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Smart 450 with Toyota 1.5L 16V and MT


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I found a 2006 Smart 450 Coupe with Toyota 1.5L 16V (109 HP stock) and 5-speed MT swap in the Laval, QC Kenny U-Pull boneyard (row 118A).  It looks like it was basically a running mock-up, and I think the engine tilt angle could be improved a bit, but I've decided against grabbing it myself.  It's already been stripped of many stock parts, but the custom clutch pedal, manual transmission cable shifter, modified Smart engine cradle with complete Toyota VVT-i engine, ECU, wiring, manual trans, and custom half-shafts, as well as a Toyota instrument cluster (damaged?) are still there. 

 

For those who don't know this yard, they won't let you buy the whole car (or all that's left of it) under any circumstances (half a car at most, IIRC), but the whole swap including engine cradle, clutch pedal and shifter could probably be had quite easily.  It's been there since May 10 so may get recycled soon if someone doesn't rescue it.  I'd definitely do it if we had room for a second Smart (ideally a Coupe that I'd cage), but I've decided to try my hand at tuning our stock Cabrio (with KWP2000+ and probably NefMoto) and finishing some other car projects instead.

 

EDIT:  I did take some 2.16 MB pics, but can't upload due to 2 MB per file size limitation.

Edited by o2bad455
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Hmmm....did it look like it had been a running on the street machine? IF not just a project  that wasn't finished?  Plus how wide was the rear end?  I used to have a Toyota Echo 2005 MT and that thing would go....always thought the powertrain would be great for this swap...!

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The 450 with Toyota swap seemed to have been running from many clues, including custom clutch pedal having been painted and then apparently worn off from wear.  The stock rear plastic fenders had been widened by an inch or so per side, but I didn't have a tape measure with me.  It seemed to have the stock DeDion rear axle so I assumed stock rear track at the time, although it's possible that axle was adapted from a 451 since I didn't measure and didn't even contemplate the possibility until you asked.  It also had customized upper eye-bolt shock mounts, although not pretty.  Definitely Smart three-lug drums.  The car did have 451 seats and other random niceties in it, so the builder probably had access to a 451 parts car.  My greatest concern was that the angle of the stock-looking Toyota oil pan looked too steep (I thought I took a pic of that but actually can't find it - perhaps my cellphone cam failed to click - I do have about 30 other pics of it).  Not familiar with Toyota engines so not sure if oil starvation might have resulted from the poorly oriented oil pan (and presumably stock pickup screen).  But who knows, maybe that's why it ended up at the boneyard!  Definitely solvable, though, and I wonder if even peppier Toyota engines might mate up to that compact Toyota trans... 

Edited by o2bad455
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  • 3 months later...

hey ! i met the guy that built it ! in Saint- jerome he live in my area. i had a chat with him and had the chance to take a pic of the motor

it was not realy great for real everything was fitted like he just dropped it in the car and strapped the motor.... a piece of wood was maintaining someting that i don't remember

the guy is a welder

 

a week after meeting him he made a marketplace ad for the car at like 2500$ Cad but it was a Sh*& Box i swear, there was a smell of cigarettes in the car and everything was gross beside the cheap motor fitting

 

i think he got pulled over and wasnt able to pass the SAAQ car inspection because it was not safe

IMG_7978.jpg

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I'll also bet he couldn't get it past the pollution or safety check.....my brother lives in Gateneau and he had an older ford from the early 2000's and it kept failing the checks...he finally gave up and went back to new cars.  Swaps like these you need to know a garage who will look or should I say squint at it when checking it over and simply saying OK and letting you go promising you'll fix it later...lol.   The test price is usually a bit more but well worth it...lol.  
I bet he got pulled over for acting unlike a typical Smart Car....in other words too much acceleration from a light....lol.   IF I was younger it's something I would definately look into.

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