you start to stress it. Just get a good clutch and a short-throw shifter for the R154 and you'll be good.

3) As far as cooling issues go, I have a 4" thick FMIC on my 89 and just went 1JZ in April and the summer was quite hard on my car as not much air was flowing through the radiator (I went E-fan instead of staying OEM clutch fan). Keep the OEM clutch fan with the fan shroud and undertray and she should stay cool perfectly. If the cooling still doesn't feel sufficient for you, you can always install a Turbo-A duct to increase the airflow. Mind you with the pre-89 grille your cooling will be drastically increased over a 89+.

4) For aftermarket suspension components, as previously stated, Beech Performance makes various components for our cars. Energy Suspension makes polyurethane bushings for the front and rear control/trailing arms. Suspension Techniques make front and rear sway bars, you can get these through Titan. Arizona Performance makes a quite popular front and rear BBK for our cars. I don't have the BBKs on my car but from what I've read, the people who HAVE got them love the kits. They apparently even use the OEM ABS unit and OEM brake master cylinder.

 

[scottryana]

Ok great points! Not to mention the R154 is considerable cheaper than the V160. But just looking at the gear ratios a V160 with the 3.90 isn't much different than an R154 with the 4.30's that people swap in.

V160
1st - 14.925
2nd - 9.204
3rd - 6.5715
4th - 5.1168
5th - 3.9
6th - 3.0927

R154
1st - 13.975
2nd - 8.4065
3rd - 5.633
4th - 4.30
5th - 3.2379

 

[jdmfreak]

Or maybe since it is a boosted engine just go with the automatic so that you can maintain some boost during shifts?

I never have a problem maintaining boost during shifts with my manual once I boost its there till I back off

 

[te72]

I guess I better get busy and sell my GT-R so I can build an old Supra. lol.

If anyone wants a 2011 GT-R making 600hp on E85, the sooner I sell the sooner I can start my MKIII build! lol

You know, just because I'm such an awesome guy, I'm willing to trade you straight across for all the parts I have acquired so far, in order to build a pretty badass widebody Mk3...

 

[scottryana]

Haha, not sure is a straight across trade would do it. That is why I want to build a MKIII so that I can take it to the track and not be worried about it.

 

[te72]

Hey, can't ever go wrong by asking, right?

You know, for the price of a GT-R, you could build a badass track worthy Mk3, and a badass track worthy LS3 powered Miata. Could probably afford the truck and trailer to take them to the track too... wish I had that problem to worry about haha.

 

[Maple191]

Hang on... You wanna build a track MK3 instead of taking you 2011 GT-R to the track.

I smell a troll

 

[scottryana]

No troll at all.

Yes I want to build a MKIII track car. I enjoy building things, I have spent the last hour researching how to match master cylinders to multi-piston brakes, and brake lever ratios of floor mounted pedals. It is kind of a sickness for me, I find something and go over board. ha.

I don't want to take the GT-R to the track simply because of the costs and the fact that the GT-R's have yet to figure how to manage heat in the engine or the transmission so long track sessions end up in the car in limp mode, or having to spend $9k for cooling, $1800 for transmission fluid changes, $6-8k in brakes, and $2200 in tires.

Here is my for sale thread if you think I am a troll. lol

http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?/topic/72325-2011-super-silver-tx-15500-miles/

 

[SupraMedical68]

You're not considering a MKIV TT chassis, maybe one that's tastefully modded with a single turbo conversion?

 

[SupraMedical68]

If you're serious about building a MK3 you should locate a 89-92 Turbo chassis with either a hard top or sunroof. At least then you'll have R154 and a drive-shaft from the start, which is nice because the transmission is both rare and slightly expensive. You'll probably want to find an Aristo Swap which swapping the bell housing, flywheel, converting the oil pan to a rear sump, and then getting a already made harness by Dr. Tweak

Alternatively, you could also find a JDM MKIV SWAP, which would still be a very involved process.
http://www.japandirectjapanese.com/product.php?productid=269&cat=2&page=1

This is what you really need to read.
http://www.supramania.com/forums/sh...ur-1JZ-GTE-And-2JZ-GTE-Swap-Guide-For-Dummies

 

[scottryana]

Great info!!

I think I am going to go with an '88 hard top, since I kind of want the lighter roof.

I think I have decided I will just go with a 2JZ-GTE swap light weight forged internals, smallish turbo horsepower goal is around .16rwhp/lb with driver, with V160 transmission and custom drive shaft. I am looking at a dry sump so the rear sump pan isn't as big of a deal to me. Probably do some firewall and tunnel mods to move the engine and transmission back.

I have seen several motors/trans on ebay, but would love to just be able to buy a bare block and bare heads since they will be built anyways

Interior will all be stripped and caged. I was even thinking of welding the rear hatch shut to increase rigidity a little.

It will be a big project, but should be fun. I am a little leery doing manual brakes in such a heavy car, but I think it will be fine with dual master cylinders for front and rear. Lots to learn obviously, and I am sure lots of experimentation.

 

[MNBmk3T]

Sounds like one hell of a track MK3! Goodluck man. Can't wait to see the build thread!

 

[scottryana]

Well first things first, I need to sell the GT-R, I have been really tempted to just pull the trigger on a MKIII, but I would rather not just have it sitting around until I am ready to get to work on it. So hopefully it moves fairly quickly.

 

[te72]

I have seen several motors/trans on ebay, but would love to just be able to buy a bare block and bare heads since they will be built anyways

It will be a big project, but should be fun. I am a little leery doing manual brakes in such a heavy car, but I think it will be fine with dual master cylinders for front and rear. Lots to learn obviously, and I am sure lots of experimentation.

Sounds like you could stand to learn a lot from IJ. He has been down the path you're contemplating.

Also, if you have the funds, I would suggest giving Titan Motorsports a call. IIRC, they can still get fresh 2j blocks/heads, etc.

 

[scottryana]

Very cool, I will have to look up IJ and see if he has a build thread!

Sounds like you could stand to learn a lot from IJ. He has been down the path you're contemplating.

Also, if you have the funds, I would suggest giving Titan Motorsports a call. IIRC, they can still get fresh 2j blocks/heads, etc.