6G Celicas Forums

Got a question are these 7a's prone to piston slap or valvetrain issues i've got what appears to be a slight slap/knock at 2200-2900'ish rpm's. Now before we result to a rod knock (Worst case) i would like to add ever since i put this "New" engine in 2yr's ago it has had said noise and it doesn't effect power or get worse just between those rpm's at which i am mostly in that band driving around. At first i thought spark knock or rod but put a scope on it and it sounds to be coming from the top of the deck or head.

I also did a mild tune up and i am running pretty lean on cylinder #1, which could be a result of the leaky injector i had to fix a week ago, advanced timing (But running 93 in her), or a slight stuck valve in which case i do not want to get into the engine.

In any case are their any importers such as HMO, Tiger or any place that sell the 7A's that are priced well and reputable? or is a junk yard about my only hope, as i planed anyway to have a spare to mess with to do a bit of mods to.

Ehh, being they're notorious for burning oil it's possible it has run low and starved the top of the engine. I wouldn't bother with getting another 7A, better off just swapping at that point.

Been doing it for 3yrs and 15k now, i have never seen a engine that had bearing or journal issues last that long especially the way my brother beat on it. You would figure it would have gotten louder and did it throughout the rpm's by now. I'm going to check the valve lash tomorrow to see if the problem is in the head, but the lean condition just on #1 concerns me aswell.

I enjoy the 7A i doubt the base powerplant will change unless a stupid good deal presents itself. I have a project for going fast on the weekends, no need for two without a DD. I enjoy the piss out of the car as is ha it's a blast, but i would like to have a backup 7A just incase.

Say what. I certainly don't. Then again in fairness, each car I've had before it has had 200, 222, and 340 hp.

Being it's gone as long as it has with the noise I doubt it's anything too serious. Could try using Rislone, it's good at shutting up valve-train noise.

Haha i do man, it's a zippy little daily driver that was my reasoning for getting it was to have a fun driver.

As for what i have or have had for go fast well my project has a 11.7.1 N/A build re awaiting to go into the bay of the cb7. I've had anything from a mitsubishi mirage to fox bodies and F bodies and i can tell ya this right now the funnest cars i've owned thats been drivers has been low hp 4cylinder's.

I would love to get a spare 7A and do a bit of port work to the head and intake mani with a set of mild regrinds. Other than that for the purpose of the car a fun dd/off roader (Will be playing around with that here a bit more) i'm sufficient with the engine.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. It'd seem I don't have fun unless there's a V8 under the hood. It's more than the power, it's the sound. I've yet to come across a 4 cylinder engine that doesn't sound like riced out garbage. Even the 2.4L KA24DE as large as it is, sounds bad. 6 cylinders are ok. Then again, I'm particular.

I've thought about doing some work with the engine, then I just figure it as a waste of time and money. Unlike Honda, doing anything with Toyota requires an act of God.

Not true box
The vz an Mz motors tend to take very will to port work
An even a stock 5s can gain 10-11 HP from a good retune with a safc2

You know what I meant. Walk into a Honda parts bin blindfolded and you can throw together an engine that'll work, not so much with Toyota.

This post has been edited by Box: Jan 14, 2013 - 3:18 PM

Box i have no issues with american cars i am a enthusiast of anything done right, i have owned a mildly built Fox, two 3rd gen Fbodies and one 4th gen. My buddy has a 425whp civic hatch, but he also has two GN's one stock one with bolt on's. Buddys bolt on GN has another that is stock, this was a mild burnout has no issues going through second.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRksrZGVgHA

As for the honda comment alot of stuff is interchangeable yes but slaping any engine together will not last. I mostly mess with SOHC's but the underestimated F series that is the same powerplant in the worlds fastest N/A honda to date. Hoping for well over 200whp before the bottle at 11.7.1CR and the F's great flowing head plus the port work on mine etc etc it will be a fun runner. But as far as availability of parts yeah honda enthusiast have the upper hand foresure, as i said i'm an enthusiast of all.

I really can't afford to have two indepth projects thats why i'll stick with the 7A, but i do have plans for this chassis.

Going with zinc stop techs rotors, sways/bushings, and shocks eventually rears are leaking. Did a tune up and checked the lash, got a bit of piston slap going on or wrist issues. Ohwell thought it might be from worn out shims but it isnt, the sound is coming from the block deck. Since we are a amsoil dealer at the shop i will run that just incase, i've gotta make is last until i can find a spare 7A, but engines been doing it for around 15k now so not to worried about it.

I appreciate you fella's suggestions, i can tell ya more maturity is found here with less BS.

This post has been edited by Takumi-FujiWaraST: Jan 14, 2013 - 9:46 PM

I like it all as well, just like domestics more. No computers, easy to work on, and burbly exhaust. Though ironically 75% of my cars have been imports for whatever reason. I had thought about getting a Honda/Acura before I got the Celica, kind of wish I had if I were to stay with economy cars. Hindsight is 20/20 I suppose.

Sorry to hear that about the engine. Just run it until it dies. Check your local junkyards, or find a Corolla or Celica that's been wrecked.

I get where you are coming from 100%.

With any 4cyl (Minus a boxer) trying to make power will most likely be loud and drone like hell. However i've heard quite a few sound great but with that comes restriction, this is why i plan to have a cut out on the project at the flip of a switch i can blow your ear drums out or cruise on like granny going to church.

I'm an 80's american fan, which most after 82 had some sort of computer. I know evans GN's are loaded with such more so than many if not all of the cars i've owned, but it was a chassis well ahead of it's time.

Hondas are great cars (Mostly), but with that comes alot of crap.

And yeah i'll run it till it pop's, i'll be on the look out for one. Hope to start doing a few upgrades here soon the biggest pet pev at the moment is the damn open header, no mid power and way to damn loud!

Even domestics with computers still make sense. Been off and on thinking about an early 90's Firebird/Camaro or Mustang. I like having the option to make power with bolt on parts. That's something I can do. Engine swapping anything with computers, forget about it. So that makes up the majority of my domestic bias. That and exhaust, how I hate the sound of 4 cylinders. If I can find someone wanting to trade I will, seeing as I don't have time for selling and buying cars at the moment.

Wait, I got it. Buy my car, everything has already been done to it.

Got my flaps monday so put them on today, and decided to have a bit of fun on our old logging roads. And this 7a is on it's last leg having trouble finding a import supplier, so if anyone has any links please let me know:tu:







And my favorites...

Took long enough but here's the 7A i ordered good warranty good price, better than any i found online or anywhere else for that matter.

Good luck with the swap. Why not go for something different, I imagine that engine cost at least $700. Why not a 4A-GZE, probably would have been similar price.

This is the second replacement i've put in the car so shouldn't be a big deal.

The cost was a bit more than $450, i work in a 2 man garage and some places are business only sellers. I got a 90 day warranty and if something should go wrong within those 90 days i get money for my labor and a replacement.

As said from the get go i will stick with a 7A unless i find a stupid deal on another swap. I have a fast car project i do not need two, nor could i really afford it. The 7A makes plenty of power for what i use it for to much would result in less fun off road, i went the simplest sensible route for me.

All in all i think i got the right engine for the job at a good cost, the engine has 142k with paper work i'm pretty happy about it.

Fair enough, makes sense.

Got started, was a beaut of a day up until it started raining anyway took a pic or two.



Oh yeah bought a 86 Notchback GT fox about two months ago.