TroysRollaSX

Yeah, I thought that figure was a bit too high, but was in a hurry and didn't have time to look up what the aus 4A-FE made. Oh well.

I wouldn't say so. The 4A-FE and the 7A-FE are very much alike, with the 7A having a larger stroke of 85.5 mm, instead of 77.0 mm (but the same bore of 81.0 mm) compared to the 4A, thus making it a 1.8L engine instead of 1.6L as all the 4A engines are. I suspect that the 5A or 6A engines were not as popular here because they were smaller (5A = 1.5L, 6A = 1.4L) and thus made less power then the 4A or 7A engines when fitted with the same air/fuel delivery systems and simular camshaft profiles. In the AE9x series, initially the engine options were all 4A or 6A based: in order of least to most power: 6A-FC = 61kw @ unknown rpm / 117Nm @ unknown rpm, 4A-FC = 71kw @ 6000rpm / 129Nm @ 3600 rpm, 4A-FE = 85kw @ 6000rpm / 137Nm @ 4800 rpm, 4A-GE = 100kw @ 7200rpm / 149Nm @ 4800 rpm, but with the 2nd series of the A9x series, the 7A-FE was introduced and the Carb engine options were removed, thus the options were: 4A-FE = 85kw @ 6000rpm / 137Nm @ 4800 rpm, 7A-FE = 86kw @ 5600rpm / 155Nm @ 4400rpm, 4A-GE = 100kw @ 7200rpm / 149Nm @ 4800 rpm Corollas with the 7A-FE can usually be spotted with the 1.8 badge or sticker. Of course, I could be wrong in some aspects, but the 7A wasn't as big a jump as you might think... :)

Hi mate. I got my AE93 (1992 Corolla SECA SX) jusssst over 2 years ago exactly now, and couldn't be happier with it. So I'd say consider something like it. Can get them for a reasonable price now, they're easy to work on, easy yo get parts for, there is still plenty of aftermarket support for them, and as long as it's been looked after fairly well shouldn't give you any real drama, also the paint seems to be of a higher quality then the older models and can still look good (again, as long as it's been looked after) - my car has had a few stone chips repaired on the bonnet, but asides from that still wears it's factory paint, and still looks good, even after all these years. Everything I'd had to do so far hasn't been too hard to do - asides from the timing belt at just over 200,000kms and replacing the distributor when required due to failure, where I cheated and got a mechanic to do, because I didn't have the required tools, knowledge of the 16v small port red top 4A-GE or time... ^ Great advice, there is even sometimes a 4A-GE FWD Corolla in the various wreckers, until it's eventually raided for parts, haha. Or you could organise to meet up with one of us that has one and we could show you our cars, take you for a little drive, etc. I'd be happy to meet up with you if that would be any help mate - would give me a good excuse to wash the car ;) I'd agree with that to a point. I owned Fords before I saw the light and got my Corolla, and the Mk II Escorts and the XF and XD Falcons I had before that were extremely easy to work on too. Mind you, I wish I'd never wasted my time on the Falcons, the Escorts however I'll always have a soft spot for, and if I had the money and space, I wouldn't hesitate to do up a 2 door Mk II Escort, with a worked 4A-GZE under the hood... *wanders off dreaming* Agreed, but as long as your hands aren't the size of dinner plates you shouldn't have too much trouble. You'll just hate changing the damn oil filter (tucked in behind the exhaust manifold). I agree about the SECA models being the best looking, they're also more practical then the hatches because the cargo area is nice and big. They're sorta like a cross between a sedan and a hatchback. And While I know what you're saying about torsional strength in the SECAs, in the 2 years that I have owned mine I have found that it handles very well, sure you can get it to understeer if you push way too hard when cornering (but you have to be going stupidly fast), and you can get it to oversteer with the old FWD lift-off power mid-corner trick (once again, you have to be going quite quickly), but asides from those two situations they have VERY neutral handling. Anyway, if you want to have a better look at my car, let me know mate.

If you're going to go to the trouble of pulling out the existing engine, why go for a 4A-GE? Why not go for a 4A-GZE instead? And why are you going to pull out the existing engine? And are you sure it's a 4A-FE? I thought the AE10x usually had either the 20v 4A-GE (1.6L) or the 7A-FE (1.8L), but I could be wrong.

Sounds to me like the timing is WAYY off. When I get a chance, I'll see if I can replicate the issue on the almost identical AE82 with 4A-C project here, and see if I can get it to act the same. My suggestion is to get yourself a timing light asap and see what the timing is currently at.

Hahaha, nah, it's staying stock for now, seeing as it will be a first car, so needs to stay P plater friendly. Although I might upgrade the brakes sometime, we'll see. Right now, the focus will be on getting it ready for a roadworthy and then getting it registered. Oh, I meant to ask, I started pulling the drivers door trim off to get to the drivers door handle and lock, and silly me, I can't see how to get the window winder handle off - it's the only thing left still holding the door trim on. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Nah, CSX I believe was mid-range, nice enough interior, power steering, air-con, tacho dash cluster, but not top of the range. Not exactly poverty spec either. Hahaha, yeah, steering wheel is a bit chunky. Feels good though, not too bus like, haha. Yeah, the 4A-C + 5 speed does go well for what it is. I drove it back home on a unreg vehicle permit, and my partner followed in her 2003 automatic Tarago. I put my foot down to get up to 110km/h for the freeway (speed limit on that section of the freeway), and left the Tarago far behind without meaning to. Felt pretty lively for something that has about half the kW of my AE93 SX, probably because it almost has as much torque, and it's peak torque is made much lower in the rev range. I agree, not a bad choice at all for a first car. I had a look and I think you're right about the irons being bent for the front bar. The rear bar has a bit more damage and will require either replacement or me being handy with some fibreglass. I'll take a photo of it to show you all what I mean, and so that when it's all done this thread can be a reminder of how it was when it was first picked up. I'll try that with the tail lights, thanks! Yup. Yeah? Cool. Yeah, it's pretty straight, you'll have to have a look at it once it's on the road mate, I'd be happy to take it to a meet instead of my AE93.

And another video, taken earlier today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL_kT_WElmg

Those black stripes are painted on, the red has the usual fade to it anyway, we'll look into re-spraying it... I hope there are no big nasty surprises when it comes time for RWC, I'll do some of the things I know it should fail on before it goes for the RWC, and leave a couple that are easily fixed. Here's a video of it being started today for the first time since we picked it up on cup day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPwVW7Z1bbg And a few more pictures of it I took today: Needs a GOOD clean... Fairly clean for a 1987 car... 6000 rpm? it might as well be a diesel, hahaha

Thanks mate! I figure cars are made to be driven, not hidden. Brake rotors rust up, moving parts seize, flexible parts such as hoses perish, batteries lose charge, so I think it's better to drive it then to let it just sit there. I like to think I keep it in reasonable condition for a 1992 vehicle, and I plan on hanging on to it for a while longer - the only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have cup holders, I even have a cruise control unit ready to install when I get a chance... I love how it looked for those pics, such a shame I can't have it that low all the time, it scraped a few times while driving. Other thing is, with that many people on board, a snail could out-run the poor thing! Yeah, next time I rely on the GPS, I will be having a good look at the intended directions and finding out where the petrol stations are! LOL. I was so lucky to not run out of fuel that day, I had 2 litres left in the tank when I filled up, as it took 48 litres to fill it again! Oops!

I've got one, a gunmetal grey AE93 SECA SX. Some ballpark specs (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm way off): 16v "red top" 4A-GE DOHC 1.6L 4 cylinder engine: 103kw at the flywheel. C52 gearbox: 4.44:1 final drive ratio. kerb weight: approx 900kg. 0-100km/h: approx 9 seconds. standing 400m (1/4 mile): a bit over 16 seconds. That's all stock from the factory, and figures may be a little off, it's all off the top of my head. You can pick them up for anything from $1000 to $4000, depending on condition and seller. Here's a video of mine in action, to give an idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiQU_aDbiSE

Hi everyone. My partner and I spotted this AE82 SECA at the side of the road for sale, and we both thought it would be a great first car for my step-daughter, who is 15 now, to learn in and drive once she gets her P plates. I went and talked about it to the owner, and took it for a test drive, and by the end of the day we had placed a deposit on it. It's a 1987 Corolla SECA CSX. 4A-C engine, done just over 300,000kms. 5 speed Manual. Power steering and air-conditioning. Alloy wheels. Drives very nicely. It's currently unregistered and did not come with a Roadworthy. Got to do a few things done before it will pass a Victorian Roadworthy. This is what I know will need to be done, it has not yet been taken to anywhere for a proper RWC inspection. Rear tyres, tread too low. Going to be replaced. Rear tail lights, lenses faded and not clear enough. Going to be replaced. Drivers outer door handle doesn't work. Probably slipped off the linkages. I'll look into this soon. Drivers door lock broken. A replacement lock and key was supplied with the vehicle. Passenger side front door window doesn't wind down. I'll look into it. Passenger side parking light and indicator repeaters swapped - ie the parking light flashes when you indicate left, and when you put the parking lights on, the left indicator comes on. This does not affect the indicator in the bumper bar. Should be easily fixed. High beams don't work. Will look into this. Not required, but will be done. Replace old CD player (removable face plate keeps falling off) Replace front and rear bumper bars. Tidy up paint, maybe respray. And because everyone loves pictures...

There is a story that goes with this pic about the GPS sending me down dirt roads in the middle of nowhere, with no petrol stations for hundreds of kms. I was scared sh*tless I was going to run out of fuel! Thankfully I didn't. I now have a project AE82 SECA CSX that I'm getting back on the road for someone else, it's been very interesting comparing the 4A-C to the 4A-GE and the AE82 to the AE93. The AE82 with 4A-C goes better then I expected it to, although it isn't as happy to rev, it's still very nice to drive. I think it's safe to say I have been bitten by the Corolla bug! Almost 2 years to the day now since I got my SECA, and I'm still happy with it, and have no plans to get rid of it.

Some more recent pictures, from when I drove from Melbourne to Brisbane and back... Odometer clocked over 250,000kms just north of Albury, so I pulled over to get a pic.

I added a rear louvre to cut the amount of sunlight getting in through the rear window...