99 Sle Solara Engine Swap

[rekosolara]

My Solara is prett much all stock it is 1999 SLE model.

Currently has her original engine the 3.0 V6 which has seen better days. For one it's over 160000 miles and also might have a problem with head gasket. What should I do I mean, I love my car I want to keep it and was thinking maybe an engine swap?

What engine would fit? maybe a better one? It is an automatic 1999 solara.
Would it be a better idea just to have the engine that is currenty in the car overhauled? I don't really know what to do but am looking for the easiest and most cost effective way to start putting the car into better condition. Afterall she has treated me pretty good.

[PortugalFocus]

Reinstall the 1MZ in there now. Maybe try to get the TRD S/C for it while it's going in or if you're more on a budget, a set of headers.

Depending on what's wrong with the engine, you could do a head gasket job on the engine while it's in the car still. It's easier to do out but, it's still a possibility while in.

It really depends what you budget is. You could do a full rebuild on the engine you have or get a used one and install that.

It really depends on a few factors.

1. Extent of the damage on your current engine.

2. Time you can do without your car.

3. The amount of money you want to spend on fixing your car.

[zoni]

^ agreed 100%

either get a low mileage used engine from a junkyard (car-part.com) or get a rebuild done. at 160k some other stuff will be going though... consider that you might be replacing other parts like brakes, rusty calipers, sway bars, struts, steering rack, fuel pump, transmission maybe after 200k, alternator, starter, etc... who knows... when a car gets old, it gets old... im not saying all that stuff will go, but its possible. there are plenty of camrys that go over 200, 250, even 275k on mostly original parts.

[rekosolara]

thanks for the advice zoni and focus, really appreciate your feedback. I've maintaied alot of the original parts for this car well but am ready to go fast. So I'll probably be doing a little of both in the near future... For the record what engines would be a possible better swap? Is there sch a thing?

[zoni]

3.3L 3mz from the newer v6

[Bdub215]

1mz/3mz hybrid or a vvt-i 1mz from a es300.

[rekosolara]

Thanks again to all of you for your input. Thanks to you I know wat a 3 mz an 1mz is lol sorry but I'm really new when to comes to cars. Really appreciate the comments I think for now I'll reinstall the current 1mz and when I get my money up upgrade to a VVT. Is there any way to make the current 1mz into VVT or is that impossible?

[Eye8Pussies]

no

stay simple and just swap in the same 1mz

if you want a bit more power, do the basic engine work- p&p, valve jobs, new headers and y-pipe and you'll have a good 20-30whp over stock