FAQ
I really want to do a 3SGTE swap like yours. Is it hard?
Short answer: Yes. You need custom motor mounts, wiring harness, clutch/flywheel combo, an E153 transmission, and some fancy ECU tuning. In short, a LOT of fabrication needs to be done to do this swap.
What is an E153 transmission?
Its the 5 speed transmission that came on 92-00 V6 Camrys, 99+ V6 Solaras, and 90-96 MR2 Turbos. Note: if you source the transmission from an MR2 Turbo, it will NOT just plug right in. It will need to be converted from RWD to FWD duty. Dont ask me how, I just know its possible.
How much did it cost you?
I cant give an exact estimate, but figure around $2800 for the 3SGTE clip, then start adding money for parts and labor depending on what you want to do. Be prepared to spend close to $10,000 if you want to have a shop do this swap from start to finish.
Can you recommend any good shops that can do this swap?
Truthfully, no. It's such a rare swap that its hard to find a shop that is good at it. You just need to find someone who's good and knowledgable with Toyotas and hope for the best.
Where did you get the carbon fiber trunk?
It was custom made, there are only 15 of them in existence. I ran a group buy on them a few years ago.
Will you sell me a carbon fiber trunk?
No, I no longer am making them. It was a one time deal.
Man I really like part XYZ on your car, will you sell it to me?
I have already sold everything I was going to sell off the car. Check out www.vividracing.com for any parts you may need.
What's a Scepter?
A Scepter is just another name for a Camry in Japan. Much like they refer to a Lexus SC300/400 as a Toyota Soarer in Japan, some Toyota Camrys were referred to as Scepters in Japan.
Where can I get a JDM Scepter tail panel like yours?
Great question. They are incredibly rare in the states. Your best bet is to cruise the classified section on www.ToyotaNation.com and hope you get lucky.
Those are the main questions I get asked most frequently. If you have a question I havent covered here, feel free to email or message me then.
