I've done plenty of searching and my questions remain unanswered. So here's the situation;

I have a 2.6L, 5sp, TR executive.
Engine and gearbox are fine, except for blowing a bit of smoke on startup and running like a pig when cold.
Paintwork is well, ****ed (for lack of a better word).

My Dad called me the other day to tell me that the mechanic shop he works at has just got in a TR ELITE with a blown engine that's probably going to be scrapped.
To cut a long story short, it's the head mechanic's son's girlfriend's car (make sense?)
It has 2-tone paint (black with silver bottom) which is starting to go on the roof, and peeling a bit on front bumper, but looks a lot better than my exec.
Dad thinks he may be able to buy the car as-is for a decent price (minus aircon, auto-elec guy wants it)


Here's what we're planning if I can get the car:
Transplant MY engine, gearbox, exhaust, etc. into the Elite.

The Elite is obviously an auto and we're planning to convert to manual, ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH DOING THIS?
Will it be a straight change-over?
Rip the old engine/gearbox out and put mine back in it's place?
Or will there be bits that are not compatible between a TR exec and elite?
Is there a space to fit a clutch pedal? (planning to swap all 3 of my pedals into it)
Are there any legal/rego/insurance issues i should know about?

i'd also like to know what extras the elite model came with as compared to the executive?
i've looked, but can't find a list anywhere.

I am trying to gather as much info as possible to help me out here, so i will greatly appreciate any help i can get.

Thankyou.

as long as you have both cars intact the you have everything to do a manual conversion.
but let me get this right you want to put your smoke blowing engine into the tr?? as long as is just the stem seal valves giving you smoke on idle the yeah i'd do it but if the smoke is from the rings then i wouldn't cos it would need a rebuild or close to.
hardest bit would be welding in the manual pedal box (and pulling the engine's but thats just time-labour).
just there will be a bit of deleting and maybe splicing of the wires cos there will be things for the auto that the manual wont need.
oh and i think you'll need the manual tcu to be swaped but im sure i forgot a few things that the masses will point out.
but all in all if you get it really cheap why not iether that or just look for a cheap v6:D

Honestly cant shed too much light on your questions, but I think while your doing this, search for a good V6 engine. You'll be thankful!

Dad thinks he may be able to buy the car as-is for a decent price (minus aircon, auto-elec guy wants it)





Do you know exactly what he is taking? Just the compressor? or the whole climate control system? If the later you will need to transfer the heater box, aircon compressor + heat exchange and all the manual controls.

edit: Pfft screw a v6, ASTRON POWER!!!!

ASTRON POWER!!!!


Those words dont go next to each other!! Actually gave my mate a lift and he was suprised in the power the old magna puts out. My family friend is getting a 380GT and my mother said "oh no is that a magna?" haha

Thumbs down to the Australian sun, after almost 4yrs the paints peeling gradually!

AS FOR THE OP

Is it really worth swapping everything over?
How much $$$ do you think its going to cost?
Can you be sure that the paint is really better on the swap over car?
Re-spraying costs are crazy unless you have a friend or relative who can do it.

Please do a search about a manual gearbox change-over as this has been done by a few second gen owners, the threads contain important information.

Before doing this contact your Road Authority as they have the answers, record the persons name who you speak too. Also contact your insurance company as this varies between companies, some are "tight" and will not allow it, as others will and have no issues. Do this beforehand to make sure you dont void any payouts.

Hope this helps

and the final question, is your exec a V6 or 4cyl, and what is the elite?

and the final question, is your exec a V6 or 4cyl, and what is the elite?

All Elites are 4cyls AFAIK.

V6's were known as Veradas :)

TR 4 cyl auto to 4 cyl TR manual

motors can change just bolts in
the gearbox bolt in uses the same mounts

CV joints use all the manual gearbox parts
(on the tr the manual intrim shaft differs from the auto box shaft )

holes have to be drilled for master cylinder
clutch pedal .. a bolt in
swap gearshift assembly . . bolt in also
change flywheel

electrical the auto TCU can stay in just have to wire it so the park start connection works
can use the same ECU and wiring loom in the elite

check with state t/port on gearbox change/machinery requirements
notify change of engine number

TR 4 cyl auto to 4 cyl TR manual

motors can change just bolts in
the gearbox bolt in uses the same mounts

CV joints use all the manual gearbox parts
(on the tr the manual intrim shaft differs from the auto box shaft )

holes have to be drilled for master cylinder
clutch pedal .. a bolt in
swap gearshift assembly . . bolt in also
change flywheel

electrical the auto TCU can stay in just have to wire it so the park start connection works
can use the same ECU and wiring loom in the elite

check with state t/port on gearbox change/machinery requirements
notify change of engine number

TZABOY had a 2nd gen v6 manual. AFAIK, it wasnt a rada.

TZABOY had a 2nd gen v6 manual. AFAIK, it wasnt a rada.

We are talking about Elite's here man, ALL Elites were 4 bangers, the equivalent spec (trimmings wise) Elite with a V6 was the Verada.

I understand that it really is a huge job, but i think it's worth it (to me, anyway)

paint wise, the elite does have a better paint job than my exec. i'm not too worried about the roof and bumper, a cut/polish and decent wax should at least slow the deterioration down. and i may have a go at re-spraying it myself some day. dad has a mate who's an auto sprayer and he's done some good work, so i could have him do a touch-up job for a good price or i could get paints and stuff through him. paint isn't really the issue here anyway.

my car blowing smoke... it's valve stem seals (pretty damn sure anyway), only a puff of smoke when i start my car, more after it's been sitting unstarted for a while.

the actual work involved won't cost me too much as me and my dad will be doing the job.
will probably be done over a few weekends, he has access to the workshop so we will have everything we need.


one other thing i thought of. how much different are the instrument clusters, and which one should i use?
does the one in the elite have that bit which tells you whick gear you are in (auto)?
and is it legal to change an instrument cluster over to one with different km on it?
and can anyone tell me what the elite came with that the exec didn't?

thanks for your help guys, keep posting any info that might help me.
and please don't turn this into a debate on which is better out of 4cyl or v6.
it's a magna, that's all that should matter on here, right.

you stay with the elites dash

the auto has the gear selection on it

I guessed i'm going to have to keep the elite's instrument cluster.
I'm being picky here, but i'd rather not have the gear selection part. Maybe i could transfer the background from the exec, seeing as it's a manual, or are they completely different?

Sorry if i'm annoying you lot now, most of my questions will be answered when i actually get to look over the car in person. But for now, the car is about 6 hours away from me and it will probably be a fair while before i actually get to check it out.

Where are the controls for the elec windows, on the doors or centre console? and are all 4 windows electric or just the fronts?
Airbags?
ABS brakes?
electric boot release or cable?

i want to know everything, sorry :redface:

Where are the controls for the elec windows, on the doors or centre console? and are all 4 windows electric or just the fronts? All 4 and the main switchs are on the drivers door
Airbags?Not 100% sure on this one, however would on be drivers at most i would immagine
ABS brakes?I think they were only on the v6's and veradas?
electric boot release or cable?No idea

i want to know everything, sorry :redface:


sorry couldnt help much, only know 100% about the power windows..

Ok, so the engine will be a straight swap over, seeing as it's the same. gear box will bolt up too from what i gather.

if anyone can give me definite answers for the following issues it would be a great help.

- i use the CVs out of the manual (exec)?
- keep the ECU already in the elite, or do i have to re-wire with the ECU from the exec (manual)?
- climate control / cruise control parts i just swap onto the engine out of the exec?
- is there an alarm/immobiliser that i'll have to deal with?
- any parts that i'll need to buy/replace if i do this?

is there anyone on here who's done the same conversion, (or similar) who can tell me about thier experience and give me some help/advice/warnings/etc?

any other topics/posts/articles i could read about this? (i've searched and not found a whole lot)