New member from Portland, OR - '86 Tercel Wagon DLX

[irowiki]

I've always had good luck with FWD cars in the snow in colorado. Drove two neons, a camry, and a regal for years, no issues!

[GotToyota?]

I just realized this thread has over 250 posts! I probably post WAY too much.

But anyways I'm happy to say that the engine swap has gotten started.

New 4A, needs some "special" work


I wonder what these parts are...


More mysterious parts


Old 3A ready to be pulled




It's out! New motor and old


Waiting for it's new heart


4a vs 3a flywheels

[Jarf]

Iro - Hot water and dish soap combined with a small flat blade screwdriver (with all the sharp edges filed smooth) is how I get the green condoms off,
it's the 90% solution, there were some casualties but the success rate was more than double that of all previous attempts.

Funny about the FWD in snow thing.
I never had a problem in snow in FWD's either, then I got my first 4WD and wondered how I ever managed.
It's kinda like Tequila!
The cheap stuff has will get you drunk but tastes like crap.
The expensive stuff gets you drunk too, but it actually tastes good and there's no requirement for salt and lemon.

A FWD will get you there, but a real 4WD will get you there, feeling safe and secure AND you'll have fun doing it.
The difference is even more noticeable than going from all seasons to dedicated snow tires.
Worst part is, just like that fine tequila, once you've drunk from the cup of wisdom, it's next to impossible to go back to the old ways.

But, to get back on topic, GT has one of the nicest looking FWD's I have seen in a long time.

[larry mcgrath]

I love the mazda mieta wheels. what year are they and what size tires are you running, Im planning on puting a set on the rocket ,if i can find some ,at a desent price Larry

[ARCHINSTL]

Great pix - but I must digress...
Is that a T-bucket so coyly hiding?
Tom M.

[GotToyota?]

Yes sir, I believe it is. Or at least a kit car. It's my friends fathers project car.

[Petros]

those "mystery" parts are the induction system for a 4age, it apears to be from a forward installed version from a RWD corolla (vs. the transverse installation that was in the MR2 and '88 and later GTS corollas). The has the Toyota Variable Induction System (TVIS), with eight intake runners and the throttle plate like device that blocks off half of them at lower speeds. I am planning on installing this set up in my project car, although less power out put than the latter version of the 4age without this feature, this has much better low rpm power and torque than the higher performance engines.

I will be happy to take them off your hands if you have no use for them.

[dlb]

I love the mazda mieta wheels. what year are they and what size tires are you running, Im planning on puting a set on the rocket ,if i can find some ,at a desent price Larry

larry, here is an excellent page that lists the different miata wheels and their specs.

http://www.miata.net/faq/wheel_weights.html

gottoyota's wheels are '99-2002 Sport 5-spoke alloys. i have the same wheels, found them on craigslist last fall for $100 and will be putting them on my corolla once my 13" all seasons finally die.

[GotToyota?]

You're on the right track, Petros.

And dlb is correct on the Miata wheels. I am running 195/50/15 tires to correctly match the factory speedo ratio as best as possible. Within half of a perfect with this size.

[GotToyota?]

More pics of motor assembly and gasket work.

[GotToyota?]

And if you couldn't figure out what I'm doing by now, here's the final cue.

[Petros]

is that going to be a 4age swap? or are you swapping out the head and fuel system only?

that water pump looks like the one off the 4age, you need to check for clearance for the radiator, you might have to go with a short shaft 4ac water pump to get the clearance from the radiator. You will not need the fan that it came with since the Tercel4wd thoughtfully comes with an electric radiator fan.

what are you going to do a bout an exhasut system? how you going to run it past the steering column?

[GotToyota?]

I don't want to reveal too much for now until the job is done. There's still a lot to do before it's ready to drop in.

[Petros]

also, it looks like you have the original tercel oil pan and pick-up installed. I noticed when I was inspecting my engine swap that the 4age pan is shallower and has a short oil pick-up, so when you swap pans make sure you swap the oil pick-up as well, or all of the oil in the oil sump will not be available to the engine.

[GotToyota?]

We swapped the pans because the 4AC pan was different than the 3AC pan. Turns out if's different to clear the diff and axles.

This definitely isn't a traditional 4AGE swap. It's more like a hybrid.