'90 Camry 4-cyl engine swap - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

E_S · 03-07-2011, 05:28 PM

The engine in my '90 Camry 4-cyl has lost most of the compression on #3, probably due to a broken piston ring, so I guess it's time for some work.

There are two alternatives:

1. Swap in another 3S-FE. I can get a 110k mile engine for free if I pull it myself from a rusted out parts car.

2. Swap in an early (87-90, 156 hp euro) 3S-GE. I understand the engine drops right in, but I guess I have to swap harness and ECU. I can get the engine itself complete for $300, but the harness and ECU is not available. Will the early 3S-GE work with the 3S-FE ECU/harness, or are the differences too many/big?

BTW, my car is a 5-speed manual.

The car itself is no gem, it does have a few rust spots etc, but the interior is spotless and it's a great and cheap daily driver.

atobe · 03-07-2011, 06:07 PM

#1 would be the easiest solution for you
#2 it won't run w/o it's harness/ECU... save yourself the headache of making it work w/o it

E_S · 03-08-2011, 01:55 AM

Thanks!

Then I'll go for #1. Won't cost me much either - just some new seals and a new timing belt etc. That way, I'll probably have the car up and working again in a short time. How much time should I expect to spend on pulling/installing the engine? I have lots of experience from german cars, but not on Toyotas or transverse-engined cars at all..

white90dx · 03-08-2011, 01:13 PM

Pulling the engine isn't hard. Take it out the top with the transmission still attached. Wiring harness pulls into the engine bay from behind the glove box, everything else is pretty straight forward.

It takes longer than some cars (a few buddies and I can replace a Subaru engine in about 3 hours total), but it is probably easier than most German stuff.

-Charlie