Would a 2007 Toyota V6 fit in a GT???

[btruax]

Hi! I'm Brian and I'm new and just bought a 1970 Opel GT and have come across a 2007 Toyota/Lexus V6 and wanted to know how much work it would take to put this in my GT?? Can anyone help? E-mail me at brntrx"at"yahoo.com and give me your expert opinion. Thanks, Brian.

[Dennis Texas]

Hi! I'm Brian and I'm new and just bought a 1970 Opel GT and have come across a 2007 Toyota/Lexus V6 and wanted to know how much work it would take to put this in my GT?? Can anyone help? E-mail me at brntrx@yahoo.com and give me your expert opinion. Thanks, Brian.

If you read the articles on engine swaps already done by some of the members, you will soon realize that most anything can be done with money and resources. The impression that more is better is not always true. Engine swap is only one phase, suspension for the extra weight, brake upgrade to handle the extra power, and drive train that will handle the extra torque are other considerations that will have to considered to insure the vehicle is safe to drive. Don't build yourself a casket. When you consider all the work and changes, the engine swap is not so appealing as just getting a few extra ponies out of the original drive train.
That is just my opinion.

[ScottVIBC]

If he is talking about the GR series engine found in the RWD toyotas and Lexus IS seris, then the weight shouldn't be too much of an issue, as the engines are all aluminum, and I think would weigh approximately 350lbs. The problem would be the width of the engines. Toyota has a history of using rocker arms to manipulate the valves on their DOHC designs. Switching away from the more compact Cam-on-Bucket style.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...engine_001.JPG

DOHC adds a lot of width to an engine, especially a V style engine. It probably could be done, but I don't have any "exact" measurements on the Toyota engine, nor the engine bay of a GT.

The one DOHC V6 that I do have measurements on, is the all aluminum H25A from the Suzuki Grand Vitara (also comes as the H27A, same block, different sleeves).

540mm long (includes water fitting at the rear and pulleys & stuff at the front)
530mm wide, not including the exhaust manifolds.
610mm tall with everything.
460mm from the bottom of the block to the top of the cam covers.

http://www.billzilla.org/suzukiv6-3.jpg

I've read it weighs 300lbs as installed into a light air-plane. Of course, that's a very rough estimate.
It makes 180hp, and 180 ft-lbs of torque.

Edit: ....I just realized I am dragging back a topic from about 3 months ago.....for my first post.
My apologies!

[jeff denton]

That's okay, it's our favorite and most hated topic!
Welcome to the club, Scott!
Let me see if I can get points for the "best answer" to the question posted some time ago.
Here it is:
"It could be either extremely simple or frustratingly impossible, it just depends on your skills and finances."

[GTJIM]

... fitting a 'V' block motor into a GT - 3 to 7 Y E A R S (may be never finished)

... fitting a CIH Opel 4 motor into a GT - 3 to 7 H O U R S !!!

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

Scott, there are a lot of folks that have contemplated an engine swap, but very few have actually done it. Jeff is right and so is Jim. I can only think of four of us on the site right now that actually have running GTs with an engine different than the CIH. None of the swaps were simply a bolt-in. All require some sheetmetal mods and changes to the engine subframes. Here's the list of folks I know that have done a swap and have actually driven their cars. JB (blancojp) with a 4.3L V-6, I believe. Vickie & Allen Gage (saxybiker) with an SBC V-8. Ben Lewis (BigBen) wih an SR20 turbo. And myself with a 3.4LV-6. I'm sure they will all say the same thing. It was not that easy, took a lot of time and bucks, had to modify a whole lot more than expected, besides just the engine/tranny, but it's a blast to drive. The big thing is, if you start, finish it. Yeah, mine took 7 years in conjunction with a complete restoration and others took close to the same or less. It's a real kick to hear what people say when I lift the lid, and to get all the accolades when I drive it. But I had the time, friends with skills, and support from this site, not to mention a blank credit card, that I'm still paying off, to get it done. So take all this into context and don't jump in without looking at what the total complexity is. Not only just the drivetrain, but everything needed to complete the project. If you don't have the time, skill, or bucks, don't even attempt it. That will just put another GT in the crusher, and they're not that plentiful anymore.

[ScottVIBC]

Scott, there are a lot of folks that have contemplated an engine swap, but very few have actually done it. Jeff is right and so is Jim. I can only think of four of us on the site right now that actually have running GTs with an engine different than the CIH. None of the swaps were simply a bolt-in. All require some sheetmetal mods and changes to the engine subframes. Here's the list of folks I know that have done a swap and have actually driven their cars. JB (blancojp) with a 4.3L V-6, I believe. Vickie & Allen Gage (saxybiker) with an SBC V-8. Ben Lewis (BigBen) wih an SR20 turbo. And myself with a 3.4LV-6. I'm sure they will all say the same thing. It was not that easy, took a lot of time and bucks, had to modify a whole lot more than expected, besides just the engine/tranny, but it's a blast to drive. The big thing is, if you start, finish it. Yeah, mine took 7 years in conjunction with a complete restoration and others took close to the same or less. It's a real kick to hear what people say when I lift the lid, and to get all the accolades when I drive it. But I had the time, friends with skills, and support from this site, not to mention a blank credit card, that I'm still paying off, to get it done. So take all this into context and don't jump in without looking at what the total complexity is. Not only just the drivetrain, but everything needed to complete the project. If you don't have the time, skill, or bucks, don't even attempt it. That will just put another GT in the crusher, and they're not that plentiful anymore.

Heh, no worries about me trying it. I was just throwing out some facts I have learned about those specific engines through my ideas to swap them into other vehicles.
I don't even have an Opel (yet), through I do lust for a GT...

I understand that the engine bay of the Opel is exceedingly narrow, and that it uses the torque tube suspension design (I've done my reading in the past....3 days....).

If/when I get a GT, and if I did decide to do a swap, only two engines are in my head. At all:
Toyota 18R-G (2.0L, twin-cam, 8 valves, 140+ hp)
or the Suzuki G13B (1.3L DOHC 16V, 100 horse...but all aluminum).
Either one could work with the stock torque tube and axle, though the 18R-G would likely stress it too much...
I wouldn't even contemplate a V engine, from seeing the build log of Ben's SR20 build alone. How he crammed the turbo in there, I still have trouble figuring out.

It is however, very, very tempting to go up to Nanaimo and see the 3.5 GT's stashed in that warehouse.
Painfully Temping!

[RallyBob]

If/when I get a GT, and if I did decide to do a swap, only two engines are in my head. At all:
Toyota 18R-G (2.0L, twin-cam, 8 valves, 140+ hp)
or the Suzuki G13B (1.3L DOHC 16V, 100 horse...but all aluminum).

If you decide to go this route let me know, I have a good core 18RG with intakes and the TRD upper header section. I'd let it go for cheap. I was going to put it in my '72 Corolla but it's rather wide, parts are rare and expensive, and it's one heavy MF'r...

Bob

[ScottVIBC]

If you decide to go this route let me know, I have a good core 18RG with intakes and the TRD upper header section. I'd let it go for cheap. I was going to put it in my '72 Corolla but it's rather wide, parts are rare and expensive, and it's one heavy MF'r...

Bob

I already have one, which is why I was thinking it actually. Have a pair of 210 heads, a damaged 270 head, and a clean 270 head coming up from AZ...sometime. Have the short, and long intake manifolds for it, but I was thinking about making ITBs for it, with a custom intake manifold (Rather than hack up a pair of original manifolds, or pay through the nose for DCOE compatibles). I even have the Upper part of the TRD manifold as well, strangely enough, but it was cracked and bubba-welded around the lower mounting flange. I need to find some tools and clean ugly welds up.

And actually, from what I have read, the 18R-G should weigh around 290lbs. Which isn't all that bad. I just want to find a W-55 trans (alloy case, shave 5 kilos).

Why do I have this? '72 RA-21 Celica is in the garage at the moment...ex-race car. Thinking about selling it because...well, I'm 25, no career, no trade, no house, and my Job won't cover race expenses, nor the cost of making the thing street legal. But I really love the engine...