The engine swap questions
 

Hey scion nation,
I am working on a swap plan for an xB build over the next few years. Trying to find a good 2005-6 toaster build it in. My current box is not a candidate due to rust problems. Collecting data and powertrain will take a while.

That said I am looking at the 1zzfe and a c56 tranny, possibly a 2zrfe if i can find a suitable powertrain all together. Has anybody here completed this concept? Would like to chat and gather data and work done, fitment solutions, ecm work, etc.

I would like to do this as much as possible without a shop getting involved. No dis to the shops, but reaching out to a few I could find was not received very well. Please share if you have done one, I would like to read all about it.

How much mechanical experience do you have with this type of work? What kind of tools / shop / equipment do you have access to? How much electrical experience do you have with this type of work? The reason I ask is that engine / transmission swaps are not nearly as easy as they used to be. No more simply dumping a new motor in with some fabbed up mounts and hooking up a few electrical connections. Even as primitive as the first gen xB's are, they have a lot of what I'll just call "computer interfaces" that need to be dealt with.

Shops are only to be used as hired muscle doing exactly what you tell them to do:

- weld Drift Motion #—- motor mounts onto xB auto crossmember
- install shofter axle Toyota # on left side
- use spindles from Camry Toyota #—-
- etc.

Shop aren’t taking you seriously because you haven’t given them step-by-step build sheet. So they don’t think you’re really gonna follow through.

Easy guys just putting out feelers. I work in a metal fab shop for my local power utility. Have been a master electrician for over 20 yrs. I specialize in low voltage communication, control systems integration. Been wrenching on cars since I could reach in the engine bay. I was really looking to hear what other guys had run into and if the results had been worth their efforts. None of this is set in stone yet I am just piling up data to make a more informed decision

I do appreciate your input. I am not trying to rush into this project like some wet behind the ears tuner bro. This project is a plan to get me into my later years and possibly retirement. I am a JDM enthusiast, and have been for a long time now. As far as the shops go I live in the SE and in this locale its all about big muscle, so I wasn't looking to get a warm feeling from any of them that I reached out to. After all I am just in the beginning of this idea. Maybe I should just stick with a 5th gear swap and have done with it... old guys don't need to be too wild right?😊

Why the 1ZZ-FE, why not go with the 2ZZ-FE?

1zz seemed to be the easiest. I liked the idea of a bolt on solution. I am favoring a 2zr currently. Seems more capable with the dual vvti head. Wasn't really looking for gobs of track power more for sporty street performance. This one is not going to be a daily driver. Not really thinking about forced induction at this point either. My last 2 turbo vehicles were not a bargain on maintenance. First one developed an electrical malfunction, one in the throttle control wire and the cooling fan went at the same time in traffic roaching the head The second one didn't make it out of a 15mph front end collision. Roasted the intercooler and that was it.

How about 2AR? Tonne of torque & power without needing boost.

2AR , Hadn't considered it. Kinda big for my concept. It is a screamer though. The dimensions would be problematic for the transmission framework. I have so many choices it's overwhelming... just not sure I could lean it far enough to close the hood.

Mid-engine 1UZ to 3UZ with Getrag transaxle…

Yeah, okay.

Here’s some of my favourite xB swaps of all time!!!

Man those guys are pushing the envelope bug time. I have a 2JZ Lexus but I wouldn't swap it into a box. My wife really likes the GS, I let her drive it whenever. Any way that's way past where I am aiming for this build.

Sorry if I came across the wrong way. We get some dreamers in here that have champagne tastes and a beer budget. (We had one clown who swore he was going to do a disk brake conversion using some parts he picked off a Cobalt in a junkyard. He swore they'd bolt right up because they were 4-lug.) It sounds like you have the chops to handle this kind of job.

If you need electrical schematics for the first gen xB, I happen to have the Factory Service Manuals. I'd be glad to copy and send you whatever you need.

I need someone to wire-up a 2ZZ swap, when are you coming out to CO to visit the family next time, Tom? :rolling:

Once you need to start modifying harnesses, I prefer to just go straight to aftermarket EFI. So much less effort.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/...IObKcIl6gvA0kP
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/..._2m0SOFRbyUa8s

2stroked- I took no offense from your reply, just letting my intentions be clear. I feel you on the champagne taste, been there too. That would have been my 20's, rocking a beefed up 300zx turbo🤣. I do appreciate your input as the design and planning stage has always been tougher for me than doing the actual work. I will gladly take you up on the offer for wiring diagrams. Let's keep this discussion going gentlemen, as I have much to learn before I light the torch.

I have been told that stand alone systems were an option but never have had one.

For whatever reason, seems efforts and costs of swaps have dropped tremendously. My 1st swap was 7M-GTE into my MKII Supra way back in late '80s and I had to consult tonne of specialists: ME for custom mounts/welding cross-members. EE for harness adapting between 7M-GTE to 5M body & clocks. Tuners for modifying ECM mapping, etc. Back then, it seems only people who've done this were hardcore racing teams.

Now, appears there's tonne of amateur experience with this and people freely sharing info online! :)
https://www.celicasupra.com/threads/...osquirt.91514/
https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...our-944-a.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...l#post12297992

Some of them even published books on it! :)


For stock-to-stock swaps, best to get entire EFI-harness and ECM from donor car. Unfortunately, many breakers chop harness to get engine out of car... grrr...

I'd really like to help you, but I've got to re-arrange my sock drawer. :rolling:

As for when I'm heading out to CO next, that's a very good question. :roll:

Good thing that the 2ZZ, at least electronically speaking, is a pretty easy swap as I can use the 2ZZ ECM and the xB harness and I only have to swap a few pins and extend a few wires from what I've researched. And it's a manual, so I don't need to deal with all of the woes associated with an automatic swap.

Although if I do go turbo then I might look into a standalone but I still want all of the 'creature comforts' that a 2006 xB affords, like that high-dollar passenger side vanity mirror!