new motor swap selection

oldgreywolf · 03-04-2009, 12:27 AM

ok i just recently picked up a 86 toyota mr2 for my wife and since it only had 5k on the recently installed motor and i got the car for $300 i thought it would be a great car to fix up for her. I've completely rebuilt/replaced the suspension(front and rear), brakes and now am working on interior and installing a full body kit. Now comes my problem. Wife was driving thru rush hour traffic in Seattle when she blew an oil cooler line and proceeded to pump all the oil on to the pavement and seized the moter before she could get pulled over. after looking for a new motor and finding it rather hard to find a stock motor for a decent price i was thinking about swapping a 20v silver top or black top in it's place. first which would be the better motor? black top is more exspensive but looks like only real difrence is 5hp. I'm planning on getting a JDM swap motor complete with ECU, wiring harness and manual tranny for either motor. Can anyone tell me what modifacations i will have to deal with? trying to keep it as simple as possible.
Thank you for your help

masagsxr · 03-04-2009, 01:13 AM

Welcome aboard

.... What do you have planned for the car? If its just your wife's daily drive, just rebuild the stock motor where you can save most of your $$$. But I believe majority does the 20v silver top.

oldgreywolf · 03-04-2009, 08:11 PM

I checked into having the stock motor rebuilt as well as rebuilding it myself and the cost would be quite a bit more than buying the 20v silvertop JDM swap set. The car is going to be the wifes daily driver so reliabilaty is a must but if I can upgrade performance, all the better. What I really need to know is if I get the JDM swap set (complete motor, manual trans, complete uncut harness and ECU), what will I have to modify in order to get it back on the road. I have the abilaty and most of the tools to do most anything but I would prefer to totally know what I will need to do before I start. Thank you for any assistance you might be able to give

328FTW · 03-04-2009, 09:53 PM

Welcome, too bad about the old motor but moving on....

The 20V drops right in and bolts using the mr2 mounts but it doesn't plug into the loom and the shifter if you use the 20V gearbox the shift arms are on the wrong side. There are a couple way to overcome this, I did it the ghetto way but drilling the box is best. Is it an auto or manual? Because if you convert from auto you will need a couple other things as well.

Wiring if you are not confident at splicing yourself and also if you want to save a lot of time talk to mr220v on here. He can make you up a harness using old ones so it is plug and play. I'm not sure about the water system either, it might need a couple different pipes to make it work, otherwise not a bad swap.

oldgreywolf · 03-05-2009, 09:48 AM

first thing the transmission is a manual tranny but i'm wondering if it's worth the effort to drill out the 20v tranny or would it be just as good to use the stock tranny. Next I spent a bit of time researching last night and I found myself on the side2sideracing.com websight and I figure i'll just get the coolant line kit, vacume line kit and the fuel line for the swap so it will make it easy. They also sell mr220v's splicing service which I will probably take advantage of. I'll just have to get ahold of him to figure out price and turn around time. Anyway if you can think of anything else please lat me know. I would rather have everything in place before I start...thanks for the help

mr220v · 03-05-2009, 10:44 AM

It seems like you can find silvertops in nicer condition and cheaper. Either way you go, make sure you get a look at what's under the oil cap first. Ask for photos if you're ordering off the internet.

What you're looking for is black sludge. A certain percentage of owners in Japan buy a car, do very little maintenance, and plan on junking the car at the first certification. Motors that went 20k without an oil change will stick out like a sore thumb.....assuming you look before you buy.

As for the harness service, I don't require an uncut harness. So if you were to find a clean motor locally with cut wiring, you could buy an ecu, an afm from a 90 camry 4cyl, 93 4runner v6 coil and igniter, and let me deal with the cut harness.

I just got my site up with my order form:

[ MR220V.COM ]

oldgreywolf · 03-05-2009, 03:55 PM

What is the cost for the harness and turn around time? What do you think about the trans...is the 20v tranny all that much better to justify the effort to drill it out or would it be just as good to use the original stock tranny? What do you think about the coolant line kit, vacume line kit and conversion fuel line sold by side2sideracing.com. Will they aleviate any problems I would have in those areas. Thanks for your help

mr220v · 03-05-2009, 04:55 PM

The cost is $350+$30 return shipping. It's a flat price for cut or uncut 20v harnesses. I supply all missing connectors as part of the service.

I'm usually pretty fast on turnaround. With no backlog, I usually have a harness back out in the mail within 4 days of getting it. I do tend to get a bit backlogged this time of year, so it can take me a while longer. I'd say up to 2 weeks when I'm back logged heavily.

The s2s fuel line is a nice part. Very durable, and much better than trying to splice a line together. Waterlines make that part of the swap easier, and the vacuum lines are nice, especially if yours have been messed with.

Whether you use the 20v transmission depends on the mileage and condition of your existing transmission. I would generally go ahead and use the 20v tranny. If nothing else, it gives you the flexibility to mount the starter on the exhaust or intake side of the motor.

oldgreywolf · 03-06-2009, 09:39 PM

Well thank you to everyone that helped me out, this should go a lot smoother now. I'll be ordering the harness just as soon as I get the motor. in the meen time I'm installing the full body kit. Gotta love fiberglass. I'll have to upload some pics as soon as I get it done. Thanks again

03-04-2009, 12:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
oldgreywolf Mechanic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NW Washington State Posts: 5 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	new motor swap selection ok i just recently picked up a 86 toyota mr2 for my wife and since it only had 5k on the recently installed motor and i got the car for $300 i thought it would be a great car to fix up for her. I've completely rebuilt/replaced the suspension(front and rear), brakes and now am working on interior and installing a full body kit. Now comes my problem. Wife was driving thru rush hour traffic in Seattle when she blew an oil cooler line and proceeded to pump all the oil on to the pavement and seized the moter before she could get pulled over. after looking for a new motor and finding it rather hard to find a stock motor for a decent price i was thinking about swapping a 20v silver top or black top in it's place. first which would be the better motor? black top is more exspensive but looks like only real difrence is 5hp. I'm planning on getting a JDM swap motor complete with ECU, wiring harness and manual tranny for either motor. Can anyone tell me what modifacations i will have to deal with? trying to keep it as simple as possible. Thank you for your help

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03-04-2009, 01:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,534 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 81 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Welcome aboard .... What do you have planned for the car? If its just your wife's daily drive, just rebuild the stock motor where you can save most of your $$$. But I believe majority does the 20v silver top.

03-04-2009, 08:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
oldgreywolf Mechanic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NW Washington State Posts: 5 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I checked into having the stock motor rebuilt as well as rebuilding it myself and the cost would be quite a bit more than buying the 20v silvertop JDM swap set. The car is going to be the wifes daily driver so reliabilaty is a must but if I can upgrade performance, all the better. What I really need to know is if I get the JDM swap set (complete motor, manual trans, complete uncut harness and ECU), what will I have to modify in order to get it back on the road. I have the abilaty and most of the tools to do most anything but I would prefer to totally know what I will need to do before I start. Thank you for any assistance you might be able to give

03-04-2009, 09:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Welcome, too bad about the old motor but moving on.... The 20V drops right in and bolts using the mr2 mounts but it doesn't plug into the loom and the shifter if you use the 20V gearbox the shift arms are on the wrong side. There are a couple way to overcome this, I did it the ghetto way but drilling the box is best. Is it an auto or manual? Because if you convert from auto you will need a couple other things as well. Wiring if you are not confident at splicing yourself and also if you want to save a lot of time talk to mr220v on here. He can make you up a harness using old ones so it is plug and play. I'm not sure about the water system either, it might need a couple different pipes to make it work, otherwise not a bad swap.

03-05-2009, 09:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
oldgreywolf Mechanic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NW Washington State Posts: 5 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	first thing the transmission is a manual tranny but i'm wondering if it's worth the effort to drill out the 20v tranny or would it be just as good to use the stock tranny. Next I spent a bit of time researching last night and I found myself on the side2sideracing.com websight and I figure i'll just get the coolant line kit, vacume line kit and the fuel line for the swap so it will make it easy. They also sell mr220v's splicing service which I will probably take advantage of. I'll just have to get ahold of him to figure out price and turn around time. Anyway if you can think of anything else please lat me know. I would rather have everything in place before I start...thanks for the help

03-05-2009, 10:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
mr220v Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,529 Thanks: 13 Thanked 176 Times in 147 Posts iTrader Rating: (11/100% )	It seems like you can find silvertops in nicer condition and cheaper. Either way you go, make sure you get a look at what's under the oil cap first. Ask for photos if you're ordering off the internet. What you're looking for is black sludge. A certain percentage of owners in Japan buy a car, do very little maintenance, and plan on junking the car at the first certification. Motors that went 20k without an oil change will stick out like a sore thumb.....assuming you look before you buy. As for the harness service, I don't require an uncut harness. So if you were to find a clean motor locally with cut wiring, you could buy an ecu, an afm from a 90 camry 4cyl, 93 4runner v6 coil and igniter, and let me deal with the cut harness. I just got my site up with my order form: [ MR220V.COM ]

03-05-2009, 03:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
oldgreywolf Mechanic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NW Washington State Posts: 5 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	What is the cost for the harness and turn around time? What do you think about the trans...is the 20v tranny all that much better to justify the effort to drill it out or would it be just as good to use the original stock tranny? What do you think about the coolant line kit, vacume line kit and conversion fuel line sold by side2sideracing.com. Will they aleviate any problems I would have in those areas. Thanks for your help

03-05-2009, 04:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
mr220v Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,529 Thanks: 13 Thanked 176 Times in 147 Posts iTrader Rating: (11/100% )	The cost is $350+$30 return shipping. It's a flat price for cut or uncut 20v harnesses. I supply all missing connectors as part of the service. I'm usually pretty fast on turnaround. With no backlog, I usually have a harness back out in the mail within 4 days of getting it. I do tend to get a bit backlogged this time of year, so it can take me a while longer. I'd say up to 2 weeks when I'm back logged heavily. The s2s fuel line is a nice part. Very durable, and much better than trying to splice a line together. Waterlines make that part of the swap easier, and the vacuum lines are nice, especially if yours have been messed with. Whether you use the 20v transmission depends on the mileage and condition of your existing transmission. I would generally go ahead and use the 20v tranny. If nothing else, it gives you the flexibility to mount the starter on the exhaust or intake side of the motor.

03-06-2009, 09:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
oldgreywolf Mechanic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NW Washington State Posts: 5 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well thank you to everyone that helped me out, this should go a lot smoother now. I'll be ordering the harness just as soon as I get the motor. in the meen time I'm installing the full body kit. Gotta love fiberglass. I'll have to upload some pics as soon as I get it done. Thanks again