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Another SA member and I picked up a pair of '88 Starions back in December for a roadtrip from Asheville, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC in mid January of this year (he drove the Starion and I drove my AW11 MR2). One of the Starions was/is a solid runner and the other is a parts shell.  After seeing the parts car sitting in my barn too long (a couple months - I get restless), I decided to yank the engine and replace it with some power.         I originally was looking to do the tired LS/LM7/LQ9 or SBC swap, but I became intrigued by LS400/SC400 1UZ-FE VVT-i V8's. I ended up buying an intact 1UZ - A650E trans package off eBay that's still en-route. I chose it because it still had all the accessories and engine side harness intact.   So, as the engine makes its way across the country slowly, I've been reading everything I can about stand-alone fuel/ign. management, getting the VVT-i to work, controlling the A341e trans., etc. I plan to update this as much as possible and encourage anyone with wisdom to impart it on me! The only other engine swaps I've done were a CA18det into a S13, and a 5.0HO into a 2nd gen Econoline van. Other guy and my dog: 
Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:46 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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May 27, 2017 18:23
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I am extremely interested in this idea. Shine on, you crazy triple diamond.
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May 28, 2017 01:22
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Seat Safety Switch posted:I am extremely interested in this idea. Not empty quoting.... Dare I ask how much space and what kind of massaging may be necessary for this swap?
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May 28, 2017 03:34
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Make sure you have a sawzall. This is going to be beautiful beyond comprehension. Engine bay is gonna be so full it'll look new.
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May 28, 2017 06:03
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So regarding size vs. engine bay volume, the prevailing thought on the internet is that a 700mm cube is a rough enough approximation for sizing the 1UZ into a 'bay. First of all, in freedom units that's like 27.5" every which way, but some kind fellows have made more precise measurements:  So based on these: - I need a vertical of 24-25.6"+/-, with the cowl hood that my shell has I have approx 28" of vertical clearance from the crossmember to inside the cowl. - Measurement "I" is lowest clearance of the oil pan to bottom of the motor mount bolt on the 1UZ, doubling that for length of the motor mount bolt would be 5.56", and the cross member to center of the motor mount pad measured height is 5.5". - I'll need probably like 25-27" from the exhaust manifolds up in width, and the narrowest part of the engine bay is the passenger wheel-well to the driver's side steering box @ 27.5". Below that and above that point there's considerably more room - the wheel-well to wheel-well width is 33.75" - I'll need 25.79" for a mechanical fan to flexplate length clearance, and the firewall to upper rad support is measured at 31.5" and the (vertical chord of (opening for bellhousing)) firewall to lower rad support is 32". - Eyeballing the side view measurements, the motor mounts appear to be about dead center of the "C" measurement which is 25", the firewall to motor mount center on the cross member on the car is 12.5". This is all fairly theoretical, but gets me ballpark while I wait for the motor to show up. I'm not too worried about the trans tunnel, as I have no problem cutting and clearancing it out and building a custom upper part of the tunnel to accommodate a new shifter situation or whatever. Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:46 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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May 29, 2017 22:34
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I had a black 88 auto. I loved that car. Good luck.
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May 30, 2017 03:11
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There's a Starion that lives near me but has been on stands for nigh on 2 years since I first noticed it. It's had a few parts pulled off it, glass taken out but that's it. This thread makes me feel happier
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May 30, 2017 09:42
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Sushi The Kid posted:I had a black 88 auto. I loved that car. Good luck. Nice, the other 88 here is a black auto. 
Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:47 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 13:44
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Olympic Mathlete posted:There's a Starion that lives near me but has been on stands for nigh on 2 years since I first noticed it. It's had a few parts pulled off it, glass taken out but that's it. This thread makes me feel happier Glad to be doing something other than purely dismantling another Starquest. I have liked them for years, they are so esoteric and undeniably 80's Japanese turbo-muscle. The shell I'm doing the swap on is title-less and came with a lot of really bad "tuner" mods, so it was definitely destined for part-out at a minimum. This is how the parts car came to me: 
Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:48 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 13:53
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I wholly support the swapping of Golden Age Toyota mills into cars that did not have them before. A friend of mine put cutouts on his LS400, and it sounded boss and went like snot; consider doing something similar!
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May 30, 2017 15:18
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Waffle House posted:I wholly support the swapping of Golden Age Toyota mills into cars that did not have them before. A friend of mine put cutouts on his LS400, and it sounded boss and went like snot; consider doing something similar! Between true dual exhausts and the OBX ITB setup that exists for the 1UZ (although I'm not sure the ITB's work well or even fit the VVT-i motor) they can make some sexy noises. I'm hoping for something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10JJg8Xq2qc&t=18s
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May 30, 2017 15:50
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Garage2Roadtrip posted:Glad to be doing something other than purely dismantling another Starquest. I have liked them for years, they are so esoteric and undeniably 80's Japanese turbo-muscle. The shell I'm doing the swap on is title-less and came with a lot of really bad "tuner" mods, so it was definitely destined for part-out at a minimum. I'll try and remember to get a photo of the one local to me, it's not in the best shape and it's sat outside slowly rotting. I'm tempted to knock the door and ask if I can buy the wheels as they'd look superb on my car  ^^ and a friend's LS400 sounded like that, it was cool as poo poo.
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May 30, 2017 16:29
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Olympic Mathlete posted:I'll try and remember to get a photo of the one local to me, it's not in the best shape and it's sat outside slowly rotting. I'm tempted to knock the door and ask if I can buy the wheels as they'd look superb on my car ooooh god if it has the staggered wheels just buy the car and swap the motor to a 4G63 or something
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May 30, 2017 16:36
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Waffle House posted:ooooh god if it has the staggered wheels just buy the car and swap the motor to a 4G63 or something All (at least widebody) have staggered wheels. The SHP ones had wider by 1" front and rears, also staggered, so 7/8 for normal cars and 8/9 for SHP. I, too, looked at 4G63 swap stuff. The biggest problem is finding a 4G63 longitudinal mount engine, or adapting a bellhousing from another car for it to work. Some suggestions were Mighty Max's and possibly Monteros? The early and specifically non-North American market Starions seemed to have some 4G63's in them. But hen's teeth, et al.
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May 30, 2017 17:18
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Olympic Mathlete posted:I'll try and remember to get a photo of the one local to me, it's not in the best shape and it's sat outside slowly rotting. I'm tempted to knock the door and ask if I can buy the wheels as they'd look superb on my car 3rd gen Supra's and widebody Starquests are super similar looking. You're right, the wheels do look good on the Supra, and I had to actually take a hard look at that picture to realize what I was looking at!
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May 30, 2017 17:20
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Strangely enough it was still there on the way home...     I feel sad for it but it's beyond my pay grade to rescue.
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May 30, 2017 18:00
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It is pretty much beyond saving as it is not like there are not better ones available.
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May 30, 2017 18:17
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Yeah that thing is smoked, purely crusher fodder now.
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May 30, 2017 19:31
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Garage2Roadtrip posted:All (at least widebody) have staggered wheels. The SHP ones had wider by 1" front and rears, also staggered, so 7/8 for normal cars and 8/9 for SHP. And here I was, thinking the SHP cars were the only ones with staggered setups. That's good to know it's all the Wides; I like them a little more than the Flattys. Man, you're making me want to hop on YIM for the first time in maybe a decade to dig up the screen name of this Missourite who is ostensibly The Starquest Guy. Olympic Mathlete posted:
This thing's only hope is an Australian, an Englishman, or a Kiwi with a garage/bending brake/MIG machine. (I have no idea how every single Colonial comes out of the womb equipped with those things, but that is my experience.) Waffle House fucked around with this message at 19:56 on May 30, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 19:54
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Today was engine swap Christmas - the engine came.  Then my crane collapsed in the garage, dropped the 1UZ on the front passenger corner, liberated all the engine oil on my floor, and bashed the lower oil pan and cracked the upper oil pan. gently caress ME. Luckily I was able to get both parts for <$100 on eBay with free shipping. This is the piece that broke/cracked:  The good thing is that no one got hurt, and none of the other vehicles in the garage were damaged (it fell right between by B8 S4 and my 2010 R1200GS Adventure :/ ) Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:50 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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May 30, 2017 19:59
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Waffle House posted:And here I was, thinking the SHP cars were the only ones with staggered setups. That's good to know it's all the Wides; I like them a little more than the Flattys. Man, you're making me want to hop on YIM for the first time in maybe a decade to dig up the screen name of this Missourite who is ostensibly The Starquest Guy. He'd either be delighted or horrified by my butchery. Waffle House posted:This thing's only hope is an Australian, an Englishman, or a Kiwi with a garage/bending brake/MIG machine. (I have no idea how every single Colonial comes out of the womb equipped with those things, but that is my experience.) A little Project Binky Starion, maybe?
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May 30, 2017 20:03
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Our own Kevbarlas could save it... And as much as I know that thing's toast I know the guy wouldn't sell me the wheels for my very much working 7M Supra 
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May 30, 2017 21:55
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If that's an original UK market car - it might already be a 4G63.
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May 30, 2017 22:10
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No plates so I can't do a search on it. It's a real shame, these cars look awesome.
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May 30, 2017 22:21
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My dad ran an aftermarket turbo firm during the late 70s to mid 80s, and had a Starion built up for an one make race series. They found a way around the rules by putting the fuel injection into cold start mode by wiring it into the rear demister circuit.
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May 30, 2017 23:08
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You Am I posted:My dad ran an aftermarket turbo firm during the late 70s to mid 80s, and had a Starion built up for an one make race series. They found a way around the rules by putting the fuel injection into cold start mode by wiring it into the rear demister circuit. "Yes, let me just turn on the heater now and....ahhh, there we go!"
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May 30, 2017 23:54
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It amuses and enrages me that the factory fuel injection is/was so terrible, that the only major dig on the car, and the basis for most modifications is making it fuel better. Both my cars have the 2 barrel style intake manifold that harkens back to some archaic slant six induction. I've been half tempted to machine an adapter flange and try to run a blow through carb on the engine I pulled out. Might even get a powerstroke turbo for it :-p In time I plan to refresh the engine that I took out of the shell, and when I do I'd like to build it for power and drop it into the current runner. Also since the shell is a stick car, and the runner is an auto, I'm, keeping all the pertinent bits to potentially effect a manual swap at the same time.
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May 31, 2017 13:47
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Popular mod was a hacked up magna intake. Also using a GM MAF and a GM to DSM translator thing. The heads are also weak due to the jet valves. Get anywhere near over heating would cause cracks near the jet valves. There is still a couple places to get performance stuff and better cast heads. Too bad that HKS DOHC head never materialised.
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May 31, 2017 15:26
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Sushi The Kid posted:Popular mod was a hacked up magna intake. Also using a GM MAF and a GM to DSM translator thing. The heads are also weak due to the jet valves. Get anywhere near over heating would cause cracks near the jet valves. There is still a couple places to get performance stuff and better cast heads. Too bad that HKS DOHC head never materialised. Yeah, Top End Performance seems to keep the fire burning on Starquest stuff, and I'm sure there are others. I'm just so underwhelmed by the factory engine that I just don't see a reason to hop it up.
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May 31, 2017 17:26
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Gearing up for my least favorite part of project cars (especially ones that lived outdoors, in the heat, in a field): Stripping the interior. Ew  Getting there.  I'm trying to remove as much as I can "carefully" so I can sell it for a couple bucks on eBay. This also means I'm making a valiant attempt at removing the engine and body wiring harnesses intact. So far I've kept to it, but I keep wanting to just dike the fuckers in half. Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:53 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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May 31, 2017 21:07
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Hi, I'm the other guy from the last pic in the OP. I'll let GTRT announce it fully later today, but more good things are happening in the StarQuest department.
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Jun 7, 2017 17:15
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Dannywilson posted:Hi, I'm the other guy from the last pic in the OP. Why do we insist on making bad decisions? https://vimeo.com/220737537 I also have an instagram account with the aptly named @Garage2Roadtrip. I was sitting around this morning and a follower that lived nearby was like "I'm looking to sell my Starion - it's had XXXX work done to it, I want $1200" I told her that I was kinda waist-deep in the 1UZFE swap Starion, and wasn't in a position to throw cash at other paperweights. Then she was like "$1000 if you get it this week, I have XXXX spare parts that go with it, and the engine has been built as such, and it runs and drives fine." poo poo I text Danny, we decide to go halves on the $1k, he immediately sends me his half. poo poo. I get a uHaul car trailer and run out there. Seller was cool AF. Had ~ 1000 pounds of extras to take with, luckily I used the dually to get the car. Longish story short, the car ran great, had a rebuilt engine with a new clutch, ABS and A/C delete, just needed a radiator, which she had a known good one to give me with it. I drove it up on the trailer, loaded up all the spare poo poo, and this followed me home:   Extra Rad came with  The interior was in shockingly good (and complete) condition under the spare parts - it even has the parcel cover that lifts with the hatch.  Engine bay, super clean - reeks of recent work and no oil leaks. Lots more space with the gigantic ABS module (passenger side firewall) and AC components (driver's front of engine, and giant pipes and wiring everywhere).  Really the worst parts are a couple of rusty areas on the driver's side. The spare fender isn't in good shape, it's clearly a wrecked take-off. So my plan is to use some of the radius from it to repair the wheel well, and some of the flat to repair the rear end-end of the driver's side-skirt.  On an ending note, when we came home from dinner tonight I saw the two runners sitting in the barn and I thought they looked like they were up to no good, and my wife says "now that you have three, is that a Murder of Starions? Before it was just an attempted murder. har har, but I think it fits! 
Garage2Roadtrip fucked around with this message at 21:57 on Jul 1, 2017 |
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Jun 8, 2017 03:11
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You have two of the things now and I have none. Life is disappointing sometimes. Still want those wheels.
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Jun 8, 2017 09:34
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Loving this thread. Hot starion action.
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Jun 8, 2017 13:04
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Olympic Mathlete posted:You have two of the things now and I have none. Life is disappointing sometimes. Well, 2.75? 3? but who's counting. Luckily my wife hasn't murdered me in my sleep yet for stacking these fuckers in like cord-wood. I think the plan with the newest set of wheels is to do a full sandblast, repaint, re-clearcoat on them. Mostly since I've never done alloy wheel restoration before, and this is a good place to start. CommieGIR posted:Loving this thread. Hot starion action. Hot Starion on Starion action. Most of the dangly bits have to be blurred in countries under the crown.
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Jun 8, 2017 15:24
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Wow, Starions *must* be DSMs, they breed and multiply before your very eyes.
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Jun 8, 2017 15:30
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Some more cheesecake shots of the runner. Bonus Flying AW11:  You can see it's had some sort of minor front end collision that has bent the bumper mounts upward and made trying to get anything straight loving infuriating:  The SHP wheels make the back end just straight up mean looking:  Steering wheel radio controls from an era when they were crazy futuristic:  Repro air dam installed:  Went up near the Blue Ridge Parkway and got a little squirrelly in the snow: 
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Jun 8, 2017 16:33
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I like that shop. I would hoard many non-running cars in it.
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Jun 8, 2017 16:34
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gently caress, I want a Starquest next.
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Jun 8, 2017 16:39
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Seat Safety Switch posted:I like that shop. I would hoard many non-running cars in it. Thanks! I think we bought literally the last 8 acre place with a nice house and 2000sq' shop/garage within 15 minutes of Asheville. I felt the door hit my in the rear end during the closing. I try to do less hoarding, and more circulation. In there now is the 1UZ swap project, my machine shop, the lift with the AW11 almost permanently parked on it between drives, the BMW bike and then our DD X5 and S4 have the prime spots at the door. The two running 'quests live out in the 4 car "barn" with the dually. We have a 20x40' 15' high RV storage 'port as well that could ostensibly be used for storage someday. What I want to do is build a perm., concrete floored shop a little further down the pasture from the "barn". I've been pricing steel buildings and pads, and I'm leaning towards 30x40 with two RV doors and 2 reinforced girders that run from the middle of the doors to the back of the shop that I can put gantry cranes on for pulling motors from cars and boats. I have underground power on the property, so the electric company said I can tap off my midline jcn box for shop power, and I'd prob throw in a septic system since they are so cheap down here for a small bathroom and shop sinks. The biggest motivator is that I don't like to fume out or potentially burn my house down working underneath it, so I'd like all the leaky stinky, weldy projects to move to a contained location.
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Jun 8, 2017 16:54
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