Engine Swap options

[Petros]

It is rare I go off-road (though it does happen sometimes, even if unintentionally), I am off paved roads everyday. I have 3 miles of steep gravel roads just to get to my house and I use the 4wd daily. Front wheel drive on steep gravel hills is a PIA, the wheels always spin and it wrecks havoc with the trans and axles. Any loose surfaced road the 4wd feature is a huge safety and traction advantage. There is just not a lot of ground clearnace to go off road, but I have done in sand, pastures and other open areas.

And recently we have had a lot of snow and ice to deal with too, and 4wd with studded snow tires rules! There is no other way to safely get around on ice covered roads.

[Neu]

I know,I take mine off road almost every week. Lol.

[SynthDesign]

Who takes their 4wd tercel's off road? They should only be used on road, as they're too cool to go off road and get damaged.

I too off-road every week. I haven't done too much damage. I really just like to go to some of the local off-road places and show up the Broncos and Tacos. And at a tenth the price and at 30mpg+

[terceldude]

You can spend all that work and effort on the 3a engine, and you still have done nothing to improve the 3a head's reliability. You will end up regularly replacing head gaskets, and sooner or later suck an exhaust valve and trash the whole engine (I have seen it happen even on stock 3a engines). The 3a head is the single biggest impediment to generating more power in the 3a engine.

The best way to make more power and get reliability out of the 3a engine is to put a 4age head on it (you would have a 3age). With the replacement of one assembly you gain power AND reliability, at less cost and effort than all the go fast improvements you might do to the 8-valve head. And if you really missed the carburetor you can get a weber manifold for the 4age head. You will also move the power curve down the rpm range with the 3a short block since the bore is smaller relative to the stroke as compared to the 4a short block.

Or for even less effort and expense, just drop in a whole 4age engine.

BTW, I am going to go see an early 4age from a Corolla GTS (he is parting out a wrecked one). According to the owner it has a six bolt crank at the flywheel, so I can put on my lightened 3a flywheel without modification. This will have the RWD intake manifold I want for the Tercel. If it is complete I want to get it. Hopefully he as all the EFI stuff for it too.

He also has the GTS rear axle assembly with the disk brake set-up. If it will fit, i am going to get that too so I can have a 4-wheel vented disk brake Tercel 4wd.

He also has a limited slip differential to go in it, does anyone know anything about putting a LSD in the rear of the Tercel? I have heard it will harm the fuel economy in a daily driver, but I have not seen that for myself. Also I know of no available LSD for the front diff on the Tercel, would there be any issues putting an LSD in the rear without one in the front?

I realize this, but the 3AC is a good candidate for turbocharging because it already has low compression.... Maybe still might have to lower it a bit more.... Maybe 4AGE at some point, but let's try to get more oomph out of our motors..... I found some guys on eBay, from Puerto Rico, who make exhaust headers for the 3AC and they are said to deliver 13HP or more to the rear wheels.... These are custom-built units and they look pretty tough, yet slick!!!! I'm going to use higher-perf. valves so I will not have problems with valves burning or anything and I'm planning on using PAUTER rods, etc.... The 4AGE swap is "up in the air" right now.... For now, I'm sticking with the stock motor or the stock motor of a 1986 AE86 with the 4AC or a FWD Corolla with the 4AC.... But I do understand your point Petros... I am not dumb.... I took the TOYOTA class, I read the books.... But thanks for telling me some stuff!

[terkill]

Who takes their 4wd tercel's off road? They should only be used on road, as they're too cool to go off road and get damaged.

I too off-road every week. I haven't done too much damage. I really just like to go to some of the local off-road places and show up the Broncos and Tacos. And at a tenth the price and at 30mpg+

I've taken mine off-road a couple times, its fun since its able to get out of situations at a stand-still better than many 4x4 vehicles ive ridden with, 2002 durango, I truly prefer Rally though, offroading is too slow and tedius... theres just something amazing about a huge curvy dirt track with no pits or bumps.

Last time i attempted sliding a turn in poorly designed dirt track i hit a bump, blew out my left strut through the boot into the hood, down though the rubber boot and into the fender well as my head hit the ceiling and proceeded to knock me out for a couple seconds. Haha, fun. Its been running 100% since, i just pryed it back into position. Toyotas FTW..

[ARCHINSTL]

I'm planning on using PAUTER rods, etc....

Since I'd never heard of Pauter Rods (no surprise there!), I explored its site - pretty interesting.
Cost of rods alone for the 4Axx engines is $800..............and custom for the 3AC would be mega-more...
Plus, you have all of the other non-stock bits and pieces...
Tom M.

[Petros]

I realize this, but the 3AC is a good candidate for turbocharging because it already has low compression.... Maybe still might have to lower it a bit more.... Maybe 4AGE at some point, but let's try to get more oomph out of our motors..... I found some guys on eBay, from Puerto Rico, who make exhaust headers for the 3AC and they are said to deliver 13HP or more to the rear wheels.... These are custom-built units and they look pretty tough, yet slick!!!! I'm going to use higher-perf. valves so I will not have problems with valves burning or anything and I'm planning on using PAUTER rods, etc.... The 4AGE swap is "up in the air" right now.... For now, I'm sticking with the stock motor or the stock motor of a 1986 AE86 with the 4AC or a FWD Corolla with the 4AC..

I would not turbo charge the 3ac, it would be a costly endever with lots of custom fabrication. If you go with a performance cam regrind, a weber carb, and the Puerto Rico header (how much are they in the US?) with a 2"+ exhaust system you should have a pretty reilable 3a engine set up with a lot more power. Pushing it any further will not result in a reliable engine.

One thing you might consider is there is a twin cam version of the Corolla 4af engine that uses a carburetor, that would bold on to the 3a block, improve breathing and power and would not have the EFI to mess with. Put the weber carb on that manifold and you would have a greatly improved 3ac engine, a "3af".

Why use Pauter rods? I did not know of any reliability issues with the rods, the whole low end is pretty stout. Again I think that money would be better spent elsewhere.

[ARCHINSTL]

I'm planning on using PAUTER rods, etc....

Why use Pauter rods? I did not know of any reliability issues with the rods, the whole low end is pretty stout.

Maybe...
Google recommended Pauter in a search for "cool, esoteric, and most expensive Toy con rods for 23-year old Tercel" ...?
Tom M.

[peter_tuning]

al11 with 4age

[terceldude]

maybe....


Yeah, but I would have to sell my 3AC and I wouldn't get even a nickel for it if it wasn't tuned properly.... (I mean a tuner 3AC, that is)... Then to get the 4AF or 4AGE, that would be pretty expensive......

[SynthDesign]

I found a guy in Australia that's done the 4age swap. I'm trying to get on that message board to ask him questions. Looks like the RHD Al25 is easier than our LHD US models.
http://www.toymods.net/forums/member.ph ... &userid=82

engine_in.JPG

[SynthDesign]

Set up an account at Toymods. I also sent Starfire a PM w/ a link to our T4wd forum.

See... Pimp'n is EAsy.

[CathodeRayTube]

howbout this. this particular one is expensive cause its new...but rebuilt ones can be had for $500 or less...that and a high power lithium ion battery pack...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hyster-Drive-Motor- ... 1|294%3A50


or back at the diesel idea...howbout an old one out of a diesel VW rabbit or somthing...i personally like the noise, smell and smoke from a funky old diesel...