Engine Transplant

From Celica Club UK

Well Guys and Gals I thought a how to on an ST to GT upgrade was required. So here goes.

I won’t go into undo this bolt and that bolt etc but I will highlight what is next.

Well firstly I would never recommend buying these parts bit by bit as they will cost more than buying a new GT. I recommend getting a side impact damaged GT for your bits, I got mine for about £500.

Here is a list of what you will need to do the swap:

1. 3SGE Engine. Obviously, try to find one similar year or you will have to do some wiring as the newer models have different set up (EGR etc)
2. Radiator as the GT one is bigger and has different coolant pipe set up.
3. Accelerator Cable. The GT one is longer.
4. Gear linkage as the gear box is different.
5. Gearbox the mounting is the same as the ST.
6. Drive shafts are different so you need both of them too.
7. Wheel Hubs including the brake disks for the front as the Brakes are larger.
8. Brakes, GT brake callipers are bigger and believe me you need em.
9. ABS sensors as they are different to the ST.
10. Rev counter as the 3SGE revs higher, you don’t have change the Speedo, but the GT goes up to 180 mph, these are a direct swap. Also the GT has and engine oil level sensor this needs a bulb if you use the ST clocks.
11. Exhaust Down pipe, you can mate it to the ST pipe at the CAT but the GT cat is larger so a bit of welding has to be done. I used the GT exhaust.
12. The ST rear Brakes are fine as they are the same as the GT.

Firstly get the car up off the ground completely as this makes access easier.

On the top

Drain the Coolant, engine oil, gearbox oil and power steering.
Remove the radiator by undoing the top 12mm bolts holding the rad to the front. And take off the coolant hoses. With the radiator removed it makes the engine easier to get out.
Disconnect the accelerator cable

Left side of the Engine bay

Starting on one side of the engine first I chose the left side of the car.
Remove the air box and battery.
Remove the fuel return pipes and the top banjo union from the fuel line. You can remove the fuel filter housing this make access to the gearbox easier.
Undo the R clips off the gearbox linkage ends and the locating clips on the linkage and remove the gearbox linkage, Keep the R clips as you need them.
Remove the clutch fluid pipe from the front of the gear box and undo all the clips all around as you can use the same pipe work.
Undo all the earth cables that connect to the battery and the left suspension strut (10mm bolt).

Into the electrics

Remove the 3 10mm bolts that hold in the fuse box and separate where the engine loom EA1 plug goes in to the car loom (this is where any rewiring has to be done).
Remove the left kick plate and pull back the mat to reveal the ECU wiring.
Remove the ECU from the between the foot wells 3 10mm bolts and undo the connections to the ECU and the connections in to back of the console 4 Clips.
You will need to ensure that the Loom is not connected as this needs to be pulled through the bulkhead of the car.
Back under the bonnet remove the 2 10mm bolts which hold the ECU wiring loom in place on the bulkhead.
Pull the wiring out of the car and put to one side.

The right side of the car

Undo the power steering pipes off the reservoir and remove the power steering reservoir.
Disconnect the earth cable from the Alternator to right suspension strut.
Pull of the breather to the Steering actuator. Just a pipe with a clip on.

Underneath the car

Remove all the cover panels they are 10mm bolts and screws with 10mm heads.
Undo the Down pipe and drop it down.
Disconnect the Lambda sensor from the exhaust

At the sides

Remove both front wheels and remove the whole wheel station.
3 x 17mm bolts underneath the wishbone.
Undo the steering track rod end split and 17 mm nut.
2 x 19mm Bolts and remove the nut from the suspension legs.
You will need to remove the brake pipe from the calliper to fit the GT brakes on.
Remove the complete ABS cable the connections are the same for the GT and you ll need the cable. This is done by removing the inner wing cover.
Pull out the old drive shafts, if you didn’t drain the gearbox oil go get some rags.

On the left side of the car looking to wheel station towards the rear of the gearbox and you will see the rear engine/gearbox mount this is the trickiest part of re assembling the engine back in as it’s a bugger to line up.
Using a 17mm socket and loads of extensions push the extensions into the hole and undo the rear bolt. And remove it completely keep the bolt as you ll need it.

At this point attach the engine hoist to the engine to support it for the lift.

Remove the front engine/gearbox mount this one is easily accessible with no radiator in.

Take up the lift with the hoist

Remove the right side engine mount completely.
Remove the gearbox mount completely its in two parts split them to make putting it back together easier.

Do a final check around the engine to check nothing is still connected. The power steering union will be.

Slightly lift the engine so you got access to and undo the power steering union.

Lift the engine out of the engine bay and slowly lower to the floor.

Remove the Gear box linkage by removing the exhaust cover plate underneath the car to reveal the cables

Into the car and take out the console to see the other ends of the cables and disconnect them from the gear stick two R clips (don’t drop them).

Remove the cables and refit the GT ones following the same route as the ST ones.

In the driver foot well right up underneath the dash there are two 10mm bolts holding the cable in I used a flexible socket extension to get up in there it took ages to undo them.

Remove the cable from the accelerator pedal and remove it from the car, replace it with the GT one by reverse fitting.

With the New engine and gearbox it’s sensible to at this time renew the clutch and the timing belt as they are so easy to do out of the car. Also change the oil filter, plugs etc while really accessible.

Swap the Exhaust down pipe and attach to the rest of the exhaust this is easier at this point to put it in.

Take the old engine off the hoist and attach the new one.

Engine mount

The right side engine mount has to be modified before you put the engine in. the are two black stickers covering the GT mounts position there is nothing behind them. Remove the stickers.

There are many ways you can make a fitment this.

If you drill holes directly under the new holes you can use a threaded bar and weld a nut onto one end and push the bolts through the mount and put a nut on the bottom on putting it in. this is what I did on (Celica nige’s car).

On the bulk head remove the same cover off above the loom hole, this is where you fit the ignitor. Also across the bulkhead there another sensor to be fitted to the bulkhead.

Raise the new engine and put into the engine bay

ensure the engine is at an angle timing case upper most and drop the gearbox under its mounting and lower it. Refit the power steering union at this point while the engine is in the air as access is hard when lowered.

Line up the rear engine mount, first whilst the engine can be moved around and put the bolt back in this is the easiest method.

Lower the engine in and then re fit the gearbox mounting the bolts are long and fit the long front to rear bolt first and raise the engine with the other part attached to the gearbox. You will have to wiggle the engine and box to line them up. When located slightly tighten the bolts a few turns leave this one loose for now.

Re fit the right engine mount to the engine and locate above the new holes. Drop your new bolts through and put a nut on each bolt.

The Front engine mount is easy to fit now just put the bolts back in you may have to remove it from the gearbox and re fit when in place.

Re fit the accelerator cable and gearbox linkage.

Re fit every thing you took off the car as above this time you got an ignitor extra.

I ve tried to think of everything and putting it all back together is easy now you stripped it out.

Now you need to

Go around the car and tighten up all the mounting bolts fully.
Connecting the fuel lines and re fitting the filter. (ensure they are the right way around) or you loose fuel out the breather pipe.
Refitting the clutch pipe work (and bled the clutch).
Re fit the Gear linkage (remember your R clips and locating clips).
Re fit the Radiator and pipe work.
Refill all the oils and the coolant.
Refit the drive shafts.
Rebuild the wheel stations. Fitting the GT brakes and ABS sensors. Re bleed the brakes.
Re attach the Down pipe.
Re fit the fuse box. With the new wiring loom.
Push the engine loom in to the car through the bulkhead and attach to the ECU and the ECU to the Car the same way you took it apart. Put the 10mm bolts back on.
Refit all the trim and interior you took out to get to the ECU and loom.
Refit the earth cables to the suspension legs.
Refit the battery and new air box.

Start the engine and allow time to tick over as you refill the coolant to get rid of the air bubbles.
Switch off and check the engine oil level.
Re start and allow the engine to get up to normal temp check the fan comes on.
Try the steering to the left and right to take up the fluid top up if ness.
Check clutch fluid to ensure its full.
Check brake fluid to ensure it full re bleed if required.

Run put the wheels back on and lower the car again. Try to drive it slowly to ensure the brakes and steering is fine.

I've just done this from memory and I may have (more than likely)forgotten something, so as I read it again and again expect an edit.

I hope this either frightens the death out of you or gives you the inspiration you need to do it.