Newby just purchased 89 camry alltrac 5sp - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

edt77 · 12-18-2007, 09:56 PM

Greetings,
Last week my buddie wrecked his car (with me in it) driving home from work. It put my buddie out of a car and myself out of a ride to work

.
I looked on e-bay (I have a problem buying something unsceen) and bid on a 89 all-trac camry 5sp and won for cheap! (the guy listed it in the worng spot and no-one saw it!)
I have talked to the owner and he told me it is drivable but it has a spun bearing? The engine is the 3s-fe. He is including a parts engine that he pulled w/ a good crankshaft and several good bearings...?

Forgive my ignorance but what is a spun bearing? And how much will it put me back to get it fixed in a mechanics shop?

I have always driven toyota's and am happy to get a 5sp (which i am told is rare in the alltrac's is this true?)
I am streaching thin with my fund$$ at this point and want to know a little more about the known problems before i get into the car.
I will be picking it up after x-mas outside of Oroville, Ca so I have time to rescearch.

If you guys have any questions that I could ask the owner that could get me a better idea of what I am getting into that would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ed

'89 alltrac camry
'91 toy pickup 4x4 ex-cab

es250nut · 12-19-2007, 01:37 AM

A "spun bearing" means that one or more of the crankshaft bearings has worn down enough it that it has slipped out of place and the crankshaft is no longer resting on it. The main symptom is usually a nasty banging when the engine is running. Personally I've found the best option is to get a low mileage JDM engine (around $500) with a decent warranty (usually 12 month unlimited mileage) and replace the whole engine.

If the car isn't a rustbucket you might even consider picking up a decent 3sgte engine and ECU to swap into it. (I may do that myself someday in my alltrac)

Kingdom934 · 12-19-2007, 11:18 AM

Hehe...a Alltrac 5spd is quite a treat. Hard to find even a alltrac to begin with.

Talking about having the car on the wrong spot, I found a Alltrac camry that is posted without being an Alltrac model. First I thought it was a normal DX camry, but when I looked at the pictures, It was an Alltrac LE Auto.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-Camry-1990-Toyota-Camry-NO-RESERVE-12-220_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6017QQihZ013QQitemZ 230204986208QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

The body appears to be in excellent shape (no visible rust) and interior is excellent shape. Going pretty cheap right now as it won't show up on search as a Alltrac LE XD...

Somebody should grab it...

atobe · 12-19-2007, 11:18 AM

another one !!!!!

edt77 · 12-19-2007, 08:28 PM

I am psycked to get into this alltrac! I work at Mt Ashland Ski area outside of Ashland Or. We had a late start and today was my first day at work this year. It snowed all day and there was at least 10" of snow in the parking lot at 4pm today. I am currently driving a 98 Avalon...long story, not mine, nice car though... The only way I got out was because a snow cat came and plowed the way for me and a few other unfortuinates.

I saw a lot of subarus that were not doing that bad once they got in someone elses ruts. I was wondering what is an estimate of the ground clearence on an alltrac?...Boy this makes me miss my 4runner and pickup! oh the better days. I may invest in some studded snow tires and be all the better.

One more question I was looking at a JDM 3sfe alltrac engine on ebay (item #250198740733) for under $200ish and less than $100 shipping to the shop where its getting worked on. Are these good engines...whats the benefit of toyota JDM more HP?

thanks guys i didnt mean to rant but i am psycked.

ed

atobe · 12-19-2007, 09:17 PM

benefit of a jdm engine is low milage.. but you have to reuse your manifold and exhuast.. not really more HP.. may be 10 if you're lucky also change all the belts and water pump since it's out of the car.. if you want to get one

es250nut · 12-20-2007, 12:05 AM

That engine looks about right, but you might find a local distributor that would be easier to deal with for warranty issues. Just think, if you have a problem with it would you want to have to pay to ship it back and wait for another?

camrygt4 · 12-20-2007, 12:02 PM

A word of caution on JDM motors, if you knew you were only going to have your car for 35000-65000 miles how would you treat it. I would drive it like I stole it. Every jdm engine I have ever got needed a rebuild.

edt77 · 12-22-2007, 01:20 AM

Thanks about the JDM info I have heard similar things about Honda JDM engines (my buddies B17 in his 91 GSR Integra he got a JDM replacment and ended up rebuilding his original engine because the JDM needed so much work...snd then selling the JDM engine on ebay.
I think I will stick with the spare engine that the previous owner pulled and see If I cant make something work.
Of course I wont know until I get there but my spirits are still high.

I looked at the 3sgte and ECUs on ebay as well boy they look sweet I am afraid of the decreased MPGs I kind of want a car that will be good on gas?
What kind of MPGs could I expect to get in a 3sgte 5speed alltrac?
How much am I looking to invest? 3-4k?

Ed

camrygt4 · 12-22-2007, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edt77

Thanks about the JDM info I have heard similar things about Honda JDM engines (my buddies B17 in his 91 GSR Integra he got a JDM replacment and ended up rebuilding his original engine because the JDM needed so much work...snd then selling the JDM engine on ebay.
I think I will stick with the spare engine that the previous owner pulled and see If I cant make something work.
Of course I wont know until I get there but my spirits are still high.

I looked at the 3sgte and ECUs on ebay as well boy they look sweet I am afraid of the decreased MPGs I kind of want a car that will be good on gas?
What kind of MPGs could I expect to get in a 3sgte 5speed alltrac?
How much am I looking to invest? 3-4k?

Ed

3-4k is about right if you want it to be clean, it depends on how much you do your self. Thats about what I spent and I did every thing my self. I have got up to 22mpg after the swap,it was about 26 before.

edt77 · 12-22-2007, 01:42 AM

Thanks,

I will have to keep the turbo on the backburner for now I need reliability now more than anything.

However,
I would love to be able to pull up to a WRX and out pull that mutha and leave him in my dust...just to let them know that Toyota reigns. (talk about a sleeper)

Ed

camrygt4 · 12-23-2007, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edt77

Thanks,

I will have to keep the turbo on the backburner for now I need reliability now more than anything.

However,
I would love to be able to pull up to a WRX and out pull that mutha and leave him in my dust...just to let them know that Toyota reigns. (talk about a sleeper)

Ed

I can tell you from experience Its pretty cool.

As for reliability my car runs and drives like it came from the factory with 3sgte in it.

white90dx · 12-23-2007, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edt77

Thanks,

I will have to keep the turbo on the backburner for now I need reliability now more than anything.

However,
I would love to be able to pull up to a WRX and out pull that mutha and leave him in my dust...just to let them know that Toyota reigns. (talk about a sleeper)

Ed

Definitely keep it stock if you want reliability... Even though the 3s-gte is reliable, it requires more maintenance and parts are more expensive for it. Also, you will wear out other parts in the drivetrain with more power (rear diff mount, clutch, etc).

My 3s-gte Camry is already much faster (from a roll) than a WRX... I'm looking forward to building an AWD 3s-gte Camry.

-Charlie