Buying A 4age That Need Fixing, Tell Me What You Think

[Impulss]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TOYOTA-MOTOR-4AGZE-...=item27b2663045

 

I found that motor on e-bay but its 'spun a big end bearing'. I'm wondering if its worth it to buy it, then rebuild it completely (stock), as i can't really afford to buy performance stuff, although it would be worth it, but something i can do later on. Its pretty cheap at the moment but i'd have to take a roadtrip down to NSW (12 hrs).

 

The plan is to put it in my ke-70. I'm wondering if its worth the money to buy it and fix it up or just to buy a working 4age. I don't plan to put the 4age in til tax comes, so no pressure on time (unless it's going to take more than 2 months)

[RainWarriorDregs]

haha quad foddle body, are they taking the piss?

 

could be worth getting, but how much time, money and experience do you have?

 

basically, you will have to completely rebuild it. Thats going to take time.

 

I think that a time period of less than 2 months to get an engine, rebuild it and have it running and in your car is a little bit unrealistic. Have a look at some of the engine conversion threads on this site and look at the time frame, and this is more often than not people who know what they are doing. From what you've written it seems that you are new to this type of work.

 

Buy it if you want, in the long run it will probably be cheaper, but remember its a 20 valve and from what i know it requires more modifications than a 16 valve to put in.

 

have a look here http://www.rollaclub.com/board/index.php?showtopic=29506 provided by LittleRedSpirit, he's done the conversion.

 

The auction is only for the engine, so you're going to need the cooling parts, crossmember from an ae86 or a ae71, gearbox, diff, extractors or exhaust manifold, inlet manifold (both these required for a rwd conversion, 20v only came out in fwd cars) distributor relocation parts (i think), an ecu and the list goes on.

 

but go for gold if you reckon you got it in ya

 

GOOD LUCK!! :lol:

Edited June 16, 2010 by RainWarriorDregs

[Impulss]

When i mentioned the two months, i meant thats when i would start the conversion (ripping out the 4k-c etc), then putting it all back together. What would a realistic timeframe be?

 

I've been doing a ass load of research even before i bought the keto, and with the amount of information on the net, especially with ke70 4age conversions, it wouldn't take much to put me back on track if i was lost. I'm mainly doing this for the fun and something that at the end of the day i can stand back and say "i built that"

 

I've started my shopping list for the conversion and its slowly coming together. Slowly being the key word.

 

If all things go tits up i can always palm it off to a performance shop and tell them to fix it >.< (last option)

[xmoht]

  Impulss said:

If all things go tits up i can always palm it off to a performance shop and tell them to fix it >.< (last option)

 

I don't mean to be a downer, and as you say this is a last resort option. But even having that option in the back of your mind, wouldn't it be better to buy a more complete package? Pay a little more now and save yourself a lot in the future?

[Impulss]

More complete package being a working engine?

 

+ I'm a bit of a tight ass and it'd be more fun to rebuild the bastard. Atleast that way when time comes to get a rebuild happening i could do it all myself.

 

I've rebuilt a motor before (was out of a 94 lancer, so its not really a motor) plus i've got family members who are mechanics who I'm sure are willing to help... if it makes any difference

Edited June 17, 2010 by Impulss

[RainWarriorDregs]

yeah, this is true, especially for a 20v conversion. It seems to have alot more ancilliary components needed.

[Sloth]

By a "complete package" I think he means a halfcut, that should have more of the bits you need (loom etc), but it still might need to be converted to RWD (not exactly sure what else that needs). I recently got a 20v put into my AE86, all the work was done by my mechanic and it ended up taking quite a while and there were lots of hiccups along the way. Sam Q has a good reference for doing the AE86 20v conversion, so you can check out his site (http://s-86.com/).

 

I thought the 4AGZE was 16v and the 20v (silver and blacktop) we both N/A... I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what wikipedia said last time I read the "Toyota A Series Engine" article.

[xmoht]

  Sloth said:

By a "complete package" I think he means a halfcut, that should have more of the bits you need (loom etc), but it still might need to be converted to RWD (not exactly sure what else that needs). I recently got a 20v put into my AE86, all the work was done by my mechanic and it ended up taking quite a while and there were lots of hiccups along the way. Sam Q has a good reference for doing the AE86 20v conversion, so you can check out his site (http://s-86.com/).

 

I thought the 4AGZE was 16v and the 20v (silver and blacktop) we both N/A... I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what wikipedia said last time I read the "Toyota A Series Engine" article.

 

Nah wasn't talking about a half cut, not really worth it because of the whole RWD thing. I just mean something with a few more bits and bobs, and that doesn't need major repair to get it working.

 

Sold now anyway, be interested to know if he bought it.

[Impulss]

Nah didn't end up buying it. The 12 hour drive thing put me off the most, kind of kicking myself now though cause it went so cheap. Would have been a good learning experience too ;)

 

Oh well, I'm always on the look out for a cheap 20v 4age around brisbane, so if anyone knows any, send me a msg.

 

I have to ask too, how much did it cost to get your mechanic to do the conversion. I tried to hit up a place i knew (dynotune, brownsplains)to see how much it was, (i figured if it wasn't that much extra i may as well get a professional to do it and get a warranty too) but they told me not many places do them cause theres no money in it. If anyone knows a place that will do it and cheap let me know. Otherwise i'm all about doing it myself (i should do this >.<)