78 Celica engine conversions

[beerad]

hey,
Havent posted in a while since i sold the caldina last year, but now im thinking of getting back into a toyota, ive found a 78 celica coupe on the net. I think its the TA23 code or similar real rare nice looking coupe with dual headlights set back slightly. Its got no engine in it and no crossmembers, can i get a rough estimate on costs to set up a 20v engine in the car. I am able to do labour myself, but a list of parts i need would be great guys, cheers

[TRD Man]

beerad, presuming that this is the same car, please do buy this car.

I've been toying with the idea of buying it for a classic rally car project since it 1st appeared about 2 months ago.
In fact I've been top bidder on it at least twice.
I've got an engine for it, a gearbox, some rally suspension parts and I've located a disc brake rear end and a rear spoiler manufacturer.
There's only about 3 more items I need to locate to convince me that I can replicate the factory car.
But I need a new project like I need 2 wives.

So please buy it so I can get the bloody thing out of my mind and get some sleep at night.


PS. It's listed as a TA32. It's a 40 series Celica which obviously came with a dull & boring single cam engine - perhaps 16/18r or similar.

[beerad]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 785595.htm

This is the car im thinking of. This will be my first time doing a proper build up and i need to know where and what i need to buy to put a 4age into this car. any help would be great thanks.

[TRD Man]

Yes, that's the one.

PM fangsport. he's got a shed full of old junk down there. He'll probably have a cross member from RA23 or TA45 and will know which one is best to use with 4AGE.

We would have used a 2T/3T combo bored out to 1970cc with carbs. That would be a very simple conversion.

[AE85coupe]

Yes, that's the one.

PM fangsport. he's got a shed full of old junk down there. He'll probably have a cross member from RA23 or TA45 and will know which one is best to use with 4AGE.

We would have used a 2T/3T combo bored out to 1970cc with carbs. That would be a very simple conversion.

1970cc? what psitons would you use for that? would that not be getting mighty close to the water jackets?

[TRD Man]

You'd need a custom made piston. The 2TG is OK for 89mm.

[snwtoy]

Surely you wouldn't put a 1600 in it?????

[fangsport]

PM fangsport. he's got a shed full of old junk down there. He'll probably have a cross member from RA23 or TA45 and will know which one is best to use with 4AGE.

i don't have much of a shedful these days, Bruce. i scrapped a heap of stuff when i moved workshops. it was advertised on here and Trade-Me with no punters and i can't keep everything.

crossmember from a T-series celica or corolla will work with a forager, but would build a decent-ish T motor myself, as ALL the parts are real easy to get, and a peaky motor in an old school cruiser dosn't cut it in my line of thinking.

You'd need a custom made piston. The 2TG is OK for 89mm.

is that in effect a 2l 3tg?
as in late 2tg block, 2tg head and 3t internals. if it is, it has been done many, many times, and to good effect.

Surely you wouldn't put a 1600 in it?????

no, you would fit a mosta-bridgeported rotang in it an ruin yet another classic car.

[MikeMan]

18R-G on carbs would be best IMHO.

Good torque and a period engine.

[AE85coupe]

18R-G on carbs would be best IMHO.

Good torque and a period engine.

3t/2t combo like what trd said would be better in my opinion

[snwtoy]

Why would you put such a small engine in it? I dno't understand... do you like having no power? A 78 celica isn't exactly lightweight.

A 3SGE would be my pick if you didn't want forced induction. Afterall it's what toyota put in the newer ones.

[Jebus]

I dno't understand... do you like having no power? A 78 celica isn't exactly lightweight.

Youre right, you dont understand, this is the 3424235 time ive heard you say "Why are you putting a 1600 in *insert lightweight old toyota here* bla bla bla wont move it" They are not heavy and would be even lighter with a 1600 4AGE in them.

[Alex B]

These things are getting fairy rare, why not keep it original?

[snwtoy]

I dno't understand... do you like having no power? A 78 celica isn't exactly lightweight.

Youre right, you dont understand, this is the 3424235 time ive heard you say "Why are you putting a 1600 in *insert lightweight old toyota here* bla bla bla wont move it" They are not heavy and would be even lighter with a 1600 4AGE in them.

Actually it'd be the second And I'd be surprised if a celica of that vintage weighed in under 1200kgs with the original donk in place. Anyhow, I guess it's personal preference, but given a choice betwen a highly strung 1600 and a lazy 2l, I know what I'd be choosing.

[crnkin]

Why would you put such a small engine in it? I dno't understand... do you like having no power? A 78 celica isn't exactly lightweight.

A 3SGE would be my pick if you didn't want forced induction. Afterall it's what toyota put in the newer ones.

A 78 celica weighs less than an fxgt

A 3sge has less power per weight than a 4age

A 4age is simple to install

4age gearboxes are plentiful (if not cheap)

Original would be cool, but the extra balls would go down a treat

[Jebus]

Well put on your suprised face

http://celica.dublet.org/reference.pl?celica=TA23%20GT

[TRD Man]

is that in effect a 2l 3tg?
as in late 2tg block, 2tg head and 3t internals.

Yes. I believe the late 2TG block is the same as the 3T block.
But the 2TG head might be better. I'm not 100% on this.

18R-G on carbs would be best IMHO.

18RG can give good power & torque but is heavy and not well regarded by tuners.
2TG is much lighter and is commonly used with the lighter T50 which, as it happens, TRD still do close ratio kits for.

I'd be surprised if a celica of that vintage weighed in under 1200kgs

Actually a TA45 is only 1000kg. Not a hell of a lot more than an AE86.
If you recall, my suggestion was a 1970cc, or thereabouts. This engine should deliver good power & good torque (comparative to a 3SGE) and retain the originality of the car.

[snwtoy]

Well put on your suprised face

http://celica.dublet.org/reference.pl?celica=TA23%20GT

<- quite surprised

[Snoozin]

That linked to the wrong kind of Celica anyway.... aren't we talking TA40's as opposed to the RA23 linked?

[wde_bdy]

Since they don't give a chassis code it could be a TA, RA or even MA4*. Remember those will be dry weights too.

Callum