1st & 2nd Generation (1983–1986 & 1987-1991)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1983-1986 & 1987-1991.
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
Ok, so I've actually found the Camry Wagon of my dreams, perfect in just about every way, save for the fact that it's a V6 instead of a 4-cylinder. Any real-world comments on the difference in gas mileage or reliability? Having worked on an ES250 I can attest that the four-cylinder is a heck of a lot easier to wrench on...
Also, if I really get into it, what are the logistics of a 5-speed swap?
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Between my friends and I, we've owned over 16 Gen2 Camry Wagons. And we want more.
BUMP...hopefully Jetspeedcamry will see this...he swapped the auto out of his.
As far as fuel mileage, expect roughly 24-26mpg city driving, closer to 30 (in my experience) on the open road.
The 2VZ-FE transverse V6 engines can be just as reliable as the four-bangers. I put 1400km (900miles) on my Camry every week for work--and work is rural paper delivery. Very hard on cars. The car (except for the rear struts) has held-up perfectly. As long as the previous owners maintained the car, it'll go forever. I won't even think of selling mine until well past 500,000km (310,000mi) because I love the torque. They're not the fastest cars out there, but the 5-speed is waaaaay more fun than auto and I still embarass my fair share of Integras/Civics.
If you swap-out for a 5-speed, remember that parts will be more hard to come by, and maybe a little more expensive. Aside from top-end work like sparks and leads, I don't find the V6 any harder to work on than the 4 cylinders.
Hope this helps.
__________________ 1990 5spd V6 Camry (Still kicking at 393,000km) 1991 Celica GTS -- Pappa needs a 3SGTE...and AWD for all this friggin' snow
Honda my A$$, you just can't kill a Yota...
I have a 89 2.5 V-6 and I get about 20 mpg city and 26 highway. They are very reliable if you maintain them. I change oil every 2500 miles and flush the trans fluid every 60,000
miles or so. I have 301,332 miles with the origninal engine and auto transmission, so
they can be very reliable. The v-6 is harder to reach the back spark plugs and the timing belt is a little more difficult.
I am assuming that the V6 is a non-interference engine? I was under the impression Toyota did not use an interference design until the late '90's. The particular car I'm looking at only has 130,000 on it, but it is a Chicago car, so we will see.
The gas mileage is a bummer. My I4 auto wagon routinely got about 30 mpg, give or take a couple, and my brother's I4/5-speed '89 gets nearly 35.
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Between my friends and I, we've owned over 16 Gen2 Camry Wagons. And we want more.
Now, i'm pretty biased, so your question for if your should swap out the I4 for the V6, is going to be answered with a yes. LOL.
V6 = More power
V6 = Torque
V6 = Smooth
V6 = Better than a 3SGE/GTE because, well, its a V6 .haha.
Working on them is a cinch! Granted, the rear sparkies a hard to get to, and requred plenum removal etc etc. However, its a small price to pay. At least you can enjoy taking your motor apart and replacing other things when you do get to doing it.
Manual swap is easy, took me a few weeks since i was taking my time and learning everything as i went along, but, you could get it done in days if you really wanted to and had help (i did it by myself).
Hmm...the cutting/welding business has me a touch concerned. I have de-engined a gen2 Camry before, bear in mind it was a 4-cyl auto that we were sending out for scrap and I could've paid closer attention...we were pressed for time. Wound up taking a hacksaw to the wiring harness...oh well.
I do have a pal that slaps Subarus together in this fashion all the time. Then again, they frequently wind up feeling...slapped together. I'm a Camry driver for that rock-solid feel of precision. That said, you're not the first I've heard tout the virtues of a V6, 5-speed Camry. A friend of a friend had a Gen2 sedan so equipped from the factory and it was supposedly a serious hoot.
I'll let you guys know how the test drive goes. Being as this wagon only has 130,000 on it I'm not anticipating it to need much of anything for a while...
-Tim Hansen
__________________
Between my friends and I, we've owned over 16 Gen2 Camry Wagons. And we want more.
__________________ 1990 5spd V6 Camry (Still kicking at 393,000km) 1991 Celica GTS -- Pappa needs a 3SGTE...and AWD for all this friggin' snow
Honda my A$$, you just can't kill a Yota...
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Gen2 2.0 I4 vs. 2.5 V6
1990 5spd V6 Camry (Still kicking at 393,000km) 1991 Celica GTS -- Pappa needs a 3SGTE...and AWD for all this friggin' snow
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