To swap or not to swap

Azul36-ps3 · 01-08-2009, 07:58 PM

I was recently working on an mk1.5 project. Unfortunatly i had no experience with engines. I handed my mr2 to my dads friends, who has a shop. He's worked with engines, but never with mr2s. That should have been a red flag. I being stubborn to get it finished handed it to him. Almost 6 months later, he calls me and tells me, he cant do it. Now that expensive 3sgte is torn to pieces, choped up, plumbing incorrect, and axles are in millions of pieces. Now its in my back yard...rusting!!! I still love my baby to death.

Now heres my question. Would it be cheaper to buy a supercharged mr2 or to swap my n/a mr2. How hard will it be to go from where i am now, to a supercharged conversion? The wiring harness has been modified to work with the 3sgte, so does that mean i need to buy a n/a harness and modified it to work with the supercharged mr2? Or will a supercharged wiring harness pnp with the n/a mr2? Will my current n/a axles work with the supercharged transmission? I got so many questions, but i'll try not to bug everyone too much.

328FTW · 01-11-2009, 07:23 AM

Depends on what supercharged engine you use. Do you intend to use a jap import map engine or an afm engine from another 2. One is easier. The afm motor plugs straight into the n/a harness minus the supercharger light, just replace with a boost gauge is better. But a modified 3sgte harness will probably be different. What is the 3sgte like? There are people that will walk you through that here and might even be able to hook you up with local shops and people depending on where you are. From what you say the wiring is done(?) you just need to put back together and get the drivetrain sorted along with the plumbing. Post up details of where it is at and what engine you are looking at.

And the supercharger axles are different but I would just use the n/a flywheel, clutch and gearbox because it fits and works well.

Azul36-ps3 · 01-11-2009, 01:33 PM

I haven't found a 4agze yet, but now im planning to get the afm you mentioned. Im not sure exactly what year the 3sgte is, but it has a cylinder type throttle, not the trumpet look. The wiring was done by phoenix tuning, so im guessing its complete. I haven't seen many people here from Omaha, Nebraska. It would sure help a lot if i could find a place here that knew their stuff about mr2s.

conor · 01-11-2009, 01:41 PM

Buying a stock S/C is a million times easier than swapping in a 3SGTE. And swapping will only be cheaper if you were very spendthrift in your purchases of the N/A Mk1 and 3SGTE engine set.

I'm not sure how your dad's friend effed it up so badly though, if he actually has a shop. Unless he's a caveman who is still afraid of those "new fangled" fuel-injection cars (that have been standard since the mid-80s...), then he's one hell of a horrible mechanic.

Azul36-ps3 · 01-11-2009, 01:53 PM

Yes he was!! The mounts he made were horrible! If i were to even start the mr2, they would probably snap! He had like 20 washers to space the rear mount.

Jackstand Queen · 01-11-2009, 06:06 PM

Where I live, I am surrounded by throwbacks who only work on and understand carburators. I make fun of the inbred, cousin marrying, Neanderthals that live in my small town. But they are fun to pown.

O.K. back to your issue of 4agze or stick with the original plan. Dollar wise, you could probably go through with the 3gste swap and spend the least amount of money.

Headache wise, if the 3gste swap is a nightmarish headache, then the 4agze is going to be no less than half and as much as 3/4 the pain in the ass the 3gste plan is. Especially when you compound the difficulty with 4agze swap into an already modded wiring harness.

The 4agze needs its own special voltage regulator, ignitor, and ECU and it needs the type of distributor found in 88 and 89 4age MkI's.

Currently, I haven't been able to find a source for new or remanufactured 4agze passenger axles. So you have to find a good or rebuildable used one. And you have to send it out for rebuilding if it needs it. Used passenger axles are getting hard to find.

What I sincerely recommend is to Bone up on 3gste swaps on this site and others on the net. Study full time for weeks. So you know it inside and out. Then when your brain is about to explode grab a wrench, an angle grinder, tape measure, and hit it like a Tsunami! Figure it might take you at least 6 months to complete, perhaps many times longer if you are busy, or on a tight budget.

But when you get it done . . . its gonna be a Beast! You will come to believe that it derives its power from the tortured souls of small children!

Above all else: don't give in and go back to a N.A. 4age . . . they are just soooooooo . .. . . underpowered.

328FTW · 01-11-2009, 06:25 PM

^ Winrar

If you post pics and perhaps a list of what you know needs to be finished/replaced or whatever then everyone on here can probably guide you with some of the things. You may find it not that bad now that the wiring is done but that is no guarantee (by far). It is really hard to say anything without knowing what stage the car is at.

Azul36-ps3 · 01-11-2009, 10:58 PM

Thank you all for helping me. Right now im having problems with money due to the economy, but i WILL work on my mr2 as soon as get the chance. I wont let her die on me! For now i will continue to gather information so when i stumble across some money, i will be prepared.

01-08-2009, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Azul36-ps3 400+hp Mr2 Turbo or bust Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Magic city Posts: 283 Thanks: 15 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	To swap or not to swap I was recently working on an mk1.5 project. Unfortunatly i had no experience with engines. I handed my mr2 to my dads friends, who has a shop. He's worked with engines, but never with mr2s. That should have been a red flag. I being stubborn to get it finished handed it to him. Almost 6 months later, he calls me and tells me, he cant do it. Now that expensive 3sgte is torn to pieces, choped up, plumbing incorrect, and axles are in millions of pieces. Now its in my back yard...rusting!!! I still love my baby to death. Now heres my question. Would it be cheaper to buy a supercharged mr2 or to swap my n/a mr2. How hard will it be to go from where i am now, to a supercharged conversion? The wiring harness has been modified to work with the 3sgte, so does that mean i need to buy a n/a harness and modified it to work with the supercharged mr2? Or will a supercharged wiring harness pnp with the n/a mr2? Will my current n/a axles work with the supercharged transmission? I got so many questions, but i'll try not to bug everyone too much.

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01-11-2009, 07:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,235 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Depends on what supercharged engine you use. Do you intend to use a jap import map engine or an afm engine from another 2. One is easier. The afm motor plugs straight into the n/a harness minus the supercharger light, just replace with a boost gauge is better. But a modified 3sgte harness will probably be different. What is the 3sgte like? There are people that will walk you through that here and might even be able to hook you up with local shops and people depending on where you are. From what you say the wiring is done(?) you just need to put back together and get the drivetrain sorted along with the plumbing. Post up details of where it is at and what engine you are looking at. And the supercharger axles are different but I would just use the n/a flywheel, clutch and gearbox because it fits and works well.

01-11-2009, 01:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Azul36-ps3 400+hp Mr2 Turbo or bust Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Magic city Posts: 283 Thanks: 15 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	I haven't found a 4agze yet, but now im planning to get the afm you mentioned. Im not sure exactly what year the 3sgte is, but it has a cylinder type throttle, not the trumpet look. The wiring was done by phoenix tuning, so im guessing its complete. I haven't seen many people here from Omaha, Nebraska. It would sure help a lot if i could find a place here that knew their stuff about mr2s.

01-11-2009, 01:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
conor Lord Anti-Rice Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 987 Thanks: 22 Thanked 32 Times in 28 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Buying a stock S/C is a million times easier than swapping in a 3SGTE. And swapping will only be cheaper if you were very spendthrift in your purchases of the N/A Mk1 and 3SGTE engine set. I'm not sure how your dad's friend effed it up so badly though, if he actually has a shop. Unless he's a caveman who is still afraid of those "new fangled" fuel-injection cars (that have been standard since the mid-80s...), then he's one hell of a horrible mechanic.

01-11-2009, 01:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Azul36-ps3 400+hp Mr2 Turbo or bust Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Magic city Posts: 283 Thanks: 15 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Yes he was!! The mounts he made were horrible! If i were to even start the mr2, they would probably snap! He had like 20 washers to space the rear mount.

01-11-2009, 06:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Where I live, I am surrounded by throwbacks who only work on and understand carburators. I make fun of the inbred, cousin marrying, Neanderthals that live in my small town. But they are fun to pown. O.K. back to your issue of 4agze or stick with the original plan. Dollar wise, you could probably go through with the 3gste swap and spend the least amount of money. Headache wise, if the 3gste swap is a nightmarish headache, then the 4agze is going to be no less than half and as much as 3/4 the pain in the ass the 3gste plan is. Especially when you compound the difficulty with 4agze swap into an already modded wiring harness. The 4agze needs its own special voltage regulator, ignitor, and ECU and it needs the type of distributor found in 88 and 89 4age MkI's. Currently, I haven't been able to find a source for new or remanufactured 4agze passenger axles. So you have to find a good or rebuildable used one. And you have to send it out for rebuilding if it needs it. Used passenger axles are getting hard to find. What I sincerely recommend is to Bone up on 3gste swaps on this site and others on the net. Study full time for weeks. So you know it inside and out. Then when your brain is about to explode grab a wrench, an angle grinder, tape measure, and hit it like a Tsunami! Figure it might take you at least 6 months to complete, perhaps many times longer if you are busy, or on a tight budget. But when you get it done . . . its gonna be a Beast! You will come to believe that it derives its power from the tortured souls of small children! Above all else: don't give in and go back to a N.A. 4age . . . they are just soooooooo . .. . . underpowered.

01-11-2009, 06:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,235 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	^ Winrar If you post pics and perhaps a list of what you know needs to be finished/replaced or whatever then everyone on here can probably guide you with some of the things. You may find it not that bad now that the wiring is done but that is no guarantee (by far). It is really hard to say anything without knowing what stage the car is at.

01-11-2009, 10:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Azul36-ps3 400+hp Mr2 Turbo or bust Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Magic city Posts: 283 Thanks: 15 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Thank you all for helping me. Right now im having problems with money due to the economy, but i WILL work on my mr2 as soon as get the chance. I wont let her die on me! For now i will continue to gather information so when i stumble across some money, i will be prepared.