What engine should i plonk into my RA60 (+ Introduction)*

[wizborg]

Hey, my name is Byron im new to the forum and would love to get to know some of the frequent forum fanatics!

Since i was 16 and on my learners i've had 12 cars, from an AE82 to my MA61 and RA60 i have now.. and yes i've learnt alot along the way! but there is still so much more to learn! and i am more than willing to learn from the best!

AE82, RA40, AW11, L Series with an EJ22, Corona, EP71, KE70, Soarer, E28 M Series, Another EJ22 L, MA61 and last but no least the RA60

I love the MA61, its got a very untuned 7MGTE but ill leave that for another thread..

The Celica has been my daily since ive had my license and its starting to really tick me off (literally) it sounds like a diesel and drives like one to, and i am uber keen to throw the 21RC in the scrap heap..

This will be my first Engine Conversion and real modifications and would love some advice please!

Im looking for something fairly straight forward with minimal fabrication etc as i dont always have time to use my friends workshop and will most likely be doing everything at home by myself.

My budget will be around $2000~ and im not looking for anything extreme or chasing huge power, just something to keep up with the traffic and a little fun on the side :P

Ive almost lined up two engines that to my knowledge will fit, a 2TG, 18RG and a 1GGTE, but im still unsure of what engine will go on what chassis etc etc.

Any info would be awesome! i hope this thread gets seen and i didnt just waste my time telling my very boring and average car life story haha
(can post pics if you need/want)

THANKS!

[LittleRedSpirit]

18r should be a fairly easy swap, anything not from the r series is probably going to be a lot more work.

If your total budget is 2k youre not going to get far. I assume you mean to buy your engine, if that is the case, I reccomend a beams engine as there are a few rwd options that make sense for that engine. Plenty of NA HP. If you already have a w55-7 then you will find it fairly achievable.

Plenty to read about Beams into ae86 here, but a lot of it transfers over.

[wizborg]

18RG would be great, but they are far and few between! Have been trying to look for one, so any info would be grande!

Yes i meant $2000 for engine/gbox and ill be looking more into the 3SGE conversions.. anything better than the 21RC !

Thanks for the reply!

[maxhag]

I know of a few 18RG's around the place..... Do you want me to enquire for you?

I sold a complete running 18RGEU with a old Haltech ECU 10 months ago for $500........

[Skylar]

Put in a 22R-E for now and turbo it later for some fun. Build the 21r block up as a spare? Dunno anything about R motors.

[Jimmee1990]

To get it all in and running under $2000 I would just get a second hand 22R. Standard for standard they go about as well as an 18rg anyway and parts are much easier to find. And better for daily because of the extra torque.

[wizborg]

@maxhag That would be awesome if you could thanks!

@Skylar Not a bad idea ill have a look around for some good R parts and think about a turbo 22re

@Jimmee1990 Yeah they are a really torquey motor but i wouldnt mind some twincam or turbo action, bit bored of a flat torque curve

[Skylar]

You could probably do an SR20DE as well for your budget. There's a lot of available stuff and it's a cheap source for parts.

[Seventy]

Yeah 22re would probably be the best option for your budget, rebuild parts are cheap as too, but for $2000 you could probably buy a complete ra65 with 22re ready to drive...

[maxhag]

Sr20DE sounds like the best suggestion so far

[Skylar]

When JoJo says it's the best suggestion, I believe he means for best potential and best initial outcome. SR will feel better to drive than a 22re. I think it'd be a nice staring point for beginning fabrication as it requires custom engine and trans mounts (welding), some wiring and other little miscellaneous stuff. If it's your first ever motor swap, I'd probably start with 22re but you won't have much potential after that swap.

[Pidgey]

Enough of this sacrilegious Nissan talk. For an easy conversion go 22RC (hilux). Carburetted so you don't have to play around with wiring and fuel setups, has great torque, can whack a cam and carb on it with your budget quite easily and it will be pretty zippy. Straight bolt in affair, you may even be able to use the same clutch, don't quote me on this. If you want to get more into the fabrication/technical side of things, I would use a first gen 3SGE. Would require S series bellhousing and clutch hardware, mounts, and fuel setup. Cut and shut plenum and distributor moved to front of engine would also be required. Much easier and cheaper than SR20 for around the same power, and also more reliable given that the majority of SR20's out there are pretty clapped out. Plus, Toyotalyf

[Skylar]

Yeah it comes down to the above or Nissan stuff. 3s is going to need both manifolds adjusted but will bolt in if you collect the right gear, and it remains Toyota. Nissan engine will need mounts (engine and trans) made but the whole engine/gearbox, afm to cat assembly will not need to be touched. And then you have silviawa to find stuff for cheap.

It all comes down to the gotta-keep-it-Toyota-yo! and the "I don't care what engine it is, gimme the power" argument.

[cooter]

get a shitter 22re

get one of the turbo setups that have been floating around lately for them

do skids

[maxhag]

Here are some 18RG's for sale:

http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/engines-accessories-driveline-sale/80237-new-2-2l-18rg-forged-pistons.html

http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/engines-accessories-driveline-sale/80218-syd-18rg.html

[Konakid]

sell it and buy an S14 for 6 grand.