3ac engine swap

[rwapner]

we have had our 1983 4x4 since new and i recently blew up the engine. i put in a Japanese 3a scv with 28K on it imported from a warehouse in SoCal. it was a pretty straightforward swap with a few surprises. the oil pan needed the original to clear the 4x4. the valve cover needed the original (and basically all the bolt ons) for the swirl block. so while i am cooking with only 62 hp, i wont blow out the drivetrain. it is running very nicely. does anyone have experience with the scv?
thanks - Roger

[larry mcgrath]

had 3ascv in my 84 that ran real well ,put 123,000 miles on it with no problems.

[Mattel]

My first Tercel had a replacement Swirl Control Valve 3a. Don't know it kept all those Swirls under Control but it seemed like a revvier engine or something when driven

[rwapner]

thanks Mattel - i believe the 3a SCV was developed with a 2 carb but it never got to the export cars - in california we have smog inspections and i would have hated to confuse the inspector... it is hard to compare to the 3ac by feel alone but a 28k engine does feel much nicer than my old 200K+ motor. Roger

[Mattel]

You kept the original single carb off your car then I gather?. I did the same thing with mine.

[rwapner]

Mattel - i have never seen a 2 bbl carb for the 3a. i take that back - i have the original scv carb that came with the 28K engine. it was like a carbon copy of the american version but the linkages were backward so i put my salvaged pick and pull carb on rather than the 225K carb that i knew was not happy. the carb that came with the engine was so shiney and new looking (so was the engine, complete with factory bar code tags) - i was very disappointed i couldnt put on the carb that came with the new engine. but i still have it.

someone was asking for the link to the engine importer. i was posting a reply this morning but had to leave to work (and then my wife got on the computer). so i got my "factory fresh" 28K 3a scv from We Have Engines (650) 776-8694205 De Anza Unit 69, San Mateo, CA 94402. while they dont seem to get a lot of respect on internet reviews, i found them to be great.

our 1983 4x4 has been in the family since 1984 and is all stock. it also lived in the CA desert so there is no rust. i am still running the white steel wheels and nana had the car continually serviced at the toyota dealership until the car passed on to me.

Roger

[rwapner]

Hey Mattel - i have learned so much about the swirl in the last 2 days - i had no idea i had a fan under the valve cover with a vacum out the back of the engine. when it gets warmer outside i will need to explore. i dont know if the installer mechanico (i didnt do this one) put a clamp on the vacum hose even. but it is running well. my single barrel carb bolted right on. we swaped on most of the 3ac bolt ons, discovering that we had to as we went along. i was even going to save my old head as a spare until we saw the swirl head waves (and that i had blown the head, the block and the oil pan to smithereens). i commuted in it today @150 miles between curvy mountain driving and 75mph hiway straights. thanks to everyone's comments, i am much more understanding of what is under the hood. Roger