TT Lexus V8 into LJ
#1 _LHoon_
Posted 16 November 2006 - 02:02 PM
My mate, Chris, owns the motor which he had previously fitted in his VL turbo interceptor. It had two T04 turbos, full manual TH400 It was an awesome car but he pulled it apart and has since sold it as a roller.
The motor made 360rwkW when it was in the VL with standard cams and just 15psi boost. The pistons and heads have been modified to lower the compression ratio to 8.1:1, 1000cc injectors, custom stainless extractors, custom plenum, EMS computer with 8 coils, crow valve springs, custom sump and intercooler.
Here are some pics of the VL setup...
So we now plan to build up the LJ as a drag car. The setup will be different to the way it was in the VL. We want to go a bit more spastic and run the engine on Methanol (but also have the option of running it on premium unleaded occasionally). We also plan on getting new cams so that it can rev much harder. With the right cams and springs, these motors can rev to 10,000+ rpm without a problem. We want to use a powerglide instead of the TH400. It will get a full spool 9 inch diff and minitubs. New extractors, engine mounts, sump , and plenum will also be needed. We've decided on using a water-to-air intercooler. The aim (at this stage) is to get around 800hp at the flywheel.
Here's a sneak peak at the LJ. The front guard has been stripped of paint for repairs, but the rest of the car is pretty clean. Fixing up the body will come a bit later on.
We initially sat the engine block in there to see if we had any chance of fitting it.
It will be a bloody tight fit, but it could be done.
#2
Posted 16 November 2006 - 02:12 PM
#3 _brett_32i_
Posted 16 November 2006 - 02:13 PM
i know its been done in a lh/x/uc shape, not sure 'bout an lj?
keep us all updated
oh, and you wouldnt have a spare cam gear would you??
#4
Posted 16 November 2006 - 02:14 PM
#5 _LHoon_
Posted 16 November 2006 - 03:19 PM
Makka - yes, we've thought about single turbo, but we already have two turbos which are a good size. We're just trying to use the bits we already have. Don't worry - it will fit.
Brett_32i - I've seen a Lexus V8 in a blue LJ before. Naturally aspirated though. Sorry, no spare cam gear. But a whole replacement engine could be bought for less than $1000... so there must be plenty of spares around somewhere.
Torrietree - I was told that it could be a GTR but I have confirmed that its an 'S' 1973 model LJ.
#6 _Monkey_
Posted 16 November 2006 - 05:30 PM
#7
Posted 16 November 2006 - 05:54 PM
HAHAHA
I am doing the same conversion into my LJ coupe.
I have the engine stripped right down to the block currently.
I will be attempting a 1000rwhp car.
Engine will have these items:
-Ross Forged 8.5:1 Pistons (www.lextreme.com/forums group buy)
-Argorace Forged rods (www.lextreme.com/forums group buy)
-Ported and Polished heads
-Kelfords TT cams
-Twin GT3071R Turbos or twin T3 60-1 and .63ar
-ARP head and main studs
-Some sort of aftermarket ecu and 8 coil setup
-Custom inlet and exhaust manifolds
Car-
-LJ torrie in brocks 28c scheme and advertisment
-17inch sprintmaster copies
-9inch diff with LSD
-Supra Turbo R154 5speed.
Thats it for now..
Will take photo's etc of erveything and start a buil;d diary when i get a chance..
Cheers, Judd.
#8 _jap-xu1_
Posted 16 November 2006 - 06:57 PM
or maybe remove the inner guards
#9
Posted 16 November 2006 - 07:22 PM
Evan
#10 _LHoon_
Posted 17 November 2006 - 09:38 AM
The block was going to fit without any firewall modifications if we used the most forward crossmember bolt holes. Perfect! Next on the list, is to make engine mounts...
In the meantime however, we started thinking about where the turbos would go and how we wanted the setup to look. There were a number of options, but we settled on having the turbos sitting above the inner guards, just above the wheels. It would look a little like this dodgy schematic:
We would have to cut some holes in the inner guard. This wasn't ideal, as I wanted to be able to return the car to standard if I had to. After all, I may want to sell the car again one day. So we decided that we could cut out clean/easy rectangular sections out of the inner guard which could be welded back into place if required later on.
Its a bit frightening cutting out the chassis number!
Then we started fixing the turbo flange plates into position. We just tack welded brackets to them and to the inner guard. This was a bit tricky, because everything had to be perfect. The angles had to be right. Once the plates were fixed, work on the extractors could commence.
#11 _RpM_
Posted 17 November 2006 - 01:04 PM
#12
Posted 17 November 2006 - 01:04 PM
#13 _brett_32i_
Posted 17 November 2006 - 02:06 PM
Are you using solid engine mounts, and bracing the turbo to the rail??
or will the manifold support the full weight of turbo and exhaust?
#14 _LHoon_
Posted 17 November 2006 - 03:02 PM
Thanks for all of the comments!very nice!!
Are you using solid engine mounts, and bracing the turbo to the rail??
or will the manifold support the full weight of turbo and exhaust?
We've made engine mounts using a round rubber suspension bush. So they're not soild, but still extremely strong. If you look closely in some of the pics above you will see bits of them. I will post a better pic of the engine mounts, but I haven't got a good photo just yet.
The exhaust manifold will support the weight of the turbos. For now, we have brackets tack welded to the body to keep the turbos from moving around. The brackets will be removed when we've completely finished the extractors.
#15
Posted 17 November 2006 - 03:18 PM
#16 _HatchmanSS76_
Posted 17 November 2006 - 07:34 PM
Great work keep it up and don't stop posting pics of your progress.
#17 _postal_dood_
Posted 18 November 2006 - 08:56 PM
i also think you totally crazy for trying it by the way, but, if speed is the aim of the game, i supose a TT setup would certainly acomplish that.
good work tho
#18 _LHoon_
Posted 18 November 2006 - 09:22 PM
First we sat the intercooler core in the car, and figured out how it would be best. We've decided to save some space in the engine bay and have the radiator in the boot. Only the intercooler would sit up front. Its probably overkill (particularly if we're running it on methanol), but we wanted to make a water-to-air intercooler, rather than the typical air-to-air type. Its only a little bit more work making water tanks either side of the core, and a bit of plumbing. And besides, it will look cool!
We designed the tanks on computer (AutoCAD program), and then cut the sheetmetal out with a jigsaw. In the past we have gotten stuff laser cut because its neater and easier. But they�ve put their prices up so we just jigsaw it now.
The fold lines are scored with an angle grinding disc so that it can be folded easier (and straight).
It all folds up perfectly like a cardboard box, and then welded together.
The intercooler will be water-to-air so (water) tanks are required for the front and back of the cooler. Again, these were also designed on computer first, then folded and welded.
We started making a new sump as well...
I'll post more updates soon!!
We've chosen to go for a single throttle body arrangement. The old setup had twin throttles. But we're trying to keep things neat and simple, as much as posible anyway. So we'll be buying one big-mumma throttle body!! I'll post pics of that really soon.
#19 _LX406_
Posted 19 November 2006 - 01:39 AM
#20
Posted 19 November 2006 - 10:18 AM
#21 _HatchmanSS76_
Posted 19 November 2006 - 02:46 PM
#22 _studricho_
Posted 19 November 2006 - 05:04 PM
With making the sumps, i've found they can leak around the welds. I'm using a mig. Is it poor setup on my behalf or do you use a special wire/gas setup?
I love the fab stuff, just nuts. Keep up the pics.
#23 _LHoon_
Posted 19 November 2006 - 05:33 PM
We've been using TIG on everything, with great results. Welding can be done slowly, with almost perfect welds everytime! We haven't had any problems with sumps leaking.
There wasn't much room for the sump though. It will only hold just about 4.5 to 5 litres. We would have liked to have a bit more up our sleaves. I hope that's enough! Didn't want the sump to hang any lower than the crossmember... just in case its gets bashed when the car comes down from a huge wheelstand at the drags. ;-)
#24 _studricho_
Posted 19 November 2006 - 06:17 PM
#25 _LHoon_
Posted 20 November 2006 - 08:51 AM
What do you guys think about the idea of having the radiator in the boot??
The plan would be to remove the standard fuel tank, and have a radiator lying flat (horizontally) in the hole where the tank was with thermo fans. We'd use a small fuel cell instead of the fuel tank. Has anyone done something like this before?
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