New member in northern Virginia

[77RA24]

I've been in the old-school Toyota seen for a while now and currently own a 1977 Toyota Celica ST. It's actually in the middle of having body and paint completed once that is finished The plan is to swap in a 3UZFE (with the automatic), and a Ford 8.8 out of a 87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (has the 4x108 bolt pattern should be easy to find adapters to 4x114). I've seen guys swap in the 1uzfe so I figure there's enough room.

If any of you have experience doing what I intend to do I would really appreciate some helpful tips. I'm a former welder so if anyone in my area needs help with some nice welding feel free to ask.

A few friends of mine and I would love to get with some people around the DMV area so let me know if your interested.

Currently I'm a Paintless Dent Repair Technician so again if I can help feel free to ask.



Sent from my iPhone

[twotone_ra64]

Welcome!! Hopefully you find the information you'll need! Your project sounds really cool, definitely start a build thread and post a lot of pictures (*edit: using Imgur or something more reliable that Photobucket, per swan song below...), we like pictures! Speaking of, upload a few shots of your RA24 when it's done with the paint and body, would love to see it.

[swan song]

RWDFREAK has a write up in the write up sections, but all his photos are gone due to Photofuckit. I'm elbow deep in my 1uzfe swap. I also did an 8.8 swap on my GT. Welcome, my man. I will be posting a wiring video on this engine soon too. The exhaust manifold has issues clearing the steering shaft. Good thing you're a good welder. I would LOVE to see you come up with some headers that are equal length, and the collector finishes in front of the steering shaft so you can run a pipe around it.

[Sigma Projects]

Welcome to the forums. Good to know you have the those skills. I'm sure many of us will be asking for your advice in the near future. Frank also has completed the 1UZ swap in his GTS.

[77RA24]

So before I handed it off to my friend for a paint job I took some (a lot of) time to paint something special on the under side of the hood. Should look good hovering over the 3UZ lol

Btw i used a laser leveler mounted above my work area to achieve those strait line over all those curves.

[77RA24]

Welcome!! Hopefully you find the information you'll need! Your project sounds really cool, definitely start a build thread and post a lot of pictures (*edit: using Imgur or something more reliable that Photobucket, per swan song below...), we like pictures! Speaking of, upload a few shots of your RA24 when it's done with the paint and body, would love to see it.

I think you may have just inspired me to do so. Thanks

[twotone_ra64]

I think you may have just inspired me to do so. Thanks

Definitely! Super clean work on the rising sun pattern on the hood.

And hey, in your sig there... I see you also have a 91 Miata! Excellent choice

[77RA24]

RWDFREAK has a write up in the write up sections, but all his photos are gone due to Photofuckit. I'm elbow deep in my 1uzfe swap. I also did an 8.8 swap on my GT. Welcome, my man. I will be posting a wiring video on this engine soon too. The exhaust manifold has issues clearing the steering shaft. Good thing you're a good welder. I would LOVE to see you come up with some headers that are equal length, and the collector finishes in front of the steering shaft so you can run a pipe around it.

Alright! Where are you located? Sounds awesome can't wait to see your progress! Oh and expect some questions from me later on lol

[77RA24]

Welcome to the forums. Good to know you have the those skills. I'm sure many of us will be asking for your advice in the near future. Frank also has completed the 1UZ swap in his GTS.

Thanks. Yea I hope I can be helpful. Who's Frank? Would love to see his swap, does he have a build thread?

[77RA24]

Definitely! Super clean work on the rising sun pattern on the hood.

And hey, in your sig there... I see you also have a 91 Miata! Excellent choice

Yea I absolutely love my Miata it has full bilstein suspension with eibach springs/sway bars, wilwood big brake kit, torsen rear end with 2001 brakes, a 1.6 tuned for spec Miata plus intake and spec exhaust. Oh and most importantly a hard dog roll bar with 5 point harness. Far far Future plans include 1.8, gt2871r, 6spd, and maybe just maybe an Exocet kit!

Here's a real crappy picture of it

[twotone_ra64]

Yea I absolutely love my Miata it has full bilstein suspension with eibach springs, wilwood big brake kit, torsen rear end with 2001 brakes, a 1.6 tuned for spec Miata plus intake and spec exhaust. Oh and most importantly a hard dog roll bar with 5 point harness. Far far Future plans include 1.8, gt2871r, 6spd, and maybe just maybe an Exocet kit!

Here's a real crappy picture of it

Awesome!! You've really done her up! I'm running the same mods, just different spec - Flyin' Miata springs and sway bars, KYB AGX shocks, NB2 Sport pack 11" front brakes, '99 1.8L swap, Good-win Racing Roadstersport 3 cat-back exhaust and, also very importantly, Hard Dog Deuce roll bars. Future plans... maybe a Racing Beat intake, bucket seats and new rims, but that's really it. I'm having thoughts about doing a high-comp NA ITB build, but I'll have to wait until I'm making six figures. The Exocet would be really cool!

[Sigma Projects]

Thanks. Yea I hope I can be helpful. Who's Frank? Would love to see his swap, does he have a build thread?

RA65GTS is Frank. His swap is very clean, I can't find his build thread, Twotone has seen Frank's car as well in person. Here's his car on the Dyno.
http://www.celica-gts.com/forums/index.php?topic=27957.msg418010#msg418010

And this looks like an older vid of RWDFreak's 1UZ swapped Celica on a dyno as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfPm8FKaldE

[77RA24]

Thanks

[Sigma Projects]

np, looking forward to the 3UZ swap.

[swan song]

Good luck getting the 3uz engine to fit height wise. That engine is quite a bit taller in both block and intake manifold. The 1uz just barely clears our chassis Hood line.