1975 Toyota Celica - Super Street Magazine

A While there's no denying the S30 looks bad as hell, it's really ill-equipped for drifting. Although it does have independent rear suspension, the suspension setup is pretty outdated and aftermarket support is extremely limited for key drift components. As played out as they are you'd be a lot better off choosing a car like the S13 for ease of parts and a good starting platform. And if you do go with the S13 route there is a company called Sankei Auto that makes a "Z80" conversion, which puts a 240Z frontend onto an S13 hatch... best of both worlds?

Master Of The Six Speed
Q I've got a B14 200SX and I'm thinking about swapping in the motor from a 2003 Sentra SE-R Spec V. I'm wondering would the motor be able to fit my engine bay, without having to mess around on the firewall? What all components would it require and an approximate cost, just to get an idea of what I'm looking at? Love the mag and keep up the awesome work!
Khambrel W.
Via the Internet

A Although you probably won't have to modify the firewall, the conversion won't be simple. At the very least, you'll need the motor, transmission, shifter assembly, shifter cables, axles, hubs, wiring, ECU and clutch master and lines. It would be a lot cheaper and easier to swap in a FWD SR like the SR20VE from Japan. For more info on the SR swap take a look at Project Car #11 as they've done a similar install.

Guy Smiley
Q I've owned a 1975 Toyota Celica ST since 1981 (my first car) and I would like to rebuild it and put on smiley bumpers. Is it possible without doing any modifications? I'm also thinking about doing a 1JZGTE engine swap. Will the firewall, steering column and rear axle have to be modified? Also I'd like to drop the car down a few inches but I wanted to know if I could still use 17'' wheels and have clearance? Thanks for your help.
Michael
Via the Internet

A Unfortunately, the smiley front end is a little more involved than you were hoping; you have to physically shorten the front end (cut and weld) and make your own rear-valance and weld it on. As far as the 1J is concerned, we've seen it done, but again it's going to take some serious welding and fabrication skills; at the very least you'll have to make your own crossmember and transmission mount. Some cutting of the firewall and transmission tunnel might also be necessary. You would probably have very little clearance for a wheel that large but why would you want to run anything that crazy anyway? The 14s are the perfect size wheel for your car and we wouldn't recommend running anything over 15''.