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.

[CoreyST]

The 7AFE is the slowest engine made for the celicas, why not swap something in better? That is why there is no information on it, everyone wants it out of the car, also only the US and Europe got the 7A, so therefore not so JDM

[SupraKid]

The 7AFE is the slowest engine made for the celicas, why not swap something in better? That is why there is no information on it, everyone wants it out of the car, also only the US and Europe got the 7A, so therefore not so JDM

Wrong, they were offered in a bunch of JDM cars.

OP im not understanding your post. You have a celica an wanna swap it with your son? I need some clarification before i can help.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

but not the celi

[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?

[jarasman]

I'll read the swaps more closely to see what is involved with a better performing swap. Again avoiding the wire harness is a very motivating ordeal.

My conspiracy theory is the "cash for clunkers" has taken a lot of good used engines off the market. I haven't found a decent usdm (7afe) engine. A long block rebuilt for 1600 and a couple 130k engines. A low mile with CA emissions, but still more expensive than jdm.

[LimitedGT4]

I'll read the swaps more closely to see what is involved with a better performing swap. Again avoiding the wire harness is a very motivating ordeal.

My conspiracy theory is the "cash for clunkers" has taken a lot of good used engines off the market. I haven't found a decent usdm (7afe) engine. A long block rebuilt for 1600 and a couple 130k engines. A low mile with CA emissions, but still more expensive than jdm.

i got a 7a with less than 130 with the auto tranny and all give me a fair price and its urs

[Smaay]

did you find my thread on building a 7A-FE? also rod bearings have nothing to do with the head.

[jarasman]

i got a 7a with less than 130 with the auto tranny and all give me a fair price and its urs
[/quote]


Where are you located? I found a distributor type JDM in Texas. I'm also looking at a rebuilt longblook locally. Not a whole lot of follow thru with the JDM vendors. I'm starting to wonder if they advertise them before they are available.

[jarasman]

Oddly enough I do better searching the site from google and popping onto threads than searching the site. I'll look for your thread specifically, the site got somewhat eaiser and more informative after I registered and started reading the FAQs and like.

I know the rod bearing has nothing to do with the head, but it does share engine oil. With the oil being contaiminated with shaved metal I would want the head cleaned professionally. I know it has a filter, but with the investment being made I wouldn't be comfortable relying on the filter.

[LimitedGT4]

Oddly enough I do better searching the site from google and popping onto threads than searching the site. I'll look for your thread specifically, the site got somewhat eaiser and more informative after I registered and started reading the FAQs and like.

I know the rod bearing has nothing to do with the head, but it does share engine oil. With the oil being contaiminated with shaved metal I would want the head cleaned professionally. I know it has a filter, but with the investment being made I wouldn't be comfortable relying on the filter.

Im in RI

[jarasman]

Smaay..Dude.

I searched your posts and had 53 pages of hits. You've posted and forgotten more than I'll ever know. I'll continue to search out your posts tho. Most seem to revolve around forced induction. If anything in my driveway gets that upgrade it will be my Tacoma.

I'm aware the rod bearing isn't in the head, but they share oil and the way it smokes I'm assuming metal fragments in the contaminated oil have done some damage to my Piston/rings/cylinder walls. I have to assume the same oil has contaminated my head. IMHO it is engine suicide to reuse the head without some professional cleaning.

JDM vendors continue to overpromise and underdeliver, I'm losing confidence they can provide a reliable product. I will look for JDM venders in the forums that have member's seal of approval. I had one offer on here for a used motor, I sent a PM but am ill equipped to figure out shipping. The best price I found locally on remanufactured long blocks is 1695.

[stephen_lee]

a 4age out of a celica requires like 3 mire changes and it bolts in.. plus you get an extra 60+ hp... good option IMO esp if he doesnt need the car ASAP.


but to answer your question again, just tear both motors down to the bare block and swap all accessories and the harness off your motor to the jdm one, including the distributor.

btw the 7afe is notorious for burning oil and blowing smoke.

[CoreyST]

Those are the 20V 4AGE engines, and you need the ECU, plus they were a bit overrated by toyota. they don't make as much power as them claim. But they are still very good engines, But if your going to buy a $AGe from an importer (which typically cost anywhere from 900-1400 dpending on silvertop or blacktop) you may as well just spend the extra 200 or so and get the 3SGTE.

[stephen_lee]

the 3sgte into an ST will require a LOT more work esp since no 3sgte came with an auto.... plus the 3s being turbo with more systems parts etc will be too buggy for a 16 year old.. plus you DO NOT want a kids fist car to be that fast...

[CoreyST]

I forgot his car was an auto.....well do a BEAMS swap then haha they come with an auto. Suprakid knows someone that is selling one IIRC his FS thread has a auto BEAMS

[jarasman]

I ordered a rebuilt shortblock, with no core required. I'll get the ST running and have a spare block to tinker with. This gives me time to rebuild the old one and figure out a head swap. It is a little more work than I wanted, but seems to be a safe place to start.

Thanks for the information. It has been very helpful. In my experience nothing is an easy swap and everything costs twice what you expect. I think I have a way to ease into the performance side of swap now.

John

[CoreyST]

If you swap a 4AGE head onto the 7A you will gain at least 30 HP or so. There are a ton of articles on it.