Hello from Noob, JDM 7A-FE Swap Options

[jarasman]

I got the car I wanted back in the day....17 years l8r as a Father/Son project car. I read your rules and crawled all over your huge site. I found lots of great information.

I found a really straight car for 500 and am now looking at a JDM 7A-FE but I was unsuccessful at finding this seemingly str8 forward swap on your site. I've sifted through TONS of great and helpful information tho. My only other swap experience was a Mazda Rotary into a 4wd Suzuki Samurai.

I got the distributor type JDM located, I'm waiting to hear if the injectors are on the intake or head. I have a new head, but with a bad rod bearing I don't want to risk contaminating the newer engine.

Any help would be appreciated, I'll continue to search your site for more information.

[jarasman]

We got a 1994 ST with a bad rod bearing. I would like to just replace the engine and maintain as much OEM as possible. I was hoping someone had done the same with a JDM 7A-FE. I realize there are better performing alternatives available, I'm just looking for the simpliest. Having done a complicated engine swap, I was really looking for something I don't spend months debugging.....again.

With the Automatic it seems I'm stuck with this motor without adding even more complication. Mostly because of my lack of willingness to tackle a larger project, the only palitible performance option I've seen within these forums is to use a 4AFE head. I have read several swaps on this site and they were very interesting.

I'm looking for a solid weeks work with the replacement engine and be done. I'm good with whatever mechanical issues pop up, but I hate chasing around electrical issues.

This is a great looking $500 car for a 16 year old kid. Lets not tell him his Mom's Traverse or his Dad's Taco has a better 0-60.

Any help is appreciated.

[richee3]

Lets not tell him his Mom's Traverse or his Dad's Taco has a better 0-60.

Lol trust me, he'll figure that out on his own.

As far as the swap goes, I believe the US motor has more emissions junk on it. I'd strip the JDM motor down to the block and head and take everything else from the USDM motor (wiring, sensors, etc.) and put those on the JDM block. Really, for what it's worth, you're about to go through the same amount of work as any other swap, yet you won't have anything to show for it. I understand not wanting to go for the 3S-GTE or the BEAMS swap, but why not try to find a good used USDM 7A-FE from a Corolla/Prizm?