Gents,

I'm currently swapping in a 1UZ-FE engine into my '92 GTA Trans Am, Now
Before you guys throw me over the bridge for fitting in a Lexus engine into a Pontiac Trans Am, I've a bigger issue than being wet by river water.

The thing is, the mechanich had cut almost 50% of the corss member (withour my permission), to make enough room for the oil sump of the 1UZ-FE engine, now how bad is that??

Is there any way of fixing this issue, cause am a little worried about the chassis strength now?

 

one interesting swap, look forward to some pictures.

depending on how its been gutted, you'd want to weld in some plates to keep rigidity; the LSx guys are pretty used to having to notch things and reinforce them to keep the strength

 

You coudl also have them weld in a piece of heavy tubing. Whatever will fit. Weld that on the inside, then box it back in. Should be good enough.

Got any pictures of the swap thus far?

J.

 

box it with 1/8" plate, or buy a tubular kmember for the nicest looking install

 

this sounds interesting, you need to post pics.

as for the k-member, box it back in and you should be fine. If you feel the need, there is enough room in the front of the k-member between it and the steering linkage to add some gusseting if you feel the need.

 

Ditto on boxing it back in, should be ok if done right.
Also, not gonna spring for the 1LR-GUE? lol.

 

depends on what he did, post pics...

 

 

I've got you some pics

 

yay

 

Come in guys, pics are hot & ready

 

The reason I've decided to go for 1uz-fe engine, due to it's reliability, and trouble free. It's also has a brilliant Quad Cam design, and my specific motor has Variable Valve Timing. It's an aluminium engine, so not as heavy as SBC. It produces 290hp on motor, that's 73 hp/liter, whereas the SBC has 43 hp/liter. Even LS1 engines could not match the 1uz-fe in the hp/liter figure in stock form. I mean the 325hp stock LS1 has 57 hp/liter vs 73 hp/liter for the 1uz/ fe. The only downside is it's small capacity, mine is 4.0 liter, however, had been there a 5.7ltr stroker of the 1uz-fe, it would have been a game changer, pumping around 420hp at any given time. The other downside is the lack of aftermarket support, and here where LS1 and SBC shines

 

they chopped the hell out of that cross member. I would brace it some how.

 

I kind of like the idea of welding a piece of pipe inside it.

 

You really need to get a picture from looking up with the engine sitting in the cross member... if you want more input or improvement on your current cross member design and structure...

 

'What ifs' have no place in comparing motors. I like this idea just because it's different but don't dilute yourself into thinking the 1uz is a better choice than others, especially given the amount of hacking needed to fit it. It is cool, none the less.

Keep us posted, I would love to see this completed. How much room do you have between the current kmember and oilpan? A tubular may not even work for you. A better option may have been a custom oilpan/pickup setup... The oilpan is aluminum, right?

Edit; Or another option may be to build a cradle with front and rear crossbars if you have clearance underneath the bellhousing?

 

I don't like the idea of removing metal off a main beam like the cross memeber, however, since the damage has already happened, I favor Kid's idea, in welding a piece of pipe in it, or 2 parallel pipes, and I hope that should do, but man, I wish if I could have avoided this altogether. I think once I fire the UZ motor, then I would be able to tell if it was well worth it, or is a complete fail.

 

there is always room for a turbo if it isn't fast enough

 

Well, I've always wanted it to be as civilized as possible, a daily driver to work, with a alittle twist of grunt and torque, I think it would be able to keep up with a stock 2006 Mustang GT, but no chance with an LS1 4th Gen F-body

 

go with the K member replacement, I did it when I swap my 350 for a LS-1, it lightens up the front end and makes it feel like its on rails....or stay with the butcher job and slap on some plates and hope for the best! MHO.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...y-k-frame.html this was in the for sale section. I'm not sure on the ground clearance

 

That looks good quality and decent price, thanks Buddy!!

 

How did you do the wiring? Im doing a 1uzfe on a 84 camaro.

 

Don't think it was ever finished, threads 4 years old with no further updates