Question about swapping in a 3SGTE in an NA MR2

[hammyox85]

Sup all, I am thinking of getting a N/A 1991 MR2 and I was wondering if I were to swap it with a 3SGTE engine Rear Clip would I need to do any modifications to the MR2 or it's engine bay to make the engine work corectly? Thanks! and would the JDM 3SGTE 245HP engine work also?

[bchiles]

I am going to do a similar swap and form the people that I talked to it bolts in... but make sure you have everything that you need

[JekylandHyde]

Yes it bolts in ... just make sure you have all of the parts you need.

[nbw]

ive heard more then a few times thats its best to just get the turbo mr2... why is(or was) this?

[JekylandHyde]

... because a swap will never be the same sa when Toyota assembled it. Plus the Turbo comes with a lot of nice other features (fog lights, CD storage ,etc ...)

With the used market the way it is now, it doesn't pay to swap IMO. There are plenty of cheap turbos out there. Heck, I only paid $1750 for Hyde and he was running and inspected when I bought him

[Kaddie]

yeah but how much did it cost you to get hyde to a "nice" condition. not counting all the preformance stuff you did to it. mainly to fix anything wrong with it

[nbw]

hmm, dont all(or almost all) turbo mk2's come as t-tops?
Way I see it a lighter(and stiffer?) vehicle would be nice :P

btw, I still cant believe you got hyde for $1.7k, thats a complete steal

heh, I'd be ecstatic if I can find a 'nice' na mk1 for 1k localy..
(but thats an intirely dif topic..)

[JekylandHyde]

MKII's came in T-tops, sunroofs and very few hard tops.

Hyde was a steal and I have a lot of dough into him.
But I could have had him in fine stock running condition for less than $5K total.

nbw ... I am buying a a MK1 for $650 in 2 weeks
It's got a bad engine though.

1986 red sunroof car is coming to the Jekyl Hyde Racing stable.

[ac427cpe]

mk1 w/ bad engine.... do i smell another mk1.5?

[JekylandHyde]

... no no. Not any time soon.

I have an agenda with Hyde. That will be resolved before I build antoher project. This '86 is replacing my current daily driver ... that is all.

[nbw]

yeah sure thats what they all say...

hehe

[ghetto7o2azn]

Originally Posted by JekylandHyde

... because a swap will never be the same sa when Toyota assembled it. Plus the Turbo comes with a lot of nice other features (fog lights, CD storage ,etc ...)

With the used market the way it is now, it doesn't pay to swap IMO. There are plenty of cheap turbos out there. Heck, I only paid $1750 for Hyde and he was running and inspected when I bought him

but wut if ur n/a only has 36,000 miles on it and u cant find a turbo in that good shape and you want to do the swap?

[JekylandHyde]

There are situations were doing a swap may be the ideal choice for your circumstances. Other factors always change things.

Yeah ... a 36,000 mile chasis might be worhht investing into a swap if that is what you really want.

Personally, I would keep the NA cherry and find a beat turbo to play with. You can get a used beat turbo for as much as a rear clip to do a proper swap.

[ghetto7o2azn]

thats true

[Bendy_Imoc]

I am thinking about doing the same thing with my car swapping the 2nd gen 3sgte into my 91 NA. My engine either need rebuilding or replacing in the next year or so and thats why I'm even thinking of doing the swap. The 91 chasis and engine have around 140,000 miles on them. I think in my situation with one engine going out it's the best time for the new and better one to come in. I don't have too much experience with this but my goal is to get my car running 12's. From what I've read it's not too hard or too expensive if you use some choice mods.

I'd like anyones opinion on this wether they think that I should do the swap and wether my goal of 12's in the quarter are realistic while still being a daily driver. I thought about selling the car and buying a turbo but finding a running turbo for cheap in my area seems to be a challenge.