Cheap Swap/Crazy Swap: Toyota MR2

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 07/01/2017 at 18:58 • Filed to: Cheap Swap/Crazy Swap, Toyota MR2

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The car to receive the swap

Say hello to Cheap Swap/Crazy Swap, where you suggest the extremes — a reasonable engine swap, and a ridiculous engine swap, with an estimate of how much each would cost. The more accurate you can make your estimated budget (ebay links for parts, etc.) the better.

Today’s subject is a 1991 Toyota MR2 SW21. The existing 2.2l 5S-FE engine is struggling with age. Rather than a tune-up or an expensive rebuild, the owner wishes to bring in a fresh engine that’s less worn.

That being said, this particular owner is open to ideas for what to swap in. Will the swap be on a budget such that money can go to other projects, or will it be something truly unique and unhinged?

VW Max > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:04

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Type 4 VW engine from a 914?

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:09

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Drivetrain from a Nissan Leaf, you should be able to pick up one that’s been rear ended pretty cheaply.

Aremmes > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:13

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Cheap swap: 1MZ-FE from a Camry

Crazy swap: Turbo 13B. In an FR layout.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:15

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5v(I think) aka the 3.5L V6 from almost every V6 made by Toyota right now

awmaster10 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 07/01/2017 at 19:26

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Isnt it the 2gr series? That would actually be pretty quick in the mr2

interstate366, now In The Industry > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:28

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Cheap(ish) swap: K20A

Crazy swap: 2JZ

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > awmaster10 07/01/2017 at 19:29

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Haha yeah I think you’re right. The 5V is the V12 in the Century I think but beer and having to post quick said otherwise.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:30

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Cheap Swap: 2ZZ-FE

Crazy Swap: Detroit 3-53T

awmaster10 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 07/01/2017 at 19:33

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Now THAT would be interesting. v12 mr2....mr12

12and35 > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 19:51

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Cheap : 3SGTE

Crazy : 1.6 Dino swap

interstate366, now In The Industry > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 07/01/2017 at 19:53

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The V12 is the 1GZ.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > interstate366, now In The Industry 07/01/2017 at 19:58

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CRAP. The 5V is the 5.0L V8.

Spridget > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 20:12

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Cheap swap- buy another Toyota engine. I have no idea what that will cost.

Crazy swap- bord over 426 hemi with aluminum heads, forged pistons/crankshaft, holley four barrel, 26 inch radiator, custom exhaust manifold, MSD ignition/distributor- $30,000 +/- in engine alone not including labor and mods to make it fit, run, and drive.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > awmaster10 07/01/2017 at 20:18

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There was the 1UZ lemans MR2!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 07/01/2017 at 20:24

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The 5V is the 3.4 V6.

Die-Trying > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 20:27

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cheap swap... mazda rx8 rotary engine 2004 Mazda RX-8 6spd - $1500 (Austin) ...... with an adapter plate..... $2k when done......

crazy swap....... boat engine with a v drive, would need to source a a rearend. would probably snag a 9 inch out of an old ford truck.....

Sanger V Drive Drag Boat - $3500 probably be into it for $4k with a little bit of iron for some bracing, and some sawzall blades........

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 07/01/2017 at 20:30

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I give up 

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 21:46

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Cheap swap: 3SGTE - out the door under $3k with JDM parts. Reliable and easily tuned.

Crazy swap: Eldorado 500ci/TH425

rockingthe2 > Spridget 07/01/2017 at 23:17

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100% will not fit without a super wide tube frame and custom transmission

rockingthe2 > way2blu does a rev update 07/01/2017 at 23:20

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Either a gen4 3SGTE($5k with labor) or a K24A2 (not much more) would be fun and cheapish. Going all out, but still feasable? Audi V8

Spridget > rockingthe2 07/02/2017 at 01:08

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That’s the “mods” to make it fit, run, and drive which I had no idea how much it would cost. That engine is 100% bigger than the engine bay, lol.

Adrian > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2017 at 02:55

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Please, please tell me that an E92 M3 V8 can fit in there.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2017 at 02:55

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Cheap swap: 2.4 from the mid aughts. Hella cheap at the junkyard. Figure 500-700 for the engine and accessories. Another $500 a piece to get down pipe and intake fabbed. I think you could do all the parts for ~$3k.

Crazy swap: Holes Civic type R turbo. Let’s suppose you could get s Honda turbo four for~$5k. You now have to upgrade the cooling, and the transmission at the very least. You then get into the whole “if you give a mouse a cookie” routine. With all that power, you need fatter tires, which means you need bigger flares. You also probably need bigger brakes to slow you down from the absurd speeds you’ll be doing. But now the handling is all wonky, and the car is really only about to shine on the track, so you as a roll cage to stiffen the frame and give you a bit more piece of mind about screaming around in your tin can death trap. Total cost $36000 aka the cost of a Civic type R. But you tell people that it cost $15k because most of the cost is labor and “life lessons” which you totally could have done yourself, except you work and your wife doesn’t love projects that leave car parts strewn across the house and had implemented a strict “1 weekend” time limit on extraneous car projects (the garage being taken up already by the airplane you’re totally going to finish). You also aren’t counting the cost of the phone that didn’t actually make it onto the finished (haha... It’s not really finished) product. Like the headers that you bought because they were a “great deal” but don’t actually fit the engine bay. Or the cams you bought that made the car literally undrivable.

But you did it. You made the bestest almost 30 year old MR2 in a 25 Mike radius. Congratulations.

AuthiCooper1300 > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2017 at 06:09

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Stupid question, really, but I know nothing about Toyotas and feel curious.

How difficult would it be to make an MR2 4WD/AWD? Are there any suitable gearboxes that would more or less bolt-on to the existing engine (and fit within the engine bay without too much trouble) and that could take the drive also to the front wheels? I am thinking about an inverted Celica GT-Four/Corolla WRC layout. 

Obviously with time and money almost everything is possible, but I wonder what is the actual level of stupidity of the whole idea.

Thank you for your time.

Discerning > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 07/02/2017 at 08:08

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Do you mean the 2gr? It’s becoming a more popular swap and makes decent power.

Discerning > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2017 at 08:14

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 Toyota 4 cylinder: 2az. Decent power stock and stout enough to make pretty good power with fi.

Honda 4 cylinder: k series. Na or fi. Lots of options and lots of aftermarket.

V6: 2gr. Light, decent power, etc.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > way2blu does a rev update 07/02/2017 at 08:41

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Cheap (somewhat): VR6 from any recent VW R32/R36.

Crazy: 20B from the Cosmo.

Michael > AuthiCooper1300 07/02/2017 at 10:01

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The fuel tank is in the tunnel. So... hard. Not impossible, but close

AuthiCooper1300 > Michael 07/02/2017 at 10:05

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And fitting a fuel cell at the front, in the luggage space (I suppose there is such a thing...) as if it were a 911?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Discerning 07/02/2017 at 10:47

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Yep. That’s the one I think. Like I said, quick typing and some beer. I’ve been wanting to do that swap in a W20 myself.

Discerning > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 07/02/2017 at 11:20

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It would be a pretty nice setup. It mates to the E153 transmission pretty easily too.

I don’t know if the earlier 1MZ is lighter than the 2GR, but it is cheaper and it has a closed deck, so if someone was crazy enough to make a turbo V6 MR2, a 1MZ build could be pretty cool.