Toyota MR2 Message Board - View Single Post - 4A-GE MK1 Engine Swapped to newer 4A-GE Timing problems

LokiRx7 · 10-11-2008, 05:17 PM

My 3 rib blue top bit the dust while cruising home on the interstate, wasnt doing anything out of line, I was doing about 60-65 and lost all power... Had to get a tow home, and checking the plugs and a compression test showed that the engine decided to take a really big dump....

I had a 1989 GT-S a few years ago, and after it was in an accident I parted it out. I saved the engine as it ran great, I have swapped it in and switched the intake manifold and all the water outlets to the MR2 specific ones. Now I also swapped the distributor since it didnt have the proper connectors to use it with my ignitor/coil pack.

I have had the distributor out a dozen times now and tried setting it several different ways. Now it seems that the firing order under the GT-S distributor cap doesnt match my MR2's cap. And it also seems that the caps arent interchangable it looks as if the GT-S's mounting tabs are in different positions... I am a little agitated to say the least, so odds are I am missing something very simple, I am sure of it.

With as many times as I have had the distributor out, I am sure that it isnt off by a few teeth, I always set the engine at TDC when removing it to make re-installation easier.

If anyone can shed some light on this it will be greatly appreciated. I am going to keep on trying different solutions until I find something that works. If at all possible I would like to avoid cannibalizing this distibutor because I now have a 1988 GT-S and it would be nice to have a spare.

10-11-2008, 05:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
LokiRx7 MR2 + Flat Black = FAIL Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.C. Ohio Posts: 320 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Swapped to newer 4A-GE Timing problems My 3 rib blue top bit the dust while cruising home on the interstate, wasnt doing anything out of line, I was doing about 60-65 and lost all power... Had to get a tow home, and checking the plugs and a compression test showed that the engine decided to take a really big dump.... I had a 1989 GT-S a few years ago, and after it was in an accident I parted it out. I saved the engine as it ran great, I have swapped it in and switched the intake manifold and all the water outlets to the MR2 specific ones. Now I also swapped the distributor since it didnt have the proper connectors to use it with my ignitor/coil pack. I have had the distributor out a dozen times now and tried setting it several different ways. Now it seems that the firing order under the GT-S distributor cap doesnt match my MR2's cap. And it also seems that the caps arent interchangable it looks as if the GT-S's mounting tabs are in different positions... I am a little agitated to say the least, so odds are I am missing something very simple, I am sure of it. With as many times as I have had the distributor out, I am sure that it isnt off by a few teeth, I always set the engine at TDC when removing it to make re-installation easier. If anyone can shed some light on this it will be greatly appreciated. I am going to keep on trying different solutions until I find something that works. If at all possible I would like to avoid cannibalizing this distibutor because I now have a 1988 GT-S and it would be nice to have a spare.