i have got 1 TR magan and thinking about buying another 2 do a conversion to not only being cheap cars to buy i want a manual version but i been thinking bout puting a VR4 engine into it i think refered to as a 4G63T 2000cc Turbo.

is it a hard conversion to do and could some1 give me some insight inyo it if they have done it i look at it as a worthwhile operation as like TR magna's arent bad looking at all i know ill be dropping back from 2600cc to 2000cc but th epower will be dramtically in creased with just some minor bolt ons going to leave most of the engine standard though see what i can push it to.

any help will be a great insight into this project if it isnt worth it please let me know opinons are better to hear then nothing aswell so please dont be shy please.

i know a guy did this to a 1st gen , and a few others have done, anywho good luck with it.

i have got 1 TR magan and thinking about buying another 2 do a conversion to not only being cheap cars to buy i want a manual version but i been thinking bout puting a VR4 engine into it i think refered to as a 4G63T 2000cc Turbo.

is it a hard conversion to do and could some1 give me some insight inyo it if they have done it i look at it as a worthwhile operation as like TR magna's arent bad looking at all i know ill be dropping back from 2600cc to 2000cc but th epower will be dramtically in creased with just some minor bolt ons going to leave most of the engine standard though see what i can push it to.

any help will be a great insight into this project if it isnt worth it please let me know opinons are better to hear then nothing aswell so please dont be shy please.


Mate it all depends on how much cash you have??

If you dont have like 6-8K just forget about it right now, it may even cost more if you cant do any of the work yourself!!

Just turbocharge your current engine, it will work out a tad cheaper maybe :doubt:

I enquired once or twice on getting a vr4 engine put in my TE, and the costs well exceeded 8k

well ill be pulling the old engine out and everything buying s front cut and shunting everything else in if i need mounts moded i can get that done and wiring ill try to do myself ill probley use a moded VR4 gearbox if i can do that to it.

with a magna TR seeing around for like $400 and a front cut for say $3000 i cant see it being cheaper to turbo the 2.6LT as i would need a complete rebuild to start with like im guessing bout 3-4k plus turbo and manifold selection that will cost me 2k and also i will need to up my radiator which would be 700-900 im guessing a new clutch setup (and id do that with the VR4 aswell but probley seasier 2 source a VR4 clutch setup then the 2.6L setup im guessing bout 800-1000 somthin for a good power holding clutch) aftermarket ECU will have to go in or get it chipped Rather ECU that would be $1400 new bigger front brakes im guessing $800 injectors and complete fuel setup Pump+injectors+regulator no surge tank or anything im guessing for some big sized injectors and walbro pump and regulator $1000 correct me if im wrong.

VR4 id buy afront cut which would be about 2500-3500 and id try and use most bits off dat brakes if they fit and gbox and radiator if i can and so on if i need mounts ill try and get them made stuff like dat
if i was going to rebuild the VR4 though yes it would be more exspensive

ive already added up to $11100 for a 2.6LT rebuild and turbo and thats without labour im guessing some things could be cheaper or even more exspensive.

of cause the power from a rebuilt 2.6L turboed with those add ons would hammer a VR4 but the aftermarket support for the VR4 engine and also twin cam headed i think it would be a better choice.

i just want to get in contact with sum1 who has done it and know what to do and so on not sum1 who has had it done at a workshop thats no help i need a hands on person who has done it or actull knowledge.

im not here to **** talk just a interested person wanting to do a conversion so please tell me your thoughts and so on.

Sogg has done this conversion on a 1st Gen Wagon so maybe send him a PM and he can give you some advice :)

hey thanks mate will do.

msg ya mate soggs but he hasnt replied yets i posted up same question on another forum wanna get as much help as i can.

i just hope people are willing to share with me what they have done.

any 1 else think of doing this conversion or is there only a select few lol by the look of replies lol

any 1 else think of doing this conversion or is there only a select few lol by the look of replies lol

I would say a VERY select few.
That few being you.
lol I havent heard rumors of anyone else wanting to do this mate

in the starions in japan there was 2 engines. the base models got the 4g63t. in this form it was a 2 ltr single overhead cam with 8 valves. then there was the upper models including the GSR-VR:drool: these models came with the 4g54t. still chain driven 2.6 ltr 8 valve. this made 128.71 Kw at 5000rpm and 313 Nm of torque at 3000

ok kool so whats that mean mate?

i also heard there was a 4wd starion in japan is that true??

or is it a cordia cant remember also heard theres a 4 door version.

but would this conversion be practical really like if no1 has done it??
the magna is actully slighty lighter then teh VR4 galant im guessing the 4WD rear makes it heavier not body wise.

here are the stats ive picked up of wikipedia.

Galant VR4 92
Engine
Configuration — DOHC 16v inline 4 cylinder
Code — 4G63T
Bore/stroke, capacity — 85.0 x 88.0 mm, 1997 cc
Compression ratio — 7.8:1
Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel
Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm
Peak torque — 294 N·m (217 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm
Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual
Suspension — MacPherson struts (front), double wishbones (rear)
Length — 4560 mm
Width — 1695 mm
Height — 1440 mm
Wheelbase — 2600 mm
Kerb weight — 1380 kg
Fuel tank — 62 L
Wheels/tyres — 195/60 R15 86H

TR MAGNA

Production April 1991–March 1996
Body style(s) 4-door station wagon
4-door sedan
Engine(s) 2.6L Astron I4
3.0L 6G72 V6
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2722 mm
Length 4746 mm
Width 1775 mm
Height 1430 mm
Curb weight 1356 kg

you guys think this is correct?

its on the net so its gotta be true lol

ok kool so whats that mean mate?

i also heard there was a 4wd starion in japan is that true??

or is it a cordia cant remember also heard theres a 4 door version.

but would this conversion be practical really like if no1 has done it??
the magna is actully slighty lighter then teh VR4 galant im guessing the 4WD rear makes it heavier not body wise.

here are the stats ive picked up of wikipedia.

Galant VR4 92
Engine
Configuration — DOHC 16v inline 4 cylinder
Code — 4G63T
Bore/stroke, capacity — 85.0 x 88.0 mm, 1997 cc
Compression ratio — 7.8:1
Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel
Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm
Peak torque — 294 N·m (217 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm
Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual
Suspension — MacPherson struts (front), double wishbones (rear)
Length — 4560 mm
Width — 1695 mm
Height — 1440 mm
Wheelbase — 2600 mm
Kerb weight — 1380 kg
Fuel tank — 62 L
Wheels/tyres — 195/60 R15 86H

TR MAGNA

Production April 1991–March 1996
Body style(s) 4-door station wagon
4-door sedan
Engine(s) 2.6L Astron I4
3.0L 6G72 V6
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2722 mm
Length 4746 mm
Width 1775 mm
Height 1430 mm
Curb weight 1356 kg

you guys think this is correct?

its on the net so its gotta be true lol

The Astron 2.6 4Cyl goes about 80kw brand new =p so it would be a nice upgrade

yer well thats how i am looking at it looks like no 1 has any idea why i want to do it????

any1 else ever sat back and thought bout this and then found it was to hard well let me know please .

yer well thats how i am looking at it looks like no 1 has any idea why i want to do it????

any1 else ever sat back and thought bout this and then found it was to hard well let me know please .
Why would we know why you want to do the conversion?

Plenty of us have thought of swapping more powerful engines similar to our own into the car, however the costs far outweigh the gains, when a DOHC transplant into a V6 Second Gen will make ample gain over most turbo applications for the 4.

well as i said if my TR was a 6cyl engined car i would be putting a better V6 from GTO twin turbo but as my car is 4cylinder astron 2.6 a VR4 2.0 will do a heaps better job im sure didnt u read the specs?

turboing the astron will give you more torque than the vr4 motor. 50 Nm more if you use stock starion boost levels. nfi what that is. plus you get better off boost response.

edit: it says in your profile you have automatic transmition is this correct?

yes but this isnt my magna im gettin a manual 1 if i do this but yes i know the Astron 2.6L has more NM cause of the displacment size but i reckin it will cost me more to get a Astron Turbo motor up and running then it will to puyt a VR4 2.0 in a magna.

yes but this isnt my magna im gettin a manual 1 if i do this but yes i know the Astron 2.6L has more NM cause of the displacment size but i reckin it will cost me more to get a Astron Turbo motor up and running then it will to puyt a VR4 2.0 in a magna.

that vr4 motor has 12 more kw than the na DOHC... it'd be alot lighter too and stock turbo so could be easily modded...

But back to your problem, no one in this club has fitted a vr4 motor mated to a 4g64 gbox. So we can't help you. I think the evo engines will bolt up... which i think also means the galant engines will bolt up but im not sure.

Best bet is to go to a jap wreckers and find an engine to measure up precisely.

An irrelevent interesting point is that my >2000kg clamp force clutch is identical to the evo 1-3 clutches.

edit* i forgot to say your grammar sucks... which means some ppl won't get what you say and won't post.

you serious its that bad?

well i was thinking of actully using the VR4 gearbox but find some way of modifying the box and taking off the transfer case and get it welded up if you guys know what i mean so its just the front running i seen it done with a GTR gearbox and the just letting it run Rear not front.

could this be done ive also seen it done on a TX3 only rear running.

i dont think a 4cyl Magna box will take the punishment with a VR4 engine mated to it will it.

you serious its that bad?

well i was thinking of actully using the VR4 gearbox but find some way of modifying the box and taking off the transfer case and get it welded up if you guys know what i mean so its just the front running i seen it done with a GTR gearbox and the just letting it run Rear not front.

could this be done ive also seen it done on a TX3 only rear running.

i dont think a 4cyl Magna box will take the punishment with a VR4 engine mated to it will it.

yeah i dont think a v6 gbox would handle much more power than that either...

Guys in the US drop the 3000gt TT motor and gbox in and only run the front, one specific company does the awd-->fwd conversion but i cant see it being cheap.

If you google it you should find it...

One idea would be to find what gbox is used in the n/a galants. ie fwd gbox versions of cars usually mate up to the hipo awd counter parts. Like the lancer gbox bolts up to the 4g62T i think.

converting a gearbox from AWD to FWD should be as easy as fitting a blanking plate in place of the driveshaft right?

yes thats what i was thinking but was going to get a plate welded but i was thinking of taking the diff for the transfer case out alltogether if i can and if i can get a LSD or locker for the front diff.

yer i know bout the 3000GT in the V6 TR's not bad power if i had a V6 at the moment i would go that route but would be alot more work to install that into a 4cylinder TR.

well i was just talking to someone bout this conversion and he said that he had a Galant VR4 and his engine was a G63BT

i thought VR4 Galants had the 4G63T im a lil confused now can somebody clear this up for me.

yes but this isnt my magna im gettin a manual 1 if i do this

yer i know bout the 3000GT in the V6 TR's not bad power if i had a V6 at the moment i would go that route but would be alot more work to install that into a 4cylinder TR.

So are you saying you'll be getting a different magna to do this?? If so, then why wouldn't you just get a manual V6 one so the route to DOHC is much easier??
I'm confused.

nah i can get a TR 4cylinder for $400 off my mate so $400 plus 2500-3500 for front cut basically got all the mechanical bits done just need to get some parts for the VR4 motor like new oil pump,water pump,timing belt so on and then work out wat needs to be fabricated for the engine to go in and im cheering cause ill do most work myself im still betting on it cost abit but if i had to buy a V6 TR magna ill be looking at more money i think.

ok kool so whats that mean mate?

i also heard there was a 4wd starion in japan is that true??

or is it a cordia cant remember also heard theres a 4 door version.


The only 4wd version of the starion were made specifically for rally and never sold to the public and they had normal headlights on the front (not popups) looks really weird.

There was a 4wd cordia made but it was only sold in Japan afaik.

you serious its that bad?

well i was thinking of actully using the VR4 gearbox but find some way of modifying the box and taking off the transfer case and get it welded up if you guys know what i mean so its just the front running i seen it done with a GTR gearbox and the just letting it run Rear not front.

could this be done ive also seen it done on a TX3 only rear running.

i dont think a 4cyl Magna box will take the punishment with a VR4 engine mated to it will it.

Yes this is definitely possible.

My gsr galant had a VR4 gearbox and drive shafts mated to an RVR engine in fwd form. Apparently it was originally running the standard GSR gearbox but that quickly died.

And if your wondering the RVR engine is a 4g63t but is closer to evo3 spec/power just running a milder turbo and smaller intercooler standard.

hmm so maybe better of getting a 4G63T out of a RVR front cut aye but didnt they have a top mount cooler not the front mount VR4 style.

i seem to have hit a brick wall with this though i cant find any info even with the old magna im going to keep looking though never give up.

Yes they had a top mount, similar in size to the ma70 supra intercoolers.

Mine was using the standard intercooler. They just did some custom piping and turned it into a front mount.

ok fair enough what about drive shafts and stuff same as the VR4 galant as im guessing its using the same gearbox?

ive been trying 2 get some pictures of the astron 2.6L engine mounts and VR4 engine mounts thats all i can really get to have a look at the differences.

any 1 have any pics they want to put up for me.

would any1 be able to give me a website or email addy of the guy who put the VR4 into his TP magna i seen it a long time ago just wondering if any1 has any info or email or sites thanks.

just got slammed on performanceforums.com was told a VR4 engine into a magna is a waste of time and money and will give no magnificent performance gains.

i thought this would be a decent conversion but im starting to think otherwise thought it would also be pretty str8 foward?

im really starting to wish i hadent of said anything about this as im copping hits of crap over it.

here's some inspration for u . it's Sogg's tp wagon twin turbo and all i think:D

don't worry about the key board warriors . bet they haven't done more than changing there stock filter with a k'n one . bet not many of them have done any engine converions:D

As if you didn't get smashed enough on your Performance Forums thread :bowrofl:


Don't do eeet, and thats comming from someone who has done a little more than changed a pannel filter.

im really starting to wish i hadent of said anything about this as im copping hits of crap over it.

I get crapped over for just saying i HAVE a magna and even more if i say that i actually LIKE it.

"Why dont you sell it and get a civic bro" :confused:

here's some inspration for u . it's Sogg's tp wagon twin turbo and all i think:D

don't worry about the key board warriors . bet they haven't done more than changing there stock filter with a k'n one . bet not many of them have done any engine converions:D
Yeh thats the one i was talking about, probly talk to him about it. at least he can tell you if it was worth it.

Don't do eeet, and thats comming from someone who has done a little more than changed a pannel filter.

like i said "i bet not many". So u are the few and far between:D

I get crapped over for just saying i HAVE a magna and even more if i say that i actually LIKE it.

"Why dont you sell it and get a civic bro" :confused:

thats funny, i was at some lights waiting to get onto the motorway today, some guy siting in his Mazda 3 SP23 thing, laughing at my car. I destroyed him down the sliproad in his ****box mazda in my ****terbox magna lol

yer i just want a full size sedan that has som eballs and it would be good not to have a falcon or commie thats all.

yer well when i was told to just "wack a turbo on a magna and just fix things up as they break" that was enough for me that is 1 stupid comment really.

yeah i PMed that guy just hasnt replied yet but at least this forum has been helpfull.

Hey buddy,
Sorry i havent replied earlier but been very busy. Its been a fairly long time since i did this coversion. so the details are all very blurry. Your best bet is to ring my mechanic "EAS Performance, located in airport west, vic" He will be able to go into more details with you in regards to what had to be done etc etc. Overall i was very happy with the conversion sure i had problems here and there, but i dont think u could do better with a 4g54 regardless of what people say. because in the end its a old engine and good luck finding specific performace parts for it. If you got the money and the patience go for it.