1990 Celica GT - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Largen · 09-14-2009, 12:18 AM

Hey! first off im new to this forum, so hi to all of you.

Now i just purchased a 1990 Celica GT, and i have a few questions that i LOVE some answers to!

1. Where on earth would you recomend getting a standard Trasmission and ECU for these bad boys? (the one i purchased is an auto)

2. would you recomend any engine importers for a good engine? AND how much effort is need to convert from the 5s-fe (i think the code is, sorry crash course in toyota XD) to the 3s-gt? (its an option im looking at, but the 5s-fe seems fine to me with a bit of work)

Im replacing the engine because it spun the crank bearings and sent TONES of metel shavings through the engine, i CAN get it repaired, but its going to be cheaper to get a new engine for it (new being imported)

3. Is it too much trouble to swap it over to power window's/locks? anywhere you would recomend?

4. do ya think $150 is good for the "premium stereo" interior panels?

Ha ha... ya... a few things on my plate... but i really apreciate any info!
P.S. ya... might be some dumb questions... but i just got this thing two days ago, and knew nothing about it a day ago XD

TonsOfToyotas · 09-14-2009, 12:00 PM

id say ebay ebay eaby and junk yards u can find a buncha my old stick celica's in the u pull haha lol and 150 for the doorpanels is alot i sold mine for like 20 bux a piece from my 91 gts and like 35 for the ones in my 91 all trac

RobMilkshakes · 09-14-2009, 10:32 PM

also check craigslist for maybe wrecked celicas for the tranny swap because you'll need more parts than just a tranny and ecu.

I wouldn't be able to recommend an engine importer near you, I honeslty haven't taken note of ones too far from me. As for the difficulty of the swap, thats all relative. cant be too hard since there are plenty of swapped celicas. There's tons of info out there on it so I'd suggest so major research.

All you should need is the interior door panel, it should all bolt up. it should. getting the guts of the door would be the difficult part.

And by premium stereo do you mean the special panels for the super live sound system from japan? or just aftermarket ones? either way probably not worth it. and thats coming from a bit of an audiophile.

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-14-2009, 11:01 PM

Hey, welcome to the forum...let's see if we can't answer some of your questions. Umm...

1) You're in Prince George, so Edmonton is going to be your best bet for any kind of engine/transmission/ECU purchases (unless you have a u-pull-it scrap yard in town with a standard Celica in stock). Sorry, can't be any more specific.

2) Calgary has a LOT of JDM importers for both whole cars and for engines. Do some research if you're really serious, check with the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. If you have money to pay a shop to swap-in a 3SGTE, go nuts. If you're working on it yourself, maybe not so much...it's a lot of work, and if you're not experienced then you'll lose your marbles. Especially with wiring harness hassles.

3) If your car has crank windown and manual locks, the wiring loom won't be set-up correctly for powered options. You would have to replace the doors with ones that have these features, and then you'd have to splice-in the harness extensions. Not worth it, IMHO.

4) Who is trying to charge you that damned much for door trim?! For that price, they'd better be including the drivers for each door panel. If there's a wrecker in town, check them for prices (if it wasn't them quoting you the $150 in the first place). Check www.car-part.com for some quotes, or maybe make a trip to Edmonton to tour their wreckers...

Hope some of this helps...good luck with the plans. Get a replacement 5SFE in there for now so you at least have some wheels.

Largen · 09-15-2009, 12:01 AM

Well for the panels im talking about, its not Per door panel, its all of them, plus any others i want... And yes its the live Sound panels im getting, they are REALLY nice, and the same color as my interior (why im doing it)

As for the tranny, i know i will need the transmission, Ecu, the shifter + all the mechanism's and what-not. It would be nice to get all that from someplace in a package... but i gues not, im just going to have to find a wrecker, mine in town here JUST sold the engine and tranny AND it was a standard... i was very dissapointed...

And the power windows, really? the loom is not set up for it? thats odd... i know in my civic the wireing harnes is EXACTLY the same as every other one, i even have wires for a sunroof even though idont have one... its not like that with the celica? dang.... ***but*** i could wire it in myself, im handy with electronics.

And i guess i will just slap another 5SFE in it, im actually half done dropping the engine out, just need to remove the axle's and other crud... and some other compnents from the rear of the engine...

Thanks for the help guys!

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-15-2009, 08:57 AM

Well, admittedly, I've never actually seen a Celica with crank windows and manual locks...I'm going on what I've seen on base model Corollas, Camrys, and Tercels. They never have the extra wiring loom for the power goodies in the doors...

Largen · 09-21-2009, 09:45 PM

Ok, so i removed the old engine, and now i have run into an issue, i cant seem to find to proper year engine for my car, but i can find one out of a 92-96 camry..... now.... i know it should bolt up... but what about the wiring harness any ideas? because i NEED to get this finished and i WILL be ordering the new engine this week at some point... so ya thanks for the help guys.

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-22-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largen

Ok, so i removed the old engine, and now i have run into an issue, i cant seem to find to proper year engine for my car, but i can find one out of a 92-96 camry..... now.... i know it should bolt up... but what about the wiring harness any ideas? because i NEED to get this finished and i WILL be ordering the new engine this week at some point... so ya thanks for the help guys.

Essentially any 5SFE from 1990-1993 Celica GT/GTS, or from 1992-1996 Camry will work. BUT there are small differences. You may have to re-use your original intake manifold, for example, as the newer 5SFE's didn't have a cold start injector on the plenum...when you get the replacement block, just go over the sensor connections one by one and compare to your original harness...I just had to do this with my Dad's Corolla (1990 US-made) as I swapped-in a 4AFE from a 1989 Japanese-made sedan. It's picky work, but definitely do-able.

Largen · 09-22-2009, 02:19 PM

ok, so essentially you figure i should not have too many issues? at least no majour ones? i did not think so myself... but the ECU should be able to communicate with it withought any problems?

(sorry if these questions seem redundant or stupid i just need to be sure)

Thanks again!

RobMilkshakes · 09-22-2009, 03:52 PM

yes it should. there may be slight differences in the sensors but if you can use your old ones or adapt the new ones then there sould be no ECU issues

Pineapple · 09-22-2009, 03:57 PM

Reuse all old electrical. Reuse any parts you're not sure its gonna work. If you need to cut any wire, you're doing it wrong.

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-22-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineapple

Reuse all old electrical. Reuse any parts you're not sure its gonna work. If you need to cut any wire, you're doing it wrong.

I second that: DON'T CUT THE HARNESS TO MAKE SENSORS WORK...instead, re-use the sensors from your block. Remember that many sensors are resistance-sensitive, so splicing wiring can throw out-of-spec feedback and cause problems...

Largen · 09-22-2009, 07:11 PM

alright... well thanks again! i should be ordering the rngine today or tomorrow, actually heres the link ---> http://www.jdmtigerjapanese.com/details.php?id=1637

at least i know if i run into any problems i can rely on you guys

TBayToyotaBoy · 09-23-2009, 10:43 AM

Keep searching...you should NOT have to order from the US...and buying within Canada would save you shipping and duty fees like you wouldn't believe. Here's the best example I found in a 30-second search:

http://eaglejapanmotor.com/product.p...&cat=15&page=1

Largen · 10-04-2009, 11:04 PM

Hey, well i ended up ordering the engine, and it was from canada, Toronto actually, and im just waiting on it... and now im kinda looking into some performance for it... do you know of any good sites or?......

Thanks,
Largen.