1988 mr2 and corolla gts, parts swapablilty

Krimzen · 10-27-2008, 05:43 PM

I got a strange issue with Nopi auto parts.... I am currently rebuilding a 4age engine for a corolla gts. Now I have some mr2s so I am no stranger to the rebuild and parts needed for the Mk1. Well when I look up the parts (pistons and rings), to order they are listed for diff. prices,,,, same engine though,,,,,, I called over there and the employee over there was arguing with me telling me that they were diff. parts.

Well the difference is the Corolla GTS lists the parts for 284.43

The MR2 is for: 153.71

The Mr2 is the no brainer right...... Unless there is some kind of difference.

Thank you>

Papo J · 10-27-2008, 09:19 PM

You have to remember that the 4A-GE was offered with 2 different types of pistons and rods. You need to know whether the engine you're working on is an early engine with small internals, a later engine (88-89) with the large internals (larger rods and pins) or a small port, hi-comp engine with the higher compression pistons. What year GTS are you working on?

Krimzen · 10-27-2008, 11:24 PM

I am not too sure about the engine.... I bought the engine off of a floor from a machine shop. The car from North Carolina is an 86 corolla gts. How can I check if I am small or large port????

Thanks.

Papo J · 10-28-2008, 08:14 AM

The small port intake manifold only has 4 runners, the large port has TVIS and 8 runners. The only way to know for sure if you have a large or small internals engine is to remove the oil pan and check the rod size. Also, all the later, large internal engines including the small ports had 7 strengthening ribs along the block, the early ones only had 3. Cam cover colors don't mean much because those can be and normally are switched around between engines.

novatc · 11-25-2008, 08:48 PM

that explains why my '88 Chevy Nova Twin-Cam ran so great, and my '86 MK1 runs like crap, and blew a head gasket. wonder if i could rebuild the '86 motor to '88 specs? Got a reman head on motor. I never knew the difference, thanx for the insight.

10-27-2008, 05:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Krimzen No Skills Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 65 Thanks: 8 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	1988 mr2 and corolla gts, parts swapablilty I got a strange issue with Nopi auto parts.... I am currently rebuilding a 4age engine for a corolla gts. Now I have some mr2s so I am no stranger to the rebuild and parts needed for the Mk1. Well when I look up the parts (pistons and rings), to order they are listed for diff. prices,,,, same engine though,,,,,, I called over there and the employee over there was arguing with me telling me that they were diff. parts. Well the difference is the Corolla GTS lists the parts for 284.43 The MR2 is for: 153.71 The Mr2 is the no brainer right...... Unless there is some kind of difference. Thank you>

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10-27-2008, 09:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Papo J 6SPD GTE Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 591 Thanks: 2 Thanked 50 Times in 49 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	You have to remember that the 4A-GE was offered with 2 different types of pistons and rods. You need to know whether the engine you're working on is an early engine with small internals, a later engine (88-89) with the large internals (larger rods and pins) or a small port, hi-comp engine with the higher compression pistons. What year GTS are you working on?

10-27-2008, 11:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Krimzen No Skills Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 65 Thanks: 8 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I am not too sure about the engine.... I bought the engine off of a floor from a machine shop. The car from North Carolina is an 86 corolla gts. How can I check if I am small or large port???? Thanks.

10-28-2008, 08:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Papo J 6SPD GTE Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 591 Thanks: 2 Thanked 50 Times in 49 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	The small port intake manifold only has 4 runners, the large port has TVIS and 8 runners. The only way to know for sure if you have a large or small internals engine is to remove the oil pan and check the rod size. Also, all the later, large internal engines including the small ports had 7 strengthening ribs along the block, the early ones only had 3. Cam cover colors don't mean much because those can be and normally are switched around between engines.

11-25-2008, 08:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
novatc No Skills Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 46 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	that explains why my '88 Chevy Nova Twin-Cam ran so great, and my '86 MK1 runs like crap, and blew a head gasket. wonder if i could rebuild the '86 motor to '88 specs? Got a reman head on motor. I never knew the difference, thanx for the insight.