Enigne Swap Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tykelle · 07-28-2004, 12:39 PM

This is a general question.
With the exception of engine mounts and various electronics configurations, and transmission alignment; what would prevent a person from swapping an engine from a different car entirely (or a differnt generation camry)?
I have a gen 3 andretty spacious engine compartment and all. I have hear of people putting different engines in things like old chevys and things like that. So why not camrys?
I was just wondering. If this is a silly question please just entertain me for a moment. I was just thinking that is is a shame that we cant put a V8 in these cars.
thanks

racerhex · 07-28-2004, 12:50 PM

why would you want a V8? Whats the purpose with more hp comes more weight. Buy a V6 3vz-fe, or 1mzfe, or even the 4 banger 3sgte motor and trick it to the fullest and end result will make a V8 tuck its balls under and run and believe it or not prob. a lot less cash please easier on your head.

Plus if there was anything that was gonna go in my toyota out of dream land it would be a 2jz but good luck with that. It all takes cash but end result you would be better off taking a camry motor to the extrems and laying down some serious times with a thats 400lbs less. My .02

chronoti · 07-28-2004, 02:24 PM

as been said many a time on this forum ... anything can be done with money .. heck if you have enough to drop in it you can change it over to rwd and have a 302 in there as well ... but if you can find another engine that would fit in and be more power( your going to lose the ability for forced iniduction with a large engine). i guess the pontiac 3.2 would work but then again you can take the 3.3 from a new camry and have less problems ... but if you go with another engine that you can trick out for more power keep us informed!

Marvelicious · 07-28-2004, 02:24 PM

The weight really isn't that extreme. My bro just swapped his 4runner 3.0 V6 for a Ford 5.0 (or 302 if you prefer). Gained prolly 150lbs and at least 100hp. Of course a 302 wouldn't fit in a fwd application as it is too long, but my point is that all V8's aren't cast iron boat anchors. There's also the aluminum block V8's out of the Land Rovers... but I have no clue what the dimmensions are. If I really wanted to do this I would look at V8's used in fwd applications... Caddy Northstar and the like, and then weigh your options, power to weight wise. If you're only going to pick up like 50 horses on the v6 then why bother, just build the 6.

Seriously, this is a HUGE project, and you have to understand... you are now doing all the r/d they do at the factory yourself and trying to get it right on the first try due to limited budget. Its a project I wouldn't tackle and I've been in on quite a few odd motor swaps! Not trying to discourage as I'd love to see it! just giving you fair warning what you are up against!

jackfrost1031 · 07-28-2004, 02:31 PM

I've seen a mr2 with a Northstar V8 in it..

was interesting article if I can find it.

tykelle · 07-28-2004, 04:40 PM

Thanks for the info. I have to do an engine swap eventually and wanted to get a feel on how far I can take it (since I am down there anyway). I am no Mr. Goodwrench but I just wanted to see what was feasible. Thanks for the info.

If anyone has heard of other engines in the Gen3 let me know. That's very interesting to me.

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 07-28-2004, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chronoti
...your going to lose the ability for forced iniduction with a large engine...

Why's that?

There are a bazillion sick twin turbo and S/C'ed V8's and V12's out there.

Marvelicious · 07-28-2004, 09:35 PM

Mostly engine compartment space. You'll need a shoe-horn to cram a V8 in there in the first place.

Deuce · 07-28-2004, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tykelle
This is a general question.
With the exception of engine mounts and various electronics configurations, and transmission alignment; what would prevent a person from swapping an engine from a different car entirely (or a differnt generation camry)?
I have a gen 3 andretty spacious engine compartment and all. I have hear of people putting different engines in things like old chevys and things like that. So why not camrys?
I was just wondering. If this is a silly question please just entertain me for a moment. I was just thinking that is is a shame that we cant put a V8 in these cars.
thanks

different philosophy between big lock chevys and fuel-efficient Toyotas. Since Detroit uses basically the same wiring and electronic design and linkages on all its models, you can take a $15k mustang crate engine and drop it in a focus (read motor trend for this month). Old big blocks don't have much wiring to it, so you can basically hook everything up and it'll go (simplification). Not so with Japanese rides, it takes a lot of work, especially with computers being pretty invasive in automotive technology.