4A-GE MK1 Engine Con rod bearing question

Gyvven · 11-12-2009, 10:39 AM

I picked up an 85 with a vicious rod knock for dirt cheap. My question is; can I drop the oil pan and replace the bearings without pulling the entire motor?

I heard of a guy swapping rods from underneath, so I think it's possible. I just want to be sure. .

The car ran great and I'd hate to go through all the trouble and possible mishaps of pulling the motor for a quick and simple job. I've done it on a 300m, just wondering if I can do it on an mr2.

toyotaspeed90 · 11-12-2009, 11:19 AM

if it has a rod knock, you will need to do more than replace the bearing..... more than likely the rod is out of round

I'm about 99.9% sure the pistons won't come out the bottom.... you would have to pull the head to be able to get the rods out... but even then, you should pull the crank to make sure it's within spec....

pulling the engine isn't difficult in these cars.....

Gyvven · 11-12-2009, 11:35 AM

So, I can get to the bearings. If the crank and rods are scored or out of round, I'll replace them. I've got a crank out a GZE I can put in if need be. I just don't have a spare rod laying around. Will the pistons slide down far enough to get at the wrist pins? Or if the crank is out I can pull them all the way out? It'd just be really hard to get them back in without being able to get a ring compressor in there.

I've pulled one of these out before, I'm just trying to avoid hours of disconnecting and reconnecting stuff, especially since it's starting to get cold up here in Minnesota.

toyotaspeed90 · 11-12-2009, 09:37 PM

gze crank is different than an 85 crank..... rods won't fit

you won't be able to check roundness of the rod with the crank in the block.... and you won't be able to pull the crank without pulling the trans.... and at that point, you might as well pull motor & trans as it only takes a few hours

11-12-2009, 10:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gyvven Some skillz Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 91 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Con rod bearing question I picked up an 85 with a vicious rod knock for dirt cheap. My question is; can I drop the oil pan and replace the bearings without pulling the entire motor? I heard of a guy swapping rods from underneath, so I think it's possible. I just want to be sure. . The car ran great and I'd hate to go through all the trouble and possible mishaps of pulling the motor for a quick and simple job. I've done it on a 300m, just wondering if I can do it on an mr2.

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11-12-2009, 11:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,409 Thanks: 0 Thanked 149 Times in 144 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	if it has a rod knock, you will need to do more than replace the bearing..... more than likely the rod is out of round I'm about 99.9% sure the pistons won't come out the bottom.... you would have to pull the head to be able to get the rods out... but even then, you should pull the crank to make sure it's within spec.... pulling the engine isn't difficult in these cars.....

11-12-2009, 11:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gyvven Some skillz Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 91 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	So, I can get to the bearings. If the crank and rods are scored or out of round, I'll replace them. I've got a crank out a GZE I can put in if need be. I just don't have a spare rod laying around. Will the pistons slide down far enough to get at the wrist pins? Or if the crank is out I can pull them all the way out? It'd just be really hard to get them back in without being able to get a ring compressor in there. I've pulled one of these out before, I'm just trying to avoid hours of disconnecting and reconnecting stuff, especially since it's starting to get cold up here in Minnesota.

11-12-2009, 09:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,409 Thanks: 0 Thanked 149 Times in 144 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	gze crank is different than an 85 crank..... rods won't fit you won't be able to check roundness of the rod with the crank in the block.... and you won't be able to pull the crank without pulling the trans.... and at that point, you might as well pull motor & trans as it only takes a few hours