Went to check out JDM engine importer on weekend

[GTSSportCoupe]

I was in Vancouver BC this weekend visiting family, and decided to go and check out one of the larger JDM engine importers in the area. They didn't have too much that I was interested in, as they had received their most recent shipment quite a while ago and were getting low on engines (especially Toyota).

I found the following interesting engines though:

- A silvertop 4age 20V - quite beat up with absolutely no remaining wiring harness

- A 3A-S - in fairly good shape. I was fairly interested in this one as it is a pretty direct replacement for our 3AC engine and has decent power: 90hp@6000, 89@4000. Although is lacking in low end torque compared to the 3AC. I could probably have picked it up for around $350 with negotiating.

- A MAP largeport 16V 4age probably from an AE92

- Lots of 7AFEs and 5AFEs. I couldn't believe how many there were of these. I'm not sure what market they would be selling into.

- Earlier in the week they had sold a late generation 4agze (170hp supercharged) and a 20V blacktop 4age. These are the two engines I will be most interested in eventually. I'll be putting one of the two into my AE86.


Anyhow, when I'm ready to buy a new engine (for my AE86 or AL25), probably what I'll do is call in everytime they get a new shipment in until they get the exact engine(s) I want. Then I'll borrow a friends pickup truck, and head over on the ferry to Vancouver and pick them up. It's a pain in the ass that I have to take the ferry over; it costs $100 round trip . It's the cost of living on an Island I guess.

[20vtercel]

I went the Miami Route. It was cheaper. I found that vancouver importer like to jack people. Poor quality and not so cheap prices. You may have better luck than what I have heard in the past!!

Have fun.

[GTSSportCoupe]

Your totally right. The only thing that makes Vancouver attractive for me is how close it is. I've heard mixed reports, some people find good quality engines for a great price, others get crap for too much money. I think the trick is know exactley what you want and for how much, and jumping on it when it becomes available.

The place I visited was JK Japanese Engines <a href='http://www.jkjapaneseengines.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.jkjapaneseengines.com/</a> . I have a number of friends who have found good deals with these guys.

[20vtercel]

you may wanna check "all japanese engines" and "back yard productions (byp)" in miami before you spend the $$$. I got my 20v from byp and with the $300 touch for shipping, it was still cheaper than Vancouver.

[GTSSportCoupe]

Cool, thanks for the info! Do they import front cuts too? Did you get a complete wiring harness and ECU with yours?

[20vtercel]

they import anything you want...and yes, it was complete.

[3A-C Power]

Nick, was that a 9.3:1 3A you saw? They go by different names, most commonly the 3A-H. Did it have two wing nuts on the air filter?

[GTSSportCoupe]

I'm fairly certain it was the high-comp version out of a JDM base model AW11; not 100% though. It said 3A-SVC or something like that on it. I'm not sure about the VC part. It was definitely 3A-S though. From what I have seen, the specs on all 3A-S engines are 9.3:1 compression and the hp/torque ratings I gave above. I don't know about the wing nuts, because they had pulled the carb off and moved it. I asked about the carb and the guy said they had to remove carbs from some of the engines that come in; he didn't give me a reason, but said they still had the carb somewhere. Anyhow, I never saw it. I was tempted to just buy the carb if it was the variable venturi type, especially if they just throw them away. They guy's english was poor and it was the end of a Saturday though, so it never happened.

[20vtercel]

They guy's english was poor and it was the end of a Saturday though, so it never happened.

It's a japanese importer from VANCOUVER!!! What did you expect!!!

[GTSSportCoupe]

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!