Greetings And Questions From A Noob

[rolla rookie]

first, hello from a rookie in the states. i have just bought an 81 rolla (te 72 i think) 2door,3tc, 5speed. i am a decent wrench on older (read non-injected) ford inlines and eights---however on advice of a friend i bought the rolla--I WAS INSTANTLY HOOKED! being rodder/tinkerer from wayback i can't leave stock alone long and I'm considering an engine swap. here is my driving style: about 50% each city and hiway driving and occaision jaunt to the 1/8 mile. not building a doorslamming monster just a punchy, economical daily ride thats naturally aspirated, cheap on the ridiculously priced petrol here, and dead nuts reliable. I'm considering several (again non-injected) swaps, such as a 2.3 ford from ranger/pinto/mustang fame, a carbed rotary, some form of nissan four, and possibly a 22r or v6 (like for example a 3.8 buick). I'm not limiting myself to these but it gives you an idea. again not looking for just humungous gains just a cool little engine that can. any advice on keppin it simple and real or swap types is appreciated. i know from the the net you guys down under know how to build lightning with tires. thanks guys (and gals).

[B.L.Z.BUB]

check out the rides/engine conversions section. Weapon of choice seems to be the 4age engine but there are a lot of different conversions. You name it its probably been put in a corolla. If your going the rotary way there is a toyota club in new zealand that you should check out, can't remember it but someone will, rotor into rolla conversions are insane popular over there.

 

Found it : http://www.toyspeed.org.nz/

 

6 cylinder conversions arn't as popular here as it will never be road legal.

 

EDIT : Welcome!

Edited February 19, 2010 by blzbub666

[rolla rookie]

check out the rides/engine conversions section. Weapon of choice seems to be the 4age engine but there are a lot of different conversions. You name it its probably been put in a corolla. If your going the rotary way there is a toyota club in new zealand that you should check out, can't remember it but someone will, rotor into rolla conversions are insane popular over there.

 

Found it : http://www.toyspeed.org.nz/

 

6 cylinder conversions arn't as popular here as it will never be road legal.

cool my first response lol

is the 4age common here in the states? also is it injected (don't have any experience with f/i)?

legalities of smog power to weight etc arent much of a problem where i live (mississippi, us) so a carbed v6 is no sweat unless it would rudely upset the cars natural balance (curvy roads out here in the boonies lol)-- i guess what I'm trying to say is educate me on the alphabet soop lol what does a 4age come in? (i.e., tercel, corona, whatever) and what years?

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Have a good look through the rides/conversions sections. Or use the search. If its been done it'll be on here somewhere.

Most people here like it if you do a bit of research through the forums first. Then come back with questions. You wont be spoon fed :hmm: I learnt the hard way.

 

And yeah the 4age is injected.

[rolla rookie]

cool dude---research is what ive been doing the last few hours. and i don't mind it at all.

ive spent 30 odd years doing 5,6,and 7 liter fords so all the alpha numerics in japanese built engine code may take me a bit to learn---but i will.

(laffin my ass off) i wish i could stuff in a ford inline 6, but then id have to drive from the rear seat. i like the 3tc but this swap will be more for fun/bling than anything. you know the drill lol pop the hood and youre lookin at dual sidedrafts on a four banger or the cool, compact look of the single weber on a rotary that i just saw here in the forum.

once all that is sorted ill add a mild drop, flat poiple paint, red steelies wide whites fer giggles.

lol if i get drunk enough i might even fab up a vertical hotrod/ratrod style exhuast right through the hood! after all the whole thing is about having fun right? from there i think ill go with a white vinyl seats with purple trim.

probably wont run like the 390 (5.9l) in my 76 f250 but who givea a rat right?lol

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Start a rides thread and put up some pics of your car and what you want to achieve. Everyone likes putting in their 2 cents once you start one! And especially considering there doesnt seem to be much of a limit when it comes to getting your car road legal after a gnarly engine conversion.

[rolla rookie]

i just may do that. no limit is more like it as my friend i told you about has a small block chev stuffed in an ae86! (can you say drastic chassis reinforcement? lmao) hes pushing 400hp (not sure how many kw that is) its truly INSANE. i wont ride on the street with him. but as long as you don't tell dept of motor vehicles here in the county no one cares! only reason the cops bug him is he has a hair trigger gas pedal and a lead foot. balance in the corners is to say the least God-awful, but its more his drag toy than every day driver. cops don't say much on noise cause it isnt really loud (full muffs and all) but that lead foot is gonna get someone killed. (looks up and prays---i hope not) meantime I'm just looking for a slightly punchier version of what i have, i drive nice and legal like just want a cool lookin motor that can break traction on friday night when I'm shining my behind.

[altezzaclub]

You might have slightly different problems with the steering wheel being on the wrong side.. You steering column would be in the exhaust manifolds of any twin-cam head I think.

 

I'd go for a 4cyl just to keep the weight in the nose down, otherwise you will tend to upset the handling/turnin. That means forced induction for the biggest power gains, and that generally means fuel injection these days. Then again, I believe I saw a 4K on here with a Subaru water-cooled turbo and a carb...

 

I've always thought a Mazda Miata/MX5 motor and 6speed box would drop in nicely, as 4cyl RWD modern motors are pretty rare these days. The Honda S2000 would be another candidate.

 

If you want torque, I think the 1UZ Toyota alloy V8 is really no heavier than an iron V6. matching a manual box would be difficult, but if you're happy with an auto it would work.

[seabiscuit]

3tc garage. Search for that. Lots of info on Toyota T-series. Should be able to see what people are running to see what you need

to do (if you stick with Toyota)

[corollaart]

Hi just out of interest how much do you pay for fuel over there??

 

welcome to rollaclub

 

rob

[KENut]

4age's came in newer (AE86 & FWD models) corollas and geo prisms over there if I recall correctly. Maybe some other models too?

And many people have converted them to twin sidedraft carb, if you don't want fuel injection :hmm:

The reason many people use this engine is that the AE71 model has a 4a series engine; the driveline parts and 4age can be easily transplanted into another E7 which has a different engine/driveline combo.

[rolla rookie]

ok I'm learning lol

I'm teriible with injection and wiring but gather the 4age while not a "drop in" isnt so bad. would there be a difference in the ignition wiring?

i hadnt thought of the miata or honda engines---size is good but id have to have help with the electrics of it.

I'm not familiar with the 1uz--lol i didnt even know toyota made a v8 (die hard old skool ford man ya know), but I'm assuming it would be in a lexus maybe? or would it be in the fullsize truck?

we pay a bit more for fuel here at a local level as my town (if you call 900 people a town) is off the beaten track---its recently come down to 3.50 (us) per gallon. but then i can remember when it was like 73 cents too--lol showing my age i guess.

ive heard good and bad about the 3tc, it does however even at its age net me better than 32 mpg. some around here say it isnt strong enough to be built, but i wonder what the general concensus is here on the forum.

i hope I'm not asking too many questions but after being old skool for so long I'm basically starting all over again.

any thoughts on the 22r? theyre cheap and available here.

[tojo2]

Check out http://www.3tcgarage.com/ like seabiscuit mentioned. Youll find that heaps of "gofast" parts are available for these engines in the US.

 

Strong engines with lots of potential.

[corollaart]

Yes id have to agree with tojo ,there not a bad engine the old 3tc lots of potential just a bit on the heavy side.

 

LOL 3.50 a gallon.

 

We pay around 1.30 a litre (5.85) a gallon :hmm:

 

rob

[rolla rookie]

too rich for me. operative words were came down too---it was over 4 bucks. but at 5.85 its no wonder deisels are so popular there. which gives me an idea lol are there any deisels that fit this chassis? (half jokin/half serious)

maybe i should just keep her simple---holley 2v and a shot with headers and a cam--ya reckon? it after all my first import and maybe id better crawl before i walk until I'm more familiar with the brands/types/alphabet soup engine names.

oh yea and bone up on my efi knowledge.

i do want to thank all you fellas for the info. so many numbers and letters are straining my very last brain cel but rest assured i will learn it eventually and when i do the local small block chevs ARE GONNA PAY!!!! (INSERT WICKED EVIL LAUGH HERE)

hmmmm, then maybe a huffer of some sort (me likey big boost), a 9 inch ford, 4 wheel discs, racing seats at all corners and then and then and then..............................

(more maniacal laughter)