Ke55 4age transmission options

[altezzaclub]

Straight out of Wiki-

"The 4A-GZE was a supercharged version of the 4A-GE produced in various forms from August 1986 through 1995. All three generations shared forged and ceramic coated pistons, a SC12 Roots type supercharger, and a stronger 7-rib block and crankshaft, similar to the 1987–1989 "Late Bigport" second-generation 4A-GE.^[28] Toyota Racing Development also developed supercharger kits for the 4A-GZE engines.  The 4A-GZE is popular for turbo conversions, as many parts do not need to be modified to support the extra boost.'

So yes, find the -ZE for the improvements, especially the oil spray onto the pistons. The torque improved over the time they made -ZEs, there were three generations, best NA 4AGE first-

103, 107KW, 121KW, 125KW

162, 190Nm, 208Nm, 208Nm

Altezza 3SGE 154KW, 216NM.

You're putting an extra 25% torque through it, so run it until the T50 blows up and then fit a J160 from an Altezza. Depending on where you use the extra power will determine how long it lasts. For me it would last forever, but I'm only accelerating when I'm already doing 90kph, while launches kill gearboxes faster..

 

 

[bfhoovey]

Would even a Beams engine be worth considering? About ten years younger and a lot more power. Just a bit lost for information around the diff and tail shaft but besides that it would be wicked fast. The US and Japan seem to have a lot available for import for not too much and a lot of them come with the j160. 

[altezzaclub]

Sure, buy the Altezza engine, ECU, gearbox and driveshaft, or at least the yoke.  The yoke may be on some other gearbox in the Toyota range, I don't know about that.

 

However... the motor is very tall, taller than a 4AGE, but anything is taller than a K motor!   To fit it in a Sprinter/Levin AE86 we're using a special sump from NZ, wide and shallow.  The clutch master cyl needs to be moved on RHD cars, but no problem in the USA/Europe.

Also, two J160s, one for the 4-cyl 3SGE Altezza motor in Japan, one for the 6-cyl IS200 Lexus with its 1GFE motor for export. Different bell  housings and starter on other sides, just like T50s! The car;s owner bought a 3SGE-Sprinter engine mount kit, you might find those for KE55.

It fits, but within 10mm front to anti-roll bar, both sides on the transmission tunnel and back of head on firewall.  We've had to massage the transmission tunnel with a hammer, grind the top of the bell housing down to fit the J160 in, then cut the flanges off the sump at the back to fit over the steering rack, which we lowered on the cross-member..  A daunting job for a first conversion.

I have become very good at using the engine crane to drop the cross-member plus engine and gearbox down onto a trolley, then lifting the car up on the hoist.  It won't come out the top.

[bfhoovey]

Ok, sweet. I don't have any plans for this to be running anytime soon, so if it takes it time so be it! Yeah, KE conversions does a 3sge engine mount kit for the ke55 so that wouldn't be a problem. I'll keep in mind the differences if I source the transmission and engine differently. And I haev read about the master cylinder and oil sump needing to be modified so it doesn't sit under the crossmember. 

[altezzaclub]

 

https://www.rslibertyclub.org/forum/deefa-s-horse-trading/cars/60243-ke55-corolla-beams-3sge-6mt-fs

[parrot]

That answers pretty much all of your questions! Realistically the issues are the same for any significant power increase whatever the power plant. Then it’s just a matter of nuancing fitment issues and getting it through engineering

[bfhoovey]

Sweet, thanks guys. I'll still have a few more questions to come but probably once I start sourcing some of these parts. Cheers fellas!

[bfhoovey]

Hey fellas, once again I have another question. I know I feel like i am going in circles askign questions, but I have found a 20v 4age with a new t50 combo for 7k (includes lots of new flashy bits and I wouldn't have to pay for any overseas shipping) and seems pretty good for the price. It includes ITBs as well, which is fun. My main questions with this set up is would it be worth running carbs or paying for EFI and using a standalone ecu. I am learning about these parts still and I'm not sure which direction I should be heading with my research. If I go EFI, will I have to install MAP sensors and get a coil on plug kit? Or is it just worth sticking in a 4K and solving all of these complicated problems 😆 Here is the listing as well if you guys want to take a look. Again, thanks for the invaluable amount of help you have been so far

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BRZWxYZb7/

 

[altezzaclub]

In NSW you are not allowed to register a car where you have stepped backwards from injection to carbs, for pollution law reasons.  I don't know if the other States are like that, but you'll need an engineer for the project so now might be a good time to find one. The engineer will also tell you about what other upgrades he wants done to match the power of the new engine.

Its a  bit of a licence to print money for them, so you might chat to a couple if the first seems too expensive. The guy in Sydney I used was great, agreed the stock brakes were fine and charged me under $1000 for the 4AGE engineering. Other people have had to fit bigger brakes new struts etc for many thousands of dollars.

Also- That's not a 20valve motor, just a 7-rib 16valve, probably the best one to fit.

Also... "-distributor blanked off to be or as cas for standalone ecu "  So you will need a coil-over-plug set-up (I bought mine from Manon Racing in NZ) and an aftermarket ECU (Mine is Haltech) and whatever needs to be done to make it work. From the photo I can't make out what he has in the valley where the plugs sit, maybe he has it all set up already.

But wait, there's more! Show your engineer the picture and make sure he's OK with the air filter, as I think you have to have the air filter enclosed in a box. I'm not sure, I've never had to worry about that.

Its a gamble buying a rebuilt motor that has never been run, you are very dependent on the guy who built it knowing what he was doing, and if it won't start you will be completely stumped.  If you crank it over and bend the valves because the cam timing was wrong, do you get your money back?? The dizzy problem means its not actually finished, so it can't be run. See if the guy will give you a hand to fit it and get it running, that would be the best solution, pay him in beers or cash and its still worth it!

Edited August 15, 2025 by altezzaclub

[parrot]

That's a lot of money.  I'd be looking for evidence of what's been done, by whom, for the rebuild and talking them down.  What cams does it have. There's still a lot of work & money to be spent to get it running in your car.  Plus that exhaust manifold; from what I can see the welds are pretty rough.  Assuming you still have recirculating ball steering, the exhaust may not fit anyway

[altezzaclub]

"Assuming you still have recirculating ball steering, the exhaust may not fit anyway "

Good catch! I never think of that, just in terms of KE70 racks. So it has the local AE85/AE71 gearbox with the clutch slave on the left, so you want the extractors as far to the left away from that, tucked right up beside the chassis rail... but KE55s have an idler arm there and you want the extractors as far to the right as you can so you don't cook that!