77 Celica GT 20R---> Ford 302 CID H.O.

[77BlackDragon]

Before its asked, I did look into the search option and didnt really find what i need info wise.
Does anyone have any info about dropping a Ford 302 CID H.O. into a 77 Celica GT.
I know and have seen it done, but have not seen any reald documentation about this process.
Please help if you can.

[TTercel]

Nope never seen one...Why the 302?

[stepho]

The cast iron 302 is a *heavy* engine.
It might be fine for drags but it will be absolutely horrible on every single corner.
Also not very sophisiticated.

A better choice is the all alloy Lexus 1UZ-FE.
It's been done a few times before.
260HP from 4000cc is quite good and it weighs about the same as the 20R (maybe slightly less).

Here's my (currently stalled) project on a 1980 Carina (which has the same engine bay and front suspension as the '77 Celica).
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/stepho/mods.htm#CarinaV8

- Stepho

[DCM]

Wow. Nice page. I'd like to do a 1uz swap into my latest TE72 (not the 22R powered one), but there aren't any around here!

[xak5]

a few hurdles i can think of if u try the 302 is u would have to have a driveshaft cut. you would need to find springs that could hold the weight of the motor too. i think you could do it with patence. at least you dident want to puta chevy in it! thank goodness, you have some taste in american motors. me presonally i like fords 4.6, i think its nuts compaired to the 302. go get an old police interceptor, hells yeah.

[stepho]

DCM

If you liked my page then try this one.
http://www.1uzfe.com/
He put a 1UZ into a TE27 Corolla.

- Stepho

[westveld]

The ford 302 / 5.0 is a great little motor. Compact, relatively light-weight.
450 lbs or so

Not much more than the 1uz-fe - and 5.0 parts are realllly cheap.

I'd be doing it to my 77 corolla if the rules allowed it... or maybe a northstar or 4.9 cad motor. hmmm

cheers,

Matt

[stepho]

Westveld,

You gotta be kidding. Are we talking about the same old cast iron block that's been around for decades or are you thinking of the more recent all alloy modular engine?

A cast iron V8 block will always be way heavier than the all alloy 1UZ-FE. When I took a 1600cc cast iron 4 cylinder out of my car and put a 1UZ in there, the suspension barely changed. Shifting both engines around in my garage wasn't very hard. Whereas moving a 302 cast iron block was considerably heavier judging by how more effort I required to move it around the garage.

- Stepho

[westveld]

Nope - old cast iron lump:
http://www.bacomatic.org/%7Edw/txt/engfyi.htm

I'm thinking the 302 with alum. intake (carb or efi) would be 50-60 lbs heavier than the 1uz-fe. Not a lot in the scheme of things. With aluminum heads even less, maybe 20 lbs heavier. The DOHC bits add a lot of weight - see northstar vs 4.9 cad v8 - and the 4.9 has iron heads...

I agree that a 1uz-fe swap would be much better if time/money is no object.

Around here (US) 302/5.0s are very very cheap and available. We just bought a 302 EFI 2wd pickup for $50 pulled the drivetrain and got $200 for the rest for scrap...

Just my opinion, I might be wrong...

Matt

[stepho]

Agreed that the old cast iron lump will be cheaper in the US. Not quite true here in Australia but that's irrelevant to 77BlackDragon in LA.

- Stepho

[DCM]

You would do well to use aluminum heads, as the stock heads are restricted on the exhaust side by the size of the exhaust ports.

[insaneinsite]

Why not think about up dating to a newer turboed supra engine and gaining reliabilty and economy along with power? I think it would be a tastfull swap..
Just my opinion but if it starts as a toyota leave it toyota

[stepho]

The 1JZ-GTE or 2JZ-GTE is a touch too long to fit in the 77 bay without cutting the firewall.
The M series engines (eg 7M-GTE if you want turbo) fit but it is a very tight fit and puts a lot of weight forward of the front axle (ie bad handling).
Best to use the good old trusty 20R/22R, more modern 4A or 3S engines or the grunty 1UZ Lexus V8 (22R being easiest, 1UZ being the hardest).
All have choices of naturally aspirated or forced induction (not neccessarily in stock form).

- Stepho