Engine Conversions NSW / ACT - Australia

**Fishy944** · 02-02-2010, 09:58 PM

I live in Canberra and was wondering if anybody who lives in the ACT/NSW area would be able to help put me in touch with a shop that is good with engine conversions.

Im not good with engines otherwise i would do it myself, and if anybody knows of the top of their head if what i would like to (dreamed up with no idea if its possible!), i would greatly appreciate any help.

In addition to my MR2 i am starting to kit out a RX-7 but the engine is on its last legs and i was thinking about putting the 2GR-FE in it, like what others have done in MR2's but would it fit in the engine bay? i would assume so but like i said, im no good with engines so dont know.

Thanks heaps!

**river** · 03-02-2010, 08:07 AM

Hi,

Well, you have to measure the engine bay dimensions and the engine in question, as it is pointless trying to fit an engine that won't fit.

Let me re-phrase that... you can put in anything you want, but you may need to go through the extra expense of modding the front, or the firewall or other areas of the engine bay to fit the engine. Also, you have to find out if the conversion is legal.

For me it is vital that the engine is fully rebuilt before going into the vehicle. I can't see the point in spending a shit load of money to do an engine conversion if there's a question over the history and condition of the engine. Last thing you need is to have the engine die or need major service, and have to get pulled oout of the car for such work - so, get it rebuilt (and modded if you desire at the same time) before it is put into the car.

TheRealRoadrunner (Lynden) and GrimBoy (Dennis) are two people I know that are on Toymods and do engine conversions. I am sure there are others, maybe not on Toymods, who also do such conversions, which ppl from here will post and tell you.

Sounds like an interesting conversion, and would like to see pics and hear of the progress.

seeyuzz
river

**YLD-16L** · 03-02-2010, 10:50 AM

Options for drop off and pick up engine conversions are pretty limited in Canberra, even more so if it's not a run of the mill engine conversion and something out of the ordinary.

Some more details on what you plan would help too as some places in Canberra are more familiar with certain engines/vehicles than others.

**Mr Ed** · 03-02-2010, 11:05 AM

So you want to put the 2GR-FE from an MR2 into an RX7? Bad idea IMO. While I dont know much about the 2GR, it will be an east-west orientated engine, where as all RX7s generally take a north-south orientated engine.

As River said, almost anything is possible but this will be a massive job, involving significant amounts of custom work, but the end result will not be anywhere near as good as some of the alternatives.

What model RX7 is it? Whats your budget? How much power do you want? What is the car going to be used for? How long are you expecting it to take? Auto or manual?

If you want to steer clear of rotaries, the obvious choice is a 1JZ. Its reasonably cheap and easy to source a manual half cut, the job would be relatively straight forward, although Im not sure if it will be legal in a S1-3 model, any of the S4 onwards models should be fine though.

If you want to pay someone else to do it, Id hazard a guess at a $15k budget for the job to be done properly. The 2GR conversion would likely be even more expensive than this and would have less than half the power.

The cheapest/easiest option would be to either find another 12A/13B to replace your current motor or get your current motor rebuilt (there is no-one in Canberra that I would take a rotary engine to for a rebuild)

**YLD-16L** · 03-02-2010, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Sir_2jza70

So you want to put the 2GR-FE from an MR2 into an RX7? Bad idea IMO. While I dont know much about the 2GR, it will be an east-west orientated engine, where as all RX7s generally take a north-south orientated engine.

I don't think the 2GRFE will be coming out of an MR2, they've never had them, I suspect he wants to put one in the MR2 from his cryptic message.

There is a bloke on here from Canberra putting a 2GRFE into and AE86 so pending the obvious engine bay dimensions and how fat your wallet is it can be done in the RX7, as noted though, more common is to go JZ series in the RX7's.

Whether a shop in Canberra will want to take it on is another question and whether one that may take it on can actually complete it and within the quoted price is an even bigger question

**Mr Ed** · 03-02-2010, 11:37 AM

Yeah I dont know squat about 2GRs, might google it later but it would be helpful if people could explain they are planning properly. (I thought maybe its the engine from the latest model MR2, if not WTF did he mention MR2?!?!

)

Originally Posted by YLD-16L

Whether a shop in Canberra will want to take it on is another question and whether one that may take it on can actually complete it and within the quoted price is an even bigger question

Dont be silly, thats not a question at all. Its an engine conversion, theres no way in hell its going to be done within the originally quoted budget!!!

**YLD-16L** · 03-02-2010, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Sir_2jza70

Yeah I dont know squat about 2GRs, might google it later but it would be helpful if people could explain they are planning properly. (I thought maybe its the engine from the latest model MR2, if not WTF did he mention MR2?!?!

)

Dont be silly, thats not a question at all. Its an engine conversion, theres no way in hell its going to be done within the originally quoted budget!!!

Yeah, I'm with you on that one, if people want a decent answer then ask a clear question with some detail - it helps.

Hahaha ok I should have said:

can actually complete it and within the triple the quoted price is an even bigger question

**Mr Ed** · 03-02-2010, 11:57 AM

I just quickly googled the 2GR-FE....so you want to use the RWD IS350 version? Sounds cool but Id expect the engine/drive-line package would be quite expensive. Any idea what they go for?

Would be just as much work as a 1JZ conversion and would have less power (abeit alot closer than I was expecting in my previous post) but would be 'nicer' car to drive.

**jzk25** · 04-02-2010, 08:08 AM

Mick Harding at Techworx in Canberra can do engine conversions and other fab work. He's a very capable bloke. 0418 837 055.

**"Z" UTE** · 04-02-2010, 11:37 AM

To allay anyones fears about east west and north south engine conversions using the "GR" series engine, These engines come in east west, (Camry/Aurion) and north south (IS250/HiLux/Crown)configuration from Toyota. The "GR" series ranges in capacity from 2.5 litre to 4.0 litre. They would not at the moment be a cheap engine to purchase.

Fishy944, I hope you have deep pockets, paying someone to do the conversion. How about you do some research, on dimensions, gearboxes, and engine mounts, ie. what is available off the shelf to suit your proposed conversion, think outside the Toyota parts catalogue for mounts.

Work out a plan on exactly what you would want a shop to do, that way at least a shop may be able to give you a half decent quote instead of "how long is a piece of string" quote.

cheers Chuck.

**BEVANI** · 08-02-2010, 06:17 PM

ray spence @ canberra motor works (6241 8777) does this stuff too.. busy bloke, gotta ring for an appointment but is the goods. as JZK25 mentioned, mick at techworx is pretty good, delt with both of them from working in the car industry... hope this helps