So I'm finally making a build thread on my 1JZ powered 3rd gen Camaro. While in between jobs this past summer I started looking at odd ball swaps to do on it because I was tired of the LS swap everything approach, so after talking with some friends that have done 1/2J swaps I decided to go that route. I picked up a 1J/R154 swap locally and got started.


Once the SBC was out I started to cutting and clearancing to make room to fit the rear sump 1J in. The engine and trans probably went in and out 10-15 times before it fit.


The subframe was re enforced and plated to regain some strength after alot of trimming. After that the engine was set back in the start making the motor mounts. Luckily some templates made quick work of them.


Once it was mounted the never ending search for AN fittings continued to mate the GM clutch and power steering to the Toyota parts. Cutting up the stock throttle cable and a universal motorcycle cable was smashed together to get a functioning throttle cable for cheap.

 

The last big hurtle at the time was getting the universal intercooler kit to fit good enough to take the car out for a drive, and after picking up a few more couplers it was ready to go.


It was finally on the road after picking up a custom drive shaft, but it wasn't running 100%. Once boost would come on the car would break up badly and was running hot. After searching around for issues, I found that all coil packs were cracked and arcing to the head. I also wanted to pull the thermostat to see if that was causing it to run hot. To get the thermostat out I had to pull the piping off the front turbo and found a bunch of oil sitting in the inlet. So that sped up the plan to go single turbo. Found a good deal on a BW S360 turbo and started the swap.


Unfortunately no off the shelf aftermarket manifold was going to work on the car, so I ordered a flange and all the piping needed to make my own log manifold. Once it was welded up it needed machined flat to seal to the head again, luckily a vendor from my previous job got me in that week and took care of that for me.


Once that was done and on I started on making the downpipe. 1 Vibrant u j pipe was all that was needed to make the 3" downpipe.


Finally this morning after 5 months of throwing money at this and fighting with it, I was able to take it on its first successful test drive. After pulling the thermostat temporarily, no more over heating and runs cleanly to red line. Now I need to save to do a gear swap, then start worrying about injectors and ecu later down the road.

 

This is awesome! Could you post a video of it running? What's your performance looking like? Any idea how fast it is pre-tune?

 

I’m impressed. Definitely a little crazy. But I’m impressed.

 

No good videos of it so far. Performance I'd say is roughly 250 ish wheel. It may be a little optimistic but feels faster than any stock LT1 I have been in once it hits boost. It really needs a shorter gear in back, the trans ratios are for a 3.90 rear. The 3.42s take forever to get into boost so looking at 4.10s after I pick up a wide band.

 

This thing is awesome! Subscribing, please keep updating as you progress!

 

Wow, that's cool! I'd love to see a video as well. What's the weight difference?

 

The generic weights I have found puts the 1jz/r154 at about 50lbs lighter than the 355/700r4 that was in it. So no real videos, has been way to cold lately and it has no heat currently. I also haven't treated and coated the floor pans where I patched rust, so it just continues to sit in the garage.