A The difference between a '02 and '03 Celica is that Toyota switched from a cable-actuated throttle body to a drive-by-wire version. Because of those electrical differences, the '03-'05 cars have a different ECU pinout than the previous years. This greatly affects the management portion of the kit. Hence the GReddy supercharger kit is made for the '00-'02. You could still bolt any '00-'02 kit to your car, you would just have to '00-'02 kit to your car, you would just have to find engine management made for a '03-'05. Check with GReddy for an E-manage application for a '03-'05. But if you fancy a turbo, there are plenty of those options; Smaay, TurboKits.com, C2 Power, Brash Boy and several other companies that will custom-build you a kit.
Q I know that you guys are pretty smart, so I thought you might be able to help my amigo out. His name is Wu (last name), and he runs a stock Scion tC with a manual tranny. He got it a month ago, and another friend of ours said that he would give him a hundred bucks if he could beat the Euro tuner at school with a GTI, on the quarter. The GTI is lowered, runs Superleggaras, a bit of carbon-fiber, I think an Injen cold-air ram and Neuspeed pulleys. It does however run around with a DSG tranny, which according to him, is the 'best auto tranny out there'. Its hard not to laugh when he says that. Anyways, we all agreed Wu had to really do work (do work son!-SK) on his Scion, and I was wondering, what would you suggest? I say the full TRD supercharger, exhaust, intake, the whole nine yards. What's your opinion? If you help us out I can give you my bootleg porn I bought in China...and a blowup doll we bought there too!! Help us prove that pure Toyota sexiness is better than some metro-looking automatic VW!!
Luke Wylie
Via the Internet
A The bunny rabbit (they love it when you call them that) may have a metro stigma, but doesn't the tC have a bit of a girly stigma? Either way, both cars are pretty cool, and if our reader has a tC, then that's the best car ever! With the TRD supercharger, Wu's tC is estimated to make 200 hp. That's equivalent to what a new GTI makes already. So if you want to make sure you beat that slightly-modified GTI, we suggest going with a custom-forced induction kit. With a custom-made kit, you can put together a turbo or supercharger kit for +300 hp. Please send bootleg porn and a fifi doll in a box large enough not to pop her. It's a 'her' right??!!
Q I'm currently in prison and this magazine takes me into the import world that I long for everyday. I'll be a free man come 2010, to get back on my project. I just bought a '97 Honda Civic EK without a motor. I need some advice on choosing a motor. I want to be able to smoke a stock 350Z, but I've only got $6,000 for the swap, and I'll be doing most of the work myself. I'm familiar with the B series and H series motors, but want to try the K series this time around. From one who eats, drinks and sleeps JDM, I'm absolutely open for suggestions (Wong and Charlie). I also own a '01 S2000 but I want to make into another project. Any advice would be appreciated!
Damian
Miami, FL
A Well, with only $6,000 for a swap, the K series might be hard to do. If you can somehow get good pricing, on your things, you might be able to meet that budget. Hondata K-Pro, a header, mounts and a harness will cost over a third of your budget. Not to mention a shift adapter and if you want to install A/C or power steering. A K20 or K24 would definitely be able to put you ahead of the competition.
Q I was looking through my new August issue of Super Street, and come to find out that my letter I wrote you guys was on page 108. Thank you guys for writing back so soon and thanks again for putting it in the magazine. Myself and the other soldiers here in Iraq thought it was a good moral booster that I had my article in your magazine!