1985 a bad year?

[macasdude]

i just bought a 1985 mr2 that had a bad engine so i plan on putting a 3-sgte engine in it it has a little rust on the front fender but the rest is in real good condition is it worth the 1200 for the 3-sgte engine to go into a 85? or should i buy a later year of the mk1 to put the engine into and soop up!? i notice that there isnt alot of people with 85's are they rare? or just not as good as the later years? please help!

[CpuZapper]

Nope, not a bad year - one of the best in my opinion. Check your thread in the main MK1 section though.

[macasdude]

hrmm its not showing ur reply up here but i read what you said in the email it sent me thanx for replying! this engine swap think might be harder than i thought thanx a bundle though i think i will go ahead and keep it a mk1 and restore it and then later on down the line make a 1.5

[mr220v]

1985 was the best year in my opinion.

If you're looking for an easier swap, why not consider a 20v? Its a bolt-in proposition, and makes 150hp or so.

I make a custom engine harness for this conversion. Usually the total cost of the swap ends up in the $900-$1300 for a silvertop, and $1200-$1700 for a blacktop.

A very good swap if you're not up to a 3sgte conversion.

[CpuZapper]

Here is what I said:

Originally Posted by CpuZapper

'85 Hardtops have always been difficult to find, and are becoming moreso. You'll probably find it will cost a lot more than $1700 to shoehorn a 3SGTE in and still have it be any kind of reliable. In terms of restoration value, there isn't much, except to MR2 collectors. Since it's a one owner car, I'd probably at least fix it up, and maybe put some new panels on it (since you can replace the front fenders, bumper, lower airdam, and hood easily). $500 is about the right price for a non-running, OK condition '85 HT. I have seen fully restored (damn near perfect) '85 HTs go for more than well cared for '88 SCs, but it usually costs more than it's worth unless you're a autobody worker. If the car is in good shape though, I'd rather see it stay a MK1, and leave the MK1.5 debauchery for an '87+.

Personally I'd take the '85, clean it up, get a JDM 4AGZE from an AE111 (170ish hp) and swap it in. Instead of needing to do a whole bunch of fab work, and trial and error, all you need is to replace the clutch, remove the power steering pump, build an exhaust setup, install the wiring harness in place of the old one (easy to remove once the engine is out), replace the intercooler with an MR2 unit, and plug it in.

Or you can get a JDM MR2 SC rear clip and just plug and play everything: tranny, axles, suspension, wiring, intercooler, decklid, taillights (unless you like the '85/'86 ones, like I do), it all should just drop right in, except for one bolt hole you'll have to slot on the rear tranny mount - it's apparent as soon as you try to install it what needs to be done.

Added: If you get a whole rear clip (either USDM or JDM) you should have to do no major wiring (should be none at all), and it should take no more than a couple days to move everything over.

Originally Posted by CpuZapper

With a 3s you need to build motor mounts, tranny mounts, fuel system upgrades, deal with axles, hubs, suspension (since the 3s is heavier), then integrate the wiring, figure out how to mount an IC since the 3s is a sidemount, etc., the list goes on and on. If you've got more questions, just let me know.

Added:
20v swaps are nice (you do have to move some coolant passages and do some wiring) if you like high revving motors that don't make a lot of torque, but going with a 4agze gives you so much more power potential. It already has forged low-compression pistons, and stronger rods. Just ditch the supercharger, bolt on an NA intake manifold, and shove a turbo on it. The stock 4AGZE ECU will take about 14lbs boost without any problem. Should be good for around 200hp to the ground, without the 50hp parasitic loss of the SC12 Supercharger. That's more power than a stock 3SGTE, is lighter overall, requires no major suspension or drivetrain modification, and cheaper in the end.

[mr220v]

You'd be surprised about the 20v's torque. Its a 1.6L motor, but off the line its pretty quick. I'd say thats one of its nicest features. Its not a peaky motor and has a very wide power band.

But yeah, any FI motor is gonna have more potential.

[macasdude]

know of any sites where i can look at these engines?

[novatc]

fyi-you might want to check out club4age.com, they do 20v swaps all the time. its still toyota, but for the sr5(ae86) guys as in front engine,rwd. the 20v engine is preferred over the 4agze's for drifting. i had an sr5 for a while and frequently visited this site. good luck!

[mr220v]

I do 4age 20v swaps all the time. I've done 23

[CpuZapper]

www.jarcoinc.com and I have a friend who specializes in importing JDM 4AGZEs