Thanks guys!

>
It was going to be painted by the end of the month, but regrettably, some other expenses have gotten in the way. I broke our tan seats, so I had to drop $650 on SS-III seats. The BEAMS chewed up an axle, so there's more money gone. My IS needs some work as well, so the paint is going to have to wait. Should be by the end of May.



>
I'm tempted to take you up on that black carpet now. My seats were fine when we were up there, but I've since broken the front seats, so now we ended up with these. I can send as much Pibb as you'd like. The BEAMS just dominated the passenger side axle so I'm going to get the axle replaced and all the bushings done at once. I didn't think about the ST185 front end links. There has never been one single day that I've looked at the car and didn't like the factory alloys... until I got your GT4 front end. Now I really wish I had bought your spacers and rims. If you ever decide you're willing to ship them, I'll definitely take them. The seats aren't as nice as yours, but they're really in a lot better shape than the pictures look. The pictures make the seats look faded and stained, but they're actually very clean. There are a few loose threads but nothing big at all.

By the way, I forgot to say in the first post... We were going to get the car painted metallic black, but we've since decided on Toyota 3K6- Sunburst Pearl. Came on 5,000 limited edition '97 models.

I definitely took one look at the work involved in replacing the rear bushing set and threw my arms up with a "screw it. I'm out."

It might have been the previous 13 hours of working on the alltrac though.... That and I didn't want to start that job at 12:30am.....

*sigh* someday....

THAT, is one nice looking celica. I hope to get deck mine out with all the fancy trd and splitter bits one day.

SURE you "broke" the tan seats. LOL you know u just wanted the SSIII seats in there. LOL j/k

but wow, what a transformation! now I'm definitely gonna need to come to the next meet that I'm able to make.

>
You'll get it soon! After the Dragon a few days ago, I'm sure you have all kinds of motivation to get the job done


>
Thanks Luke! You'll have your swap and conversion done in no time and there won't even be any comparison between our cars after that


>
Haha I broke the crap out if the tan seats! The driver seat was getting a tear in in so I went to swap out the back rests and accidentally'd the whole thing >:( I managed to mostly fix the passenger side but the driver side still wants to recline at free will. The SS-III's are definitely comfy. Even the rear seat feels firmer but that could be due to less use. My only complaint is now the lumbar support is on the passenger side of the car, so when I drive I feel like I'm grandpa driving with my head touching the roof.

Anyway... Last weekend I was browsing Yahoo! Auctions Japan and stumbled across a TRD Version S exhaust system for a 3rd gen 3S-GE. Came with a cat, resonator, muffler, and all the piping. I picked that bad boy up for $114 before shipping, which will hurt quite badly. The exhaust isn't really intended for a BEAMS but it'll be a lot better than the GT exhaust I'm still using. Gotta say, I will miss how quiet the car is.

My BEAMS still smells like its running a bit rich. Recently, Trace and I have been doing a lot of brainstorming as to why. We think the undersized exhaust might be an issue but now we're both thinking it's the flywheel and here's why. The first picture is my stock BEAMS flywheel, second is the flywheel I'm using, a 2nd gen 3S-GTE OEM flywheel.




I've recently come across the information that the BEAMS got the lightest flywheel of any of the 3S's, and the GTE's have larger surface area for bigger discs. The difference might only be a single pound between the two, but when a factory flywheel is 15 lbs and a lightweight flywheel is 11 lbs, you can imagine that each pound makes a difference. Plus, as Trace, pointed out, the weight of the BEAMS flywheel is more centralized than the GTE flywheel, which helps it act like a lighter flywheel. We all know how finicky the BEAMS can be, and apparently the ECU relies heavily on the ISCV to keep the idle under control. I'm aware that the GTE flywheel is holding me back somewhat but I just wonder if the ISCV is going crazy trying to compensate for the added mass, and the engine not revving as freely as the ECU expects it to at WOT. I have a little over 15k on the clutch now so I'm torn between trying to get my BEAMS flywheel resurfaced and put in now or just holding off until I need a new clutch. I'd really love to get it put in right now but I worry that the clutch might not fare well if I do.

What are the community thoughts about the heavier flywheel? Possible culprit or have I totally lost my mind and I just need to buy a 4th BEAMS?

It seems really weird that a different clutch could affect the fueling of an engine. But anything can happen.

So you are currently using a heavier flywheel correct (3S-GTE)? And the Beams uses a lighter weight flywheel? If the exhaust helps it but still acts weird then this I see could be a problem.

yeah dan, the flywheel is a problem... but we should prolly wait until the exhaust is done.... gong up a hill would have the same effect... but the exhaust should make it awesome.

Edit: "a" not "the" flywheel

This post has been edited by ricochet1490: Apr 25, 2012 - 10:15 PM

But you could also get another Beams and give this one to me. That way all I have to worry about is wiring and tran.

>
>
Just the flywheel, not the clutch. The idle speed control valve on the BEAMS throttle body has a larger influence on how the car is running than I originally thought. There is some speculation that a lightweight flywheel will cause idle issues but Dustin and Stef have been running one for quite a while with no issues. I'm thinking that if there is that much worry about a lightweight flywheel messing with the ISCV, then my heavier flywheel can't be helping anything at all. For what it's worth, I have a BEAMS longblock in my garage that is going for scrap soon. You could have it if it wasn't more work than its worth.


>
The exhaust is going to take way too long to get here! But I agree, it'll be pretty sweet. Just barely more than what stock exhaust for the BEAMS would be. I don't expect to unlock 238 hp with it but I'll be happy as long as the butt dyno can feel a difference, I'll be happy. After that, I have 37 hours of vacation time which I think I need to take soon. I'm thinking flywheel, poly bushings, new tie rod ends and ball joints are coming all at the same time. I'm seriously tempted to get new Suspension Techniques sway bars as well... Depends on how much I feel like spending. I'm mostly just debating spending $20 to get the stock flywheel in or go for ~$150-200 for a lightweight flywheel. That expense comes before everything else at the moment. I'd rather have a multicolored Celica with a confused identity (started life as an ST204, got a heart transplant from a 202, and now looks like a 205) that runs well than a single colored car that still has one really small issue.

Small teeny tiny update, the burnt orange valve cover and intake runners are no longer burnt orange. They looked alright when Brigette painted them but now they're slightly... Salmon. I pulled them off and put their red counterparts back on for now while we repaint the spares metallic silver. The emblems will be black and silver. As if the car isn't already confused enough... Why not give it a 3S-GE Silvertop?

I'm very curious to hear where you're getting a $20 flywheel...junkyard?

As always, nice progress guy. Funny that you used to speculate about having a BEAMS, and, well, there you are...

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Apr 27, 2012 - 7:40 PM

>
Nah, it's the stock flywheel from my scrap BEAMS. It's $20 to get it resurfaced or I can spend around $200 and get a lightweight flywheel. After I get my exhaust finished, I'm planning to get a different flywheel put in, whether it's the stock BEAMS flywheel or a lightweight flywheel. Of course, there will be another mod put on the car after the exhaust but before the flywheel. Speaking of flywheels, check your phone. You have a text.

i just went back all this post to get the story right.

so you have 2 spare beams, right?

you have a lot of patience.

i ordered the clutch setup today.

I did have two spares, but I sent the Greytop to Turnip so he could use it for parts. I only have one spare now and after I get a few more bits and pieces from it, it's going to be hauled off for scrap. All you can do with a project like this is be patient since after all, most of what I'm fixing are my own mistakes more often than not. Once I get the TRD exhaust on, I'm going to see where I stand on the richness issue, then start looking into getting the BEAMS flywheel in.

your car alwys be rich.


Hence your user name. It will always be a richee car.

i never measured my mix ration on mine, it always worked fine. I guess i was luckey, i neve even changed anything, i slapped it as is... lol/

Here is an odd question... Does your cruise control work?

>
Lol sadly, the car is richer than I am. Definitely takes a good chunk of change. I've definitely not had your luck with the BEAMS, between ECU issues and fried rings. But I'm fairly certain that at this point, the only issues I have left are caused by my own assumptions and I've got parts on the way to take care of it. Plus taking a look at a 3S cat and the 5S cat I have under my car, there's a huge difference. The 3S cat is a lot longer so it's no wonder my car has always smelled. The cat was never up to the job, especially not with 196k on it. Regardless, I should have everything lined out within a month



>
Like the day the car rolled out of the factory

Pictures, just because I can:




This one compliments of shigexile:


Suspension work soon, followed by new wheels when these tires are worn out. In the meantime we've all seen enough of my two toned car.

This post has been edited by richee3: May 2, 2012 - 2:32 PM

I guess I was thinking of my other car which has an after market cruise control with 2 cables and what not, but the Celica has one basically, pedal to cruise control to throttle body. See I is smart after all.

2tone or not the celi still looks good
I wanna take a ride in this sometime too if ya dont mind lol

uhg, i dont have a cat in my car, hence sounds better... LOL..

>
The BEAMS and 5S are like that as well, but the cable that runs from the cruise actuator to the throttle body is moot. The cable that goes from the actuator to the cable does the job beautifully.


>
The two colors bug crap out of me. I'd be saving up to get it painted before everything else but the exhaust was too good to pass up, especially knowing that there's a chance it might resolve my issues. So I'll focus on bringing the BEAMS from 95% to 100%. Rides are at Brigette's discretion and she's very protective of her baby


>
I love how quiet ours is! All good things must come to an end, I suppose. I just hope the TRD exhaust isn't too loud.

>

AND THANK YOU!! Build 3.0 is done.

>

ya what you said the beams flywheel does weigh 15 lbs. also regarding it being more centralized and having less contact area than the 3sgte flywheel.



230mm Flywheel Surface Area and 5sfe disk is 225 mm. that's why 1999 ST202 beams and 1999 ST204 5sfe celica's use the same part #

>>top is 5sfe disk on oem 3sge/3sgte beams pressure plate, bottom is 5s spline on 3sgte disk with 3sgte exedy stage 1 pp>>



>>>>3sgte pressure plate is 236mm circumference >>>>


OEM Set up = 5sfe disk on 3sge beams flywheel


Aftermarket Set up = 3sgte disk with 5sfe spline on beams flywheel


now question is can I use the 3sgte disc on the beams flywheel without any problems within the lifetime of the clutch?? since the contact area goes over a bit of the surface area of the flwheel

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Jun 20, 2013 - 1:07 PM

Turnip- Glad to see you got it finished up! Good luck at the track tonight

Bonzai- Good information on the clutches! Well documented. I would imagine the flywheel face is deep enough that when it's worn out, the clutch disc still shouldn't come in contact with anything else but there's really only one way to find out. I have an Exedy disc and pressure plate for the BEAMS at home, I'll try to grab some measurements of those next time I'm there.

I managed to find some solid numbers on flywheel weights earlier. I've seen a few sources stating that the BEAMS flywheel is 15 lbs, and I found a post from Smaay on AllTrac.net ( http://www.alltrac.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...88&start=15 ) stating that the ST185 OEM flywheel (that I'm using on my BEAMS) is 19-20 lbs. At 4-5 lbs more, I can see how I could free up some power by swapping that out ASAP. The exhaust will be going on soon as well.

Small update but means a lot to me, 20,000 miles on the BEAMS now and it's still running great. Still thinking about what color to paint it, with pearl white now being the front runner. I still have a few more suspension bits and pieces to pick up, then I'll be putting new tie rod ends, the poly bushings, and sway bar bushings in. But not before these bad boys...




TRD coilovers! Sweet action. I'll get them on the car either Sunday or Tuesday. Then the bushings and all that go along with them, Miata rear end links, blah blah blah. Not sure when I'll get around to doing all that. Then I'll actually do the exhaust/flywheel instead of just talking about it, then paint/wheels and it's good to go.

Speaking of the exhaust, I'm pretty well set on a Magnaflow high flow cat and Vibrant Performance ultra quiet resonator. I'm lost when it comes to the muffler, however. I'm looking mostly at a Flowmaster 40 series and Vibrant Performance Streetpower flat black muffler. My primary goal is to have the car as silent as possible, so any suggestions?

I'm a little jelly.

You should just skip installing those coilovers an give them to me.
The 1mz would thank yoy for it

Ahem to some members who have been leading astray others with beams swap, jk. but seriosuly this info shud be posted. Red alert red alert i repeat only oem beams(5sfe) pressure plate will work on beams flywheel. Did u get that cause no one told me and i got screwed kinda. A 3sgte pressure plate will not fit onto beams flywheel. Truely the beams is a rare and tedious engine with unique parts. I resurfaced the beams flywheel for nothing! I could of used a stock 3sgte flywheel but it wud be too heavy.

So class what did we learn today : if ur going to do a change the clutch on ur beams motor, remember you only have two choices. You either order a beams pressure plate from japan along with stock 1999 5sfe clutch disk, or you buy yourself an aftermarket 3sgte pressure plate, 3sgte clutch disk with 5sfe spline and a new lightweight 3sgte flywheel. I was the guinee pig here so that others can learn, this info needs to be stickied!

Even though beams and 3sgte pressure plate are same exact size. The beams flywheel has the mounting points for the pressure plate about 5 mm towards the center of the flywheel

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Oct 18, 2012 - 5:47 PM

I have a flowmaster 40 series on my car right now with no cat or resonator lol I can get you a short video if you want to hear how loud mine is and how it just sounds in general. It gives it a nice low tone at idle and driving around

u need this


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-Toyota...=item2571a12ca1

After much procrastination throughout the entire project, it's finally lowered. When I still owned the car a few years ago, I had a set of Eibach Sportlines for about a month, then I put the factory suspension back on and left it that way. I picked up the TRD coilovers with the hopes that they might be soft enough for Brigette to drive daily and be comfortable with, but it was a huge gamble since I cannot find any information regarding TRD coilovers for a 6th gen Celica. I've found a couple of members with Superstrut TRD coils, and the general consensus was that they range from "hard" to "harder." So we installed them today, nervous about the end result and fully prepared to put the worn out factory suspension back on. Some before pictures...







After we got the first one installed, it was apparent that without adjustment, we would be lowering the car a LOT. So we bravely left it alone. Got all four corners installed, didn't even have troubles with the end links. It doesn't hurt that they were replaced a few years ago when I installed the Sportlines though.








Verdict: Hellasunk! Wheel gap, front and rear:



The rear needs to be raised up a bit, but I was sweaty and tired and ready to go for a test drive. Set the damper to 1 and loaded up. Much to my surprise, they're very comfortable. Not as nice as stock, but still nice. More comfortable than the Sportlines until we hit a really big bump. Snapped a couple more pictures and called it a night.






The BEAMS flywheel will be thrown in the car VERY soon, then I'll tackle the exhaust. Mike, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to that video. I know mine will be a bit quieter since I'm keeping the cat and resonator, so I'm curious to hear what the loudest it could possibly be with the 40 series is. I've heard bloodMoney's 40 series and it was hardly louder than stock, I wouldn't have known it was there if he hadn't told me.

This post has been edited by richee3: Jun 10, 2012 - 10:06 PM

Looking sweet. I'm kinda jealous.