7M-GTE swapped AE86...

K

karloz

Member
7M-GTE swapped AE86...is this a good swap? I came accross one for sale for 4500 OBO and I'm wondering if I should jump on it or not.

Let me explain my situation:
I picked up an 84 SR5 with a 3TC w/dual webers and a kouki rear diff with disc brakes but what I believe to be an OBX helical LSD. You can see and read more about it here:http://www.sfldrifters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79305

Thing is the car has a few things wrong with it. Cracked windshield, 2nd gear pops out when cruising (stays if under accel or decel), ring & pinion gear whine, the carbs sputter under lateral Gs which I imagine would totally suck when drifting, the manual rack seems like it's in need of a rebuild, front bearings need to get done, and it has a few rust spots around the windshield where the rust went all the way through.


I've picked up a crap load of suspension parts and other stuff for it in the last few weeks but I haven't started to install the stuff yet cuz I wanna fix the rear end issue first (I have a thread about it, you've probably ran accross it already.)

Anyway, I figure if I keep this thing at some point I'm gonna want another motor, something like a 1uz since they aren't super expensive like the F20c. I don't really love turbos (that's mostly cuz I don't know much about them) so the SR would be my last choice. I figure if I pick this 7M car up, I can install all the shit I bought on this and sell the 3TC car and that will hold off an engine swap for a long time or possibly forever.

Pros: swap is done, it's a hatch, price is in reach.
Cons: might be an unpopular swap for a good reason, maybe the car is totally unbalanced with that motor, who knows if it was done right, and who knows if it was treated like shit and about to blow up (but isn't that the case with every used car?)

You guys have been around the block many more times than I have...what do you think?

Do I keep the 3TC coupe and soldier on?
Or jump ship to the ZM-GTE Hatch and cut my losses with the coupe?

Sorry for the short story.:ugh:
 
Too much weight up front for an AE86. Not only is the engine super heavy, but it throws a lot of the weight in front of the front wheels. 1UZ is lighter and keeps the weight a little farther back. The F20C and the 86 are a match made in heaven.

The other problem with the 7M is that they are unreliable. So too many cons against the 7M.
 
Thanks for the info dude, I'll stay away from it then. I'll just keep the coupe and worry about having more power when I need it and can use it.
 
7ms can be great and reliable engines. The HGs pop because of shitty head torque specs from the factory. I this this swap in this car is silly unless this is a drag car but the 7m is still a great engine and makes killer torque.
 
the idea of 7mgte's in corollas makes babies cry. this sounds like one of those "hey lets be different" situations that went wrong. i know the car you are talking about becuase i saw it on craigslist. its semi cleanish but even the swap looks like it was rigged just to work.
there are plenty of other swaps you can do to a corolla that will make it a fun car to drive around. for instance the F20 out of an s2000 is a really nice and reliable set up. or you can go with a different route like a 1uz from older lexus models that seems to be a popular swap now in the tiny corolla world.


best bet is try low balling the guy, get the car sell the motor to some unknowable older supra freak who swears by the 7ms and drop in something of you liking.
 
Everyone else posted what I thought too. I'll just add if you don't plan on doing competitive drifting (Pro-Am, XDC, etc) I wouldn't recommend a custom swap. They can be time consuming to finish correctly and that cuts away from the whole point you go it, to have a fun track car. I would say swap over to fuel injection and swap a 20v 4AG motor (ideally a Blacktop 20v). It's a relatively straight forward swap and you can find how-to guides all over the internet. Oh and the scream of open itbs and a 20v engine is worth it :D.
 
The thing is most of these swaps like this where just slapped together. You don't want to buy something that was another persons project because something that may have been important to you was not for it's owner. So you will encounter more problems that are much more difficult to diagnose and find help on.

Now the 1UZ, as rad of a swap as it is, it's far from cheap. I'd say after all is said and done (engine, 5spd trans and adapter kit, mount kit, wiring, custom manifolds, exhaust, rad, etc you will be in the range of an F20 swap. Best bet would be to sell the 3TC and scoop up a 20v, beams 3S, or a 4AG hi comp red top block with a bluetop head and a TRD 0.5mm HG. And I know you said you didn't want to do the whole boost thing, but consider a GZE swap. Pretty damn simple, 4A parts cross over and the supercharger doesn't even feel like its there just instant power. With an HKS pulley, good header, and a tune it can be really fun and not cost that much.
 
Damn, loads of great info here, thanks! I had a feeling the 1UZ was a cheap entry with an expensive exit once it was all said and done. I hadn't really looked into it too much, didn't know about needing custom manifolds, I knew about the trans adapter being needed but didn't even bother to look up the price, etc...Sad to find out it would probably come close to 4k or more once it's all over.

I have lots of time to think and learn about what swap would be best for me. Right now I have to worry about fixing all the broken shit with this car and get it running good so I can begin sliding.

Thanks again to all who chimed in.
 
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