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Location:
The Shire
Registered:
March 2004
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RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 04:35
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Hey guys.
I'm a bit of a toyota newb so I'm after some advice on doing up a RA28. I'd like to buy one fairly stock (read: cheap!) and do it up, but having done this before with other cars I know you end up paying ALOT more money than one thats already half done (so I'm open to suggestions!)
Ideally what I'd like is a cool old looking car on the outside with the reliability and functionality of a new car on the inside. In addition to doing and engine swap I'd also like to put in a newer interior, or parts there of. Even just the newer dash and associated electrics... Has anyone had experience with this ??
The interior is secondary to the engine though . From what I've seen here the 1G motors look to be a favourite. The post 1988 1G-GE makes 120ish and the 1G-GTE 155ish kw ? If it's not too much trouble I'd like the later  Is there much difference come engineering time between the 2 ? Is it a hassel to have something engineered if you do alot of the work yourself vs getting a mechanic to do it ?
Any other pitfalls ? Now's the time to tell me to give up and go buy a hyundai 
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Registered:
November 2003
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 06:39
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Sorry dude, but do a search....
anyhow,
I'm doing 1ggte conv. at the moment, it will cost you easy over 15k to have mechanic do it(including stuff other than engine) Engineers are ok as long as you don't cut corners, and make sure everything is ADR compliant - relatively). In my opinion don't bother with the 2nd gen 1ggte, go with gen3, more worthwhile conversion.
Pitfalls.....all you need is lots of money.....
My advice is find 1 shell with no rust, get respray, then another with rust but ok bits and pieces to use, then do the ol' 2 into 1, all comes down to how good you want it, and how much time you have.
This is just my opinion, I'm still very much a newb too. Some of the lads on this forum have vast vast experience. And all this stuff has been discussed a zillion times already. Just thought I'd reply cause I know what it's like having no clue.
Good luck. Just remember that Celica's are kinda rarish and you have to love em. If I was going to do it again I would probably buy one already converted, but then again I couldn't be sure exactly that everything would be up to my satisfaction (as I'm a perfectionist freak).
Good luck....
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Location:
Northwestern Sydney
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 07:52
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As far as the engine side of things goes used the search function and look it up but briefly the options are as follows
1. 18rg - 18rgeu - Twin Cam varient of the stock engine
2. 1G-GE, GZE, GTE - inline 2l six in N/A, supercharged, Twin turbo Varients
3. 3S-gte - More work involed that previous 2 but a balanced result
4. 3S-GE (BEAMS) - Altezza Engine, good if you want to stay N/A
5. 1J - Big conversion, big dollars, big weight over front wheels.
basically the list goes from easiest to hardest conversion. and generally cheapest to most expensive conversion. all have pros and cons depending on what you what out of a car.
As far as a modern interior if you get an altezza front cut use the body computer and intergrat that into a 28
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Location:
The Shire
Registered:
March 2004
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 09:29
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15k 
I was thinking more along the lines of 5k would cover the purchase of the car, engine and gear box, paint and a small amount of stuffing around (assuming I dont do the dash conversion). I guess I underestimated it a fair bit though!
I'd sort out all the body myself - it's only the mechanicals I might need some help with. From what I've read (yes I did several searches  ) the conversion for a 1G engine looks relatively easy.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth, Western Australia
Registered:
December 2002
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Location:
Gold Coast
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 10:30
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it seems to cost people around 5k for the 1g conversions with them doing all (or most) the work themselves
Daniel
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Location:
Rocky Mountains, Canada
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 13:17
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$5k to plonk an 1G-GTE in place of a 18R.... thats a little rich.
I would want to do it for no more than $2.5k esp when you can pick up a decent 1G-GTE for $1500.
Worry about engine and that kinda stuff later.
Your biggest problem will be finding a RA28 thats straight and has minimal rust.
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Location:
The Shire
Registered:
March 2004
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Fri, 05 March 2004 16:21
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Yeah I would have thought more along the lines of 1500-2500 (with gear box?)
How do you arrive at 5k munki with people doing the work themselves ??
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Location:
Madrid - Spain
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Mon, 08 March 2004 01:00
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Ok if you pay $1500 for engine and box, thats a start, then there is all the extras,
Engine crossmember mods
Gearbox crossmember mods
EFI fuel upgrades
Exhaust system
brake upgrade
intercooler and plumbing
wiring (unless you can do it yourself)
engineering
plust lost of odds and ends like battery relocation or modification of manifolds to fit, moving/replacing washer bottles and radiator overflow, blah blah blah.
Then you find the diff only lasts a month and you have to start replacing centres.
$2500 is a little ignorant I think. While it is a fairly easy conversion there is a lot more than just dropping in the engine.
My advice is to start with the standard engine, do the brakes, then fuel, then get the engine/gearbox/ intercooler bits then when you have enough money left over for exhaust/engineering, then go the conversion
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Location:
Gold Coast
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Mon, 08 March 2004 01:42
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what he said  this is what i have found out from others that have done the conversion and from research done by myself.
the more you can do yourself the cheaper it costs you may get away with 4000 if u can do wiring and welding yourself but 1ggte halfcuts seem to have gone up in price and are about 2000-2200 for a series 3 halfcut i have found.
Daniel
PS i have decided to go with an 18rg motor or purchase a car with all work already done (very smart idea but not as fun)
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Location:
The Shire
Registered:
March 2004
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Location:
Madrid - Spain
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Mon, 08 March 2004 21:10
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Thats definitly a good price if the conversion is finished. Panel work could be done for about 1K and engineering about $500. add a few odds and ends, maybe a brake upgrade and you could have it on the road for about $6000-$7000 plus rego and insurance.
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Location:
c'town, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Mon, 08 March 2004 21:57
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my 1G-GE was done for about $4 - 5k
we did everything except wiring, zorst and fuel system which i paid for.
my engine zorst and spares will be up for sale soon if your interested.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA28 Project - help a newb :)
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Tue, 09 March 2004 00:05
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This is the costs of my 1GGTE conversion into my GA61 Celica XX (Supra) which is fairly easy considering I already had a 1G in the first place:
1GGTE w/ Blitz turbos + W58 + wiring (inc. freight) $2200.00
Heavy Duty Clutch Kit $420.00
550x250x57mm Intercooler and piping $600.00
Timing Belt Toyota Genuine $75.00
5l Mobil 1 Synthetic 5w50 $40.00
4l Toyota Red Engine Coolant Concentrate $36.00
Oil Filter Ryco Z418 $12.00
Fuel Filter $25.00
MONZA Pod Filter $20.00
Heat-Resistant Foam Clark Rubber $12.00
Exhaust with High-Flow Cat and Muffler from Dump Pipe $850.00
Radiator Flush and Check $80.00
Engine Oil Seals $100.00
Replacement Hoses and Vacuum Lines $30.00
Spigot Bearing $4.00
2 x Cam Cover Seals $100.00
Engineering $350.00
I mean, I've replaced a lot of seals and getting my radiator flushed, but I think you'd be crazy not to, the car is over 20 years old, the engine is from the late 80's and you don't know how long it's been sitting around. Mine is coming to a smidge under $5000, yet I don't need a brake upgrade, nor a change of mounts (i.e. bolt in).
If you can do it for $2500, then you'd basically need to get the engine for free.
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