so i scrored this rx300 from my aunt. for free. its 1999 awd with 120k miles.

she was original owner. once offloaded off the tow truck it was the first time seeing the car after she explained to me that a mechanic said she needs a new engine.. im thinking yea... sure it does..
i pop the hood and i shat my pants..


so i said yes in fact you do need a new engine.. so she said F that you can have the car if you can fix it.. so i said woot !
here is what i have decided. im gonna swap a 3.3l into it and i picked up the motor today!


stay tuned. 1999 rx330 awd in progress!

 

This is going to be sweet! I'd love to see a 3.3L in this beast! Maybe a 5 speed (U151) down the road!

Better do the timing belt on the replacement engine before putting it in the car.

 

Sounds like a cool swap, but seems like it will be a nightmare to get the electronics to run the 330 motor. Are you swapping the computer and harnesses too?

 

Subscribing to this thread.

 

Sounds awesome! I have always had the idea of swapping a 2gr, but I have to wait for my sister to total her RAV4.

 

lol obviously man. im gonna do cam seals, water pump timing belt and the front and rear main seals. the 3mz only has 40-60k miles on it.. the car is at 120k. if it doesn't rain i was hoping to have it done and running this weekend..

 

This is so cool. It sounds like quite the project, though. It would be WAY beyond my capabilities. Best of luck!!

 

I would make sure about compatibility issues before spending $$$. Dont forget the ECU (keys + ids) fwd/awd etc.

Salim

 

Subscribed.....

 

here is what i did today..

 

This is very interesting. Hope you may finish your job.

 

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Welcome, and for those wondering you can indeed do the 3.3 swap, I have seen it done to a 3.0 Toyota Solara over on solaraguy

 

+1.
Just curious, are there any formalities required in the US to make a car fully road legal, after swapping the engine with one that was not originally available?
Here in Europe, that would be very difficult...

 

Looks like a very good project. I suspect the mechanical compatibility is going to be only half of the transplant effort. I hope you also got the electronics from the donor vehicle. Good luck.