5M-E is it useless for making power?

[Mattrt142]

I have found an ma61 which i am keen on buying although it is auto and has the fairly slow 5me. Is this engine completely useless for making power or can you gain a few kilowatts without too much money or hassel? Also is the engine and auto box the same as in mx62? cressida's? is the manual conversion a tough job and is it costly? If the 5me is useless would the 5mge be the easiest transplant?
if anyone could help it would be much apreciated.

[brett_celicacoupe]

dont go wasting to much money on the 5M-E. they are a pretty pathetic engine, especially with an auto behind them.

yes, the MX62's did come with a 5ME and only came with an auto box in australia.

a manual conversion isnt too hard (depending on mechancal ability) and you can source your parts from a couple different cars. you should either run a W55 or a W58, they come in various cars. then you would need to buy the master/slave cylinders and line, clutch pedal box and probly the manual MA61 (possibly same as RA6x) gearbox xmember. and dont forget the manual flywheel, clutch and possibly spigot bearing.

5MGE and 6MGE's are ideal and usually cheap enough replacements for your engine and do give a noticeable power gain.

there are slightly more expensive upgrades out there like the 7MG(T)E or the JZ family engines. all depends on your budget.

if you want a cheap power gain, go and get a 2.5/3" exhaust made. this isnt something that will be thrown out when the engine is replaced so its not a complete waste.

hope that helps


brett

[wilbo666]

Do not spend a cent on a 5me in an attempt to make it go fast. I repeat do not spend money on a 5me

In fact, I wouldn't buy a MA61 unless I was planning an engine conversion, weather it be 5mge, 6mge, 7mge, 7mgte, 1jzgte, 2jzge, 2jzgte or 1uzfe (as you can see there are a lot of options ).

You can convert it to manual relatively easily, and I'm pretty sure it has been covered a fair few times. In short most of the RA6X parts do the trick (gearbox, front tail shaft section, clutch lines, clutch cylinders and pedals), with the correct W5X -> M series bellhousing, flywheel and clutch. It will cost you about $500->700 + in parts (if you can find some of them; bellhousing and flywheel), add $$$ labour if you can't do it yourself.

MX62's also come with 5me's however there are some slight differences (water pump / alt belt arrangement) that amount to nothing (and as Brett says they were all auto in aus).

Cheers
Wilbo

[mrshin]

2JZGE for a relatively simple, reliable, effective and affordable engine swap.

http://forums.toymods.org.au/index.p...t=0#msg_604086

There's a rough guide with a lot of pictures of putting one into an MX73, fairly similiar job. Incidently, all the parts in the Cressida are up for sale now

[gianttomato]

500 hp 5M


That said, even Sean (who created this beast) will tell you not to bother. With 1JZs so cheap nowadays, why bother with these old clumpers?

[EldarO]

Upgrading a 5ME is synonymous with introducing your money to a bottomless pit.

Eldar.O.