I just bought this 83 and plan on switching out the stock 22R for a built 7MGTE. I've found a few 7M swap links, but no actual 7MGTE's into the 79-83 body style. I've got a few ideas on motor mounts and such, but I thought I'd get on here and see if anyone has made this exact swap and pick their brain a little. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

I think you are alone on this one but if your the first that would be bad ass! Keep us posted!

 

Thanks man, I will. I'll try to get some pics up of the 7M and it's parts soon.

 

Sounds good you know what turbo your going with as well? What HP range you looking for?

 

I have a CT-26 T04E with a 60-1 trim. Based on all the mods I've done, I'll probably get somewhere around 400 HP. I've still got a some lines to get and I think I'm going to get a different head gasket too. I think Driftmotion.com has everything I need.

 

Motor Stuff

Here's a few pictures of the motor and some on it's parts. The one picture shows two routes I can go with the exhaust manifold and turbo elbow. One way would be the black DEI high temp paint, the others are nickel plated (which could rust and/ or flake under high temps). I'll probably end up going with the high temp black painted stuff.

The turbo is a rebuilt CT-26 that is now a T04E with a 60-1 trim and a polished intake side.

The motor has been bored 20 over, has JE pistons, shot peened rods, ported & polished head, "performance" valve job, ported and polished intake runners, ARP hardware, and new everything else. All the little stuff has been powder coated or polished in a burnisher. The next step is to get a different head gasket and ARP head studs instead of the ARP bolts it currently has.

My next step is to get some 5M motor brackets so I can get this motor in the truck. Does anyone on here have any or know where I can get some for a good price?

 

I ordered a bunch of stuff from Driftmotion.com and everything should be here today. Aaron, one of the owners, was very helpful with all the questions I had for him. So far, I'd suggest using them if you need any Supra motor related stuff. I'll let you know after I see what the parts look like.

Also ordered some 5M engine mount brackets from a nice fella on supramania.com. He had a spare set and even took some pictures for me to show me what I was getting. If anyone has any detailed steps on how to get those on a 7M motor and into a pickup, let me know. Thanks

 

Driftmotion Parts

I got my Driftmotion parts and everything looks pretty good. I got talked into buying a hardline for the oil pump that will flow the oil better. My dumb azz forgot to take the softline version I had in my shopping cart out. Now I have to see how they work with returns and return it and another thing I didn't need.

 

5M Motor brackets

I received my 5M motor brackets to swap the 7M into a pickup today. I put them up to the mounting spots on the engine block, but I don't see how they mate up; the holes don't line up. I read numerous posts on this and the majority of builds used a 5M engine bracket with 22R mounts. Maybe I misread something.

Anybody have any input?

 

Head Gasket Hang-Up

About 7 or 8 years ago I had a performance machine shop do some of the major machining on my 7M block and head. They assembled they long block for me using ARP hardware and a stock headgasket. I realized just recently how much they had taken off the head and block and that the stock head gasket wasn't going to work. I got a head gasket that'd compensate for the amount taken off so I pulled the head and found some concerns.

The 3rd and 4th pics show some pitting that I'm not sure what to do about. Some of the lines are from the old gasket, but some I don't know what they're from. I'm kinda stuck on what road to take because I can't take much more off the block since so much has been taken off the head.

Suggestions?

 

Gonna be a sweet build man

 

Yeah Driftmotion is good for somethings but I will NEVER buy a exhaust manifold from them again! took us 4 hours to get it to bolt up and then had to fab a spacer cuz the turbo was too big. Other then that good stuff lol

 

Thanks bud. I need to clear my garage of the old cab and frame and get the new truck in there. I was going to body drop the old one, but I don't know what I'll do with this one. Getting the 7M in and running is the #1 priority though.

 

Yikes Matt! That'd be scarry getting something so pricey like that and not have it fit.

 

Not really that pricey compared to some other exhaust manifolds! I am going to go with a cast manifold when this one bites the the dirt. Should pick up quicker boost with a cast setup.

 

I'm just keeping my stock manifold for right now unless there are some clearance issues. Down the road I'll probably get something different just for kicks. It's a shame you live in CA, I'd like to see your truck.

 

When its up and running lol. Still down but very close to completion. Last parts come in on the 24th so hopefully be finished shortly after that.

 

I just wanted to update this thing a little...it's keeps me motivated for some reason.
I got my engine hoist back, so now I can take the mock up long block 22re off the old frame and move all that somewhere. Next I'll get the new truck in the garage and take the old 22r out (which will be for sale to anyone interested).
In the next few weeks, I'll probably be taking the 7MGTE block back to where I got it machined and have it redone.

 

im planing on doing the same swap in my 82 so since you are doing yours first i will be asking questions when i get around to doing mine haha

 

I'm slow, so I might be asking YOU questions somewhere along the way. Good luck