Pondering an engine swap for fuel mileage

[nogard]

I see they have finally used this trick with the Chevy Cruze Eco. They put a tiny turbocharged engine in it.

I was thinking what if I took the 2.0L 4 cyl out and put in a 1.3L turbocharged (4E-FTE) Starlet engine, or a aftermarket turbo charged 5E-FE 1.5L Paseo engine.

The thought would be either a car with a smaller engine that doesn't have the same amount of power which would be sacrificed for fuel economy. Or with a turboed engine, if you stay off the boost and at idle there is less gas being used for idling and light driving, but the same amount of HP available when needed.

['88 All-Trac]

Will be a very hard swap to pull off... We don't really have a proper frame in these to do custom mounts, but if you have the fab skill and electronics know-how, then go for it.

[Zembonez]

Even IF you could make it all work, you probably would not get much different mileage. Even if you did, it would take FOREVER to make up the cost of the swap.

It no makee sense. You'd need a major weight reduction to see much improvement in MPG.

[white90dx]

Running right, you should be getting 30-40mpg... how much more do you want from a 20 year old car?

Have you done the math on the savings? How much more mileage do you think you can get? What trans would you use that would allow the better mileage? What about the horrible aerodynamics of the gen2 Camry?

It doesn't add up.

-Charlie

[nogard]

This is what I was looking for, some good perspective. In reality as neat as the 4E-FTE would be, for a daily driver I'm sure it wouldn't be the greatest getting parts for.

I know it is 20 years old and I shouldn't expect too much. I'm impressed with what it can do compaired to what is out there now days. I can get 35 mpg average in the summer. Best I've done on a 4 mile trip accross town was 47 mpg.

Thanks for the input.