Replaced engine in 91 Camry 4cyl

[MrBill91Camry]

Well, we were still having overheating problems with my daughters 91 Camry. So I decided to tear into the head.

What a friggin job!!! turns out head gasket was shot, head not cracked but I found the block was cracked between the head bolt and water jacket by #3 cylinder, between the water jackets and back to the other head bolt.

So I purchased a JDM from Japan Direct in Raleigh NC. $750 delivered to my door. This engine was mint!! Looks like it has 30K tops!!! Very happy with motor.

I have been working on cars for 33yrs and this was the most labor intensive engine replacement I have ever done!!!! 2 guys for 2-10hr days and a full 8hrs for me today to button it up.

I did do a lot of other repairs, rebuilt the axles, replaces hoses and rack boots and a lot of cleaning etc. I highly recommend Japan Direct if anyone is looking for a good replacement engine

[Doctor J]

Unfortunately, here in California some places are selling "clean" engines from locally wrecked RAV-4, claiming they are from Japan!
However I personally still prefer good used engine vs rebuild one for Camry (but I am against the used transmissions!)

[disregard]

Not bad ! Looks like you may be able to get another 15 years out of that 91 camry.
But one question pops up, couldn't you have just put a 2.2 in there from a 95 or so camry?

after all it is the same design same trans and everything around it is pretty much the same. you could probably have gotten a good used one from the local yard for about 500 bucks. Whether the mounts are the same I dont know though since I think it would be a slightly taller motor.

[MrBill91Camry]

I believe it is the 2.2 because I had to use my valve cover and if I wanted to I could have changed the inner & outer timing cover so the harness would look original, but I was to lazy. LOL

[disregard]

cool, a 5sfe 2.2 in a 91 Camry that should be a nice little power boost over the old 3sfe 2.0

Do you have pictures of the car Mr Bill ? Engine pics ? I would love to see it.

[MrBill91Camry]

I will post some pics over the weekend, the car does run really well!!!

[Dave88LX]

My buddy was talking about getting JDM for his Supra I think it was.

What exactly is a JDM engine?

[MrBill91Camry]

Japanese Domestic Market, these are motors from Japan that tend to have less mileage on them and in the case of my engine, was still used in their cars up until around 2000 or a little later.

That gives the availability of a engine with less mileage as for one that is out of a US based car. I believe the 2.0 and the 2.2 where not used in the US after 1996.

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by MrBill91Camry

Japanese Domestic Market, these are motors from Japan that tend to have less mileage on them and in the case of my engine, was still used in their cars up until around 2000 or a little later.

That gives the availability of a engine with less mileage as for one that is out of a US based car. I believe the 2.0 and the 2.2 where not used in the US after 1996.

A revised 3s-fe (2.0L) was the motor in the early Rav4's from the late 90's. It had a revised ignition system, manifolds and a few other little bits.

The '91 Camry was the last car to have the original style 3s-fe that I'm aware of.

The Camry had the 5s-fe (2.2L) from '92-'01 with slight changes throughout the years (distributorless ignition, knock sensor, OBD-II compliance, etc).

Toyota still uses the same basic block in brand-new cars in Japan (3s-gte in the new Caldina) - from an engine originally designed in the early 80's...

-Charlie

[MrBill91Camry]

Here is a pic of the cracked block, you can see the crack really well between the 2 water passages on the 2nd cylinder from the left, which is actually #3
and a pic of the new engine installed, I will post some pics of the car soon.

The batteries died after the first pic

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...malibu/006.jpg"

[disregard]

what year is that engine ? Thats a 2.0 not a 2.2
Is it running at the stock 115 HP ?

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Yup, that's a trusty old 2.0L 3SFE, but MAN is it ever clean...I am green with that mortal sin they call envy Now you can keep the car forever...

[MrBill91Camry]

Originally Posted by disregard

what year is that engine ? Thats a 2.0 not a 2.2
Is it running at the stock 115 HP ?

It has to be a latre 90's because when we removed the valve cover, it looked brand new, just a light oil coating gold in color and everything was still shiny.
It did say 2.0 on the valve cover. It runs great and she is getting 27.9 mpg around town!!! Here are some pics of the car.

[TBayToyotaBoy]

27.9mpg in city traffic is great! Good for you, the car looks clean, too...

[disregard]

wow that car is mint !
How are you getting 28mpg in the city ???
I think the highest im getting is 22 ....wow!