1988 3s-fe, 8 Bolt Vs 6 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

bmills4 · 09-07-2006, 06:18 PM

I have an 88 Camry with the 3s-fe and manual transmission. Need a new engine (burning oil badly) and I am looking at getting a JDM engine for it. Anyone know if there is any way to tell from the VIN number if it is a 6 bolt or 8 bolt?

I have seen some reference in places that an S in the 4th position of the VIN indicates the 8 bolt. Anyone that can comment on that?

Do not want to take engine out until I have replacement if possible, so hard to tell if it is a 6 or 8, unless there is some way to view it with everything in place. Really didn't look that close, but did not see anything from a quick look at it.

I am near Chicago and can get a 6 bolt from here which will save me the shipping. Only ones they have are 6 bolt from automatic setups, so no manual flywheel. If mine is an 8 it will not bolt up. Possible to get a 6 bolt manual flywheel from somewhere? Jukyard only?

Any guidance will be appreciated.

IvanHoe · 09-07-2006, 06:44 PM

do the valve seals on your original engine!

Tommy · 09-07-2006, 09:48 PM

88 is a 6-bolt.

bmills4 · 09-08-2006, 12:28 AM

245,000....... time to upgrade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanHoe

do the valve seals on your original engine!

88 LE · 09-08-2006, 07:12 AM

Early 3S-FEs are 6 bolt. Later ones are 8 bolt.

Theres a way to tell by the manufacturing date of the car, but I forget when the cut off happened (6 bolt to 8 bolt).

Whoever you buy the engine from, should give you the correct flexplate (auto tranny) or flywheel (manual tranny) for the engine.

Are you buying a complete engine or a longblock (block with internals + head)?

bmills4 · 09-08-2006, 09:54 AM

Thanks for the reply 88LE. Complete jdm engine. As I said in my post the Chicago supplier does not have a manual flywheel, only 6 bolt engines that had auto trans so they have a flex plate. If the engine in the car now is 6 bolt, I am fine. If it is 8 bolt I would have to find an 8 bolt flywheel.

Most of the JDM engines are on either coast. being in the center of the country the shipping is at least $150. Chicago supplieer is only 30 miles from me, so I can pick up and save that. Plus his price is good.

Is there any type of inspection cover on the trans that would allow me to view the crankshaft or flywheel to see the number of bolts?

Tommy, you commented that the 88 is for sure a 6. Do you state that from first hand knowledge or experience, or passing on something you heard or read. I have heard it both ways, so I don't know who to believe. Concerned if I don't confirm before I buy the engine that Murphy's Law will take over.

88 LE · 09-08-2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmills4

Is there any type of inspection cover on the trans that would allow me to view the crankshaft or flywheel to see the number of bolts?

There is a cover on the bottom of the tranny, between the block and tranny. Auto trannys have this cover, not sure about a manual tranny.

Even if it did have a inspection cover, you can't see the flywheel/crank bolts as the clutch assembly would be in the way.

I know you said that you don't want to pull the engine till you get a replacement. But pulling the engine would confirm if your engine has a 6 bolt or 8 bolt crank. Your eventually going to have to pull the engine anyways.

Doctor J · 09-08-2006, 10:46 AM

According to the number of sources the 6 to 8 bolt switch happened in Jan 88 for Celica model, not sure for Camry. If the cylinder block has a plug in the oil passage located below the oil sender hole in the head, the engine most likely has 6 bolt pattern.
My 87 wagon has S the 4th digit, yet it is 6 bolts.

fredk · 09-08-2006, 08:15 PM

a plug below the oil sender, does this mean there is an early and late head too doctorj?

Tommy · 09-09-2006, 01:11 AM

If its a JDM engine, see what valve cover it has. if it has the same one as what you have now,its gonna be a 87-91 3SFE and and I believe 89+ was 8bolt, if its from a 87-88, almost positive its gonna be a 6bolt.

if the jdm engine has a different valve cover, one with square plug boots, then its DEFINATLY an 8-bolt. those engines were what got used in camry's over there instead of the 5SFE.

Either one can fit, just as 88 said, you might just have to buy the correct plate or flywheel if they cant get you one to go with the engine. Try to get a later square plug 3SFE if you can, supposedly 140hp vs 115, although i couldnt tell much of a difference with mine. Newer is usually better anyway.

88 LE · 09-09-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

If its a JDM engine, see what valve cover it has. if it has the same one as what you have now,its gonna be a 87-91 3SFE and and I believe 89+ was 8bolt, if its from a 87-88, almost positive its gonna be a 6bolt.

The 88 I had is 6 bolt. Manufactured in June of 88.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmills4

I have seen some reference in places that an S in the 4th position of the VIN indicates the 8 bolt. Anyone that can comment on that?

S in 4th position of the VIN, is the first letter of the chassis code. It has nothing to do with the engine having a 6 bolt or 8 bolt crank.

SV21 = base or dx model, I4
SV22 = le model, I4
SV25 = all trac, I4

The VIN on the 88 I had began with JT2SV22.

Doctor J · 09-09-2006, 04:33 PM

Some early 87 blocks had rudimentary oil sender passage cast in, same as on 1st gen. 2S-FE. Starting 1988, the block cast was slightly revised,and the plug was no longer needed.