Celica GT-Four ST165

I've decided I don't have the time to put into getting the Celica put back together. So up for sale she goes, either as a big project for someone, or it will be parted out.

Here is the for sale ad: CLICK HERE

And now I present a freshly rebuilt Gen 1 CT26 turbo (single entry), complete with a mild T04E/46 compressor upgrade, a 7M-GTE turbine housing swap, brand new seals, and full balancing.

See where the compressor housing inlet was bored out and slightly ported for the T04E/46 compressor wheel?

And here is the turbine housing from the Supra 7M-GTE CT26.

It is has a larger A/R than the original Celica 3S-GTE Gen 1 CT26, and will, therefore, allow a greater CFM relative to back-pressure than the stock housing. This may hurt low-rpm spoolup, but that can be offset with an unrestricted turbo-back exhaust upgrade.

I love clean parts, and so does my st165!

Yesterday, FedEx brought me a new manifold from Toyota. I really appreciate the lack of cracks.

Here’s the old manifold outlet—see the crack?

Then today, UPS delivered the injectors, all cleaned and flow-tested by RC Engineering.

Prior to the test, at 43 psi:

- 1 : 436 cc/min
- 2 : 429 cc/min
- 3 : 411 cc/min
- 4 : 428 cc/min

After the test, at 43 psi:

- 1 : 441 cc/min
- 2 : 440 cc/min
- 3 : 439 cc/min
- 4 : 440 cc/min

That will work just fine, and the two highest-flowing injectors will feed cylinders #2 and #3.

Can you say, grease and dirt?

I pulled enough off the engine today to remove the injectors. The gaskets were crispy and the cushions like hard candy—not so cushiony anymore. Anyway, I’m certain the injectors have been in there since day 1 in 1988, so they’re being sent to RC for a good chemical scrub and flow test.

I really meant to snap some pics of the injectors before I packed them for shipment, but here’s a nice picture of the fuel rail.

So I contacted the turbo rebuilder today, and confirmed that progress is under way. They’ll be getting a shipment of T04E/46 wheels in within a couple of days, and then they can get started on the rebuild.

I am still looking for a used manifold without cracks. Here are pics of the current, cracked manifold:

I may just have to buy one new.

And here is an entire engine picture:

More news to come!

It was clearly leaking oil anyway, and had a wee bit of shaft play. So off to the rebuilder it was shipped!

It will get a Supra 7MGTE turbine housing, allowing a lot more top-end flow than the stock housing, at the expense of a small amount of lost low-rpm spool-up. Of course, a wide-open exhaust compensates for this dramatically.

The cold/compressor side will be upgraded to a T04E wheel, with either a 46 or 50 trim. The jury is still out on this one, though I only have one day to decide. I’m leaning toward a 46 trim, since this car will not be mine, and will be sold to someone mostly likely not to put the mods into it to support the increased capabilities of the 50 trim. On a basically stock engine, with upgraded exhaust and some tuning which is all most people will ever do the 46 trim makes more sense. See how I convinced myself? 46 trim it is.

Back to the wide-open exhaust. I’ll probably throw a quality Aussie Exhaust 3” downpipe on this car as added incentive to the buyer. This mod alone really helps spool-up, and considering the 7MGTE turbine housing which will be used, this will be essential. If fact, the new owner of this car will REALLY want to upgrade the entire exhaust to a 3” system to realize the full potential of this turbo setup.