89 engine/tranny/ECU into 87

DevinWolfe · 11-07-2005, 01:48 AM

I totalled my first supra. It was an 89T... red... loved the car and i only got to drive it 9 times. Its demise came in a turn in which i downshifted and the boost went through the roof and threw the rear end around. The motor had some internal work done by the previous owner. Rods, pistons, cams, gears, clutch, and stuff like. I bougth an 87T with a BHG and BAD rod knock so i can use my "built" motor and be back up and running. I know that i can put the enigne and the tranny into the 87 with no problem but will i be able to swap the ECU and guages and stuff? Or do i have to just stick with the pre 89 features. They were both sport packages if that helps. (traction control and targa) What kinda stuff will be compatible to swap and what will i have to stay with on the 87? Sorry if these questions seem kinda newbish but i dont have a LOT of experience with supras. I already have the motor and tranny outta the 87 though so im making quick progress!

DevinWolfe · 11-13-2005, 10:17 PM

anyone know? ive heard that some of the body harnesses may not connect to the 89 ECU from the 87 body? anyone have any input?

jheepman · 11-21-2005, 02:52 AM

I just got an 87 turbo motor with a bad knock. want to put it on my 89. do I got to swap the intake manifold? also and how much of the wiring is the same. I have the computer and most of the wiring harness for the 87 as well as a spare 5 speed tranny. any issues that anyone could warn me about would be helpful. thanks

rays87turbo · 11-22-2005, 04:12 AM

The 89 ECU is a beast of its own. Its not totally compatible with the pre 89 or the post 89. If you swap the 89 body harness into the 87, you can use the 89 ecu, and engine harness. I would reccomend just using the 87 engine harness and ecu. I believe the only differences are some of the sensors on the thermostat housing. Also the HAC sensor is in the ECU on the 89+ whereas its mounted under the glove box on the pre 89. Beyond that the 89 ECU is no more advanced or with better fuel maps or anything. You shouldn't notice a performance decrease or any thing else like that from using the 87 ecu.
Also note that the pre 89 front cross member is different, so are the motor mounts. If you are putting the 89 motor in an 87 you will need to use the 87 motor mounts.

DevinWolfe · 11-23-2005, 02:54 AM

I have heard that the injector plugs/harnesses are different as well on the 89 but i dont know how i would use the 87 harness on the 89 motor if this was the case. I am pretty sure that swapping the body harness would be very difficult as i have been into the dash only deep enough to swap to the 89 guages.

rays87turbo · 11-23-2005, 04:42 AM

You could use the harness and injectors from the 87. You could rewire the 87 harness with the 89 connectors and use the 89 injectors. Swapping the injectors would be the easiest way. 87 or 89 they're both 440cc injectors, as long as they work it doesn't matter which ones you use.

11-07-2005, 01:48 AM	#1
DevinWolfe Stock Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East TN Posts: 8	89 engine/tranny/ECU into 87 I totalled my first supra. It was an 89T... red... loved the car and i only got to drive it 9 times. Its demise came in a turn in which i downshifted and the boost went through the roof and threw the rear end around. The motor had some internal work done by the previous owner. Rods, pistons, cams, gears, clutch, and stuff like. I bougth an 87T with a BHG and BAD rod knock so i can use my "built" motor and be back up and running. I know that i can put the enigne and the tranny into the 87 with no problem but will i be able to swap the ECU and guages and stuff? Or do i have to just stick with the pre 89 features. They were both sport packages if that helps. (traction control and targa) What kinda stuff will be compatible to swap and what will i have to stay with on the 87? Sorry if these questions seem kinda newbish but i dont have a LOT of experience with supras. I already have the motor and tranny outta the 87 though so im making quick progress!

11-21-2005, 02:52 AM	#3
jheepman Stock Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5	87 to 89 turbo I just got an 87 turbo motor with a bad knock. want to put it on my 89. do I got to swap the intake manifold? also and how much of the wiring is the same. I have the computer and most of the wiring harness for the 87 as well as a spare 5 speed tranny. any issues that anyone could warn me about would be helpful. thanks

11-13-2005, 10:17 PM	#2
DevinWolfe Stock Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East TN Posts: 8	anyone know? ive heard that some of the body harnesses may not connect to the 89 ECU from the 87 body? anyone have any input?

11-22-2005, 04:12 AM	#4
rays87turbo Stock Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 17	The 89 ECU is a beast of its own. Its not totally compatible with the pre 89 or the post 89. If you swap the 89 body harness into the 87, you can use the 89 ecu, and engine harness. I would reccomend just using the 87 engine harness and ecu. I believe the only differences are some of the sensors on the thermostat housing. Also the HAC sensor is in the ECU on the 89+ whereas its mounted under the glove box on the pre 89. Beyond that the 89 ECU is no more advanced or with better fuel maps or anything. You shouldn't notice a performance decrease or any thing else like that from using the 87 ecu. Also note that the pre 89 front cross member is different, so are the motor mounts. If you are putting the 89 motor in an 87 you will need to use the 87 motor mounts.

11-23-2005, 02:54 AM	#5
DevinWolfe Stock Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East TN Posts: 8	I have heard that the injector plugs/harnesses are different as well on the 89 but i dont know how i would use the 87 harness on the 89 motor if this was the case. I am pretty sure that swapping the body harness would be very difficult as i have been into the dash only deep enough to swap to the 89 guages.

11-23-2005, 04:42 AM	#6
rays87turbo Stock Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 17	You could use the harness and injectors from the 87. You could rewire the 87 harness with the 89 connectors and use the 89 injectors. Swapping the injectors would be the easiest way. 87 or 89 they're both 440cc injectors, as long as they work it doesn't matter which ones you use.