A few questions on the Gen 2 camry and st18x celica

[Covert_operatoR]

Gday, new around here.
Have a prestine condition 92 (last of line) gen 2 camry sitting outside begging for a lil modification. Nothing special, 3sfe with auto transmission. Theres a few things niggling me and require a little more information about it.

I've noticed that the gen 2 camry and the st18x celica are pretty similar in respect to engine and transmission, so I've a few question regarding this. First of all,

1. Is the 4 spd auto in the camry the same as the one in the 3sfe powered auto st18x
celica?
2. If so, is the ECU unit that controls the box the same (same shift point etc)? Most importantly, is it cross compatible?

Now, why I ask this? The thing that is niggling me most is that the transmission shifts terribly too early in the rev range. The car hauls nicely when kept in 2nd gear (provided im up in the higher parts of the rev range). Does the auto celica suffer from this problem as well? There has been many many moments where I've desired the 1st gear to last just a few thousand revs more. I understand that there is a separate ECU unit that controls the auto box, does this also control the shift points as well? The engine is nice, but its terribly hampered by the box (a gearbox change is, at the moment, out of the question, want to keep things largely stock)

It would be awesome if the ECU units do change the shifts characterstics, I'm sick of being left behind by my friends 4cyl sportivo at the lights when I truly know the gen 2 still has so much potential inside.

As an aside, at the seats from the celica a bolt on affair on the camry?

thanks all.

[illusive562]

ive noticed on my 91 camry...that it bogs down right when it hits 40 mph...i dont know what geat thats in, but i can definitely notice that the car exhaust tone changes...my car only has 25 k miles and it seems like something is keeping my car form running its full potential...all i know is that my car is a mechanically controlled transmission (no ECT button)...my freind has an 88 camry with an electronicallt controlled transmission (with ECT button)...but i have no idea which is better...

[Covert_operatoR]

Mine has an overdrive button, which should be similar to the ECT button (if im not mistaken) turning it off keeps the engine revving at about 3-4k rpm at 90 km/h (roughly 40mph i suppose), otherwise its sits around 2k rpm being gutless at that speed.
Really maddening stuff, because so many times, its this sort of speed where you really need the power to overtake trucks on a motorway.

[88 LE]

^ Well peak torque on a 3S-FE is at 4,400 rpm.

I'm not sure if the Celica uses the same exact tranny or not.

Your Camry either has a A140E (electronic) or A140L (mechanical).

ECT and overdrive are 2 different things.

[Covert_operatoR]

My bad, so what does the ECT control?
Im pretty sure mines running the mechanical tranny, will check tomorrow (1am and too lazy to bring a torch outside)

anyone know if the seats from a st18x celica or ae86 fit onto the camry seat runners without modification?

also, I've seen automatic transmission oil cooler kits, anyone have experience with them? and know if they truly do help? I'm under the impression its more of a precautionary thing, but would it indeed increase the longevity of the transmission with the abuse its now subject to?

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by Covert_operatoR

My bad, so what does the ECT control?

ECT = electronic controlled transmission.

Theres a switch behind the e-brake lever that says normal and power. And theres also a ECT ECU buried under the dash.

With the switch in "power", the transmission holds a gear longer before it upshifts to the next gear.

anyone know if the seats from a st18x celica or ae86 fit onto the camry seat runners without modification?

I doubt it, so modification is probably required.

If you know how to weld and fabricate, its not a big deal

also, I've seen automatic transmission oil cooler kits, anyone have experience with them? and know if they truly do help? I'm under the impression its more of a precautionary thing, but would it indeed increase the longevity of the transmission with the abuse its now subject to?

Yes, they help. However if your transmission is failing, nothing is going to save it from failing.

With that said, if your looking into one, get one with bar and plate (also called stacked plate) construction.

http://www.bmracing.com/index.php?id...bcat=28&pid=73

[Covert_operatoR]

very sweet... guess I'll pick one up from work, good thing working at a auto shop