Wild V-8 Swap: Lexus 1UZ

[JFBrink]

Hey, gang,

One of my wife's relatives was thinking about getting rid of an early Lexus LS, and my wife asked me if any parts would be helpful for our swap.

I said "no" but then it occured to me that the LS is a RWD car, and the engine was known to be really small. A really small V-8.

I've spent a couple days researching this, and am 75% certain that the engine would fit with no cutting or moving of the steering shaft.

Some crazy bastard might want to go for the last 25%. The 1UZ-FE is an incredible engine, easily capable of absurd HP.

Moreoever, mated to a 5-speed from a Supra, it's just 40 lbs. more than a stock 1600 with a 4-speed attached. With a 6-speed, it's 60 lbs. more.

One thing I do not know is how well the transmission would fit in the tunnel, and where the stick (or auto selector) would come out.

Just something to chew on. I've pasted a set of links below that I found helpful in my research.

Jesse.

PS - You would need to get a engine with a rear/mid sump (SC, not LS) or swap the SC sump onto your LS-sourced engine.


1UZ Transplant

http://www.1uzfe.com/

This one shows the swap of a 1UZ into a 1972 Toyota Corolla

http://www.kalmaker.com.au/page70.html

This guy is working on a custom engine/transmission control system.

http://www.monster-performance.com/modu ... ucts_id=29

This is a $400 kit for mounting a manual transmission behind the 1UZ.

http://www.rodshop.com.au/bellhousings.htm

Another source of transmission adaptor kits.


http://www.reanimotion.com/toymods/1UZ_Conversion.htm

This guy put a 1UZ into and MX83 and says: “Don’t do it!� A lot of detail about the engine harness in here.

www.910bluebird.com/gallery/

Here is a 1UZ in a 910 station wagon. This one has the Delco controller conversion.

bedellracing.home.comcast.net/v8swap/

This swap into a smaller Lexus is good for the many photos of the engine.

http://www.lextreme.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4719

Chronicles a swap into some sort of truck, with details about mounting a manual tranny.

http://www.v-eight.com/

A site dedicated to the Toyota V8. Most of the links are dead, but there is an active Forum.


www.lextreme.com

I joined the forum on this site.


It seems that there are three sump options. It does not look to me like the front sump would clear the crossmember. There is apparently little difference between the middle and rear sumps. The sources for each are as follows:

UZ engines:

front sump:
LS400, UZS141

mid rear sump:
UZS131

rear sump:
SC400

I'm searching while i'm typing up this post. Here's a nice PDF with some useful info, but I don't see any block dimensions http://www.lextreme.com/Lex%20Soarer92.pdf

Ok, found something I had to register with the lextreme forums, but here it is...


====================

1. these are approximate only +/- 5mm

2. based on front-mount sump 1UZ, that is why I have taken measurements for the front using the crank centreline for a datum, and the side using the mount plate centreline as a datum.
This means all dimensions are applicable to most 1UZ variants, except of course for specific sump details.
I strongly suggest that you source a front of engine photo and side photos from the forums so you can make sense of the dimensions.

3. intended as a guide only- you should go to a wrecker/engine supplier and suss-out the whole thing before placing your order!

FRONT OF ENGINE
datum is centreline of crankshaft, with dimensions North/East/South/West of this point;

u'side of sump S 240
rh side of sump W 220
lh side of sump E 200
sides of heads E/W 335 (+50 for exhaust manifold)
top of heads N 370
u'side of alternator S 95
rh side of alternator W 290
u'side of p.steer pump N 20
rh side of p.steer pump W 360
u'side p.steer reservoir N 135
rh side p.steer reservoir W 375
top p.steer reservoir N 320
top inlet manifold N 450

LH SIDE OF ENGINE
datum is centre of engine block mount plate (not actual engine mount), with dimensions North/East/South/West of this point;
[Note that the datum is on the same horizontal plane as the crankshaft]

front of engine W 345
rear of engine E 310
front of sump W 260
rear of sump W 15
sump drain tray clearance S 175
centreline exhaust manifold outlet E 340
u'side of exhaust manifold outlet flanges S 75

RH SIDE OF ENGINE
same datum as above;

rear of alternator E 120
rear p.steer pump E 150
front p.steer reservoir E 290
rear p.steer reservoir E 200

OTHER USEFUL MEASUREMENTS

Centreline of crank to side of exhaust manifold outlet flange 310mm

============================================


Oh yea, here's the Vid that I mentioned about a S30 with a 1UZ http://www.lextreme.com/video/400.wmv

He put down 225HP with a stock motor other than a custom intake box. Really wish I could get a pic of the engine bay. Power was extremely liniar. (spelling? sorry)