Potential problems substituting a 98 5SFE for a 95?

[500KCamry]

Daughter ran the 95 out of oil.

Found a low mileage 98 distributorless 5SFE and was wondering about putting it in the 95?

Think if I put the 95 intake manifold, distributor and valve cover on the 98 engine it will work in the 95 wiring harness and computer?

I think the 98 rear cam is still setup to receive the distributor - but not totally sure?

Are there any other potential problems anyone knows about?

Thank you.

[fenixus]

it won't work. you need 98 5s-fe's harness, matching computer and other stuff. EGR system is different (temp detection vs MAP detection), no distributor on 98, throttle body is different too (if california specs) ... too much hassle IMO.

someone else may give you a better reply, but I wouldn't do that. too many things different between gen3 and gen4 (even spark plugs and wires).

[carsrus]

The 98 head is setup to take a distributor. The holes just capped off. However, if you could get get the 98 wire-harness and computer you could probably swap in the coil and associated parts.

I think its doable if you just swap the cam from the 95 to the 98 head.

Originally Posted by fenixus

it won't work. you need 98 5s-fe's harness, matching computer and other stuff. EGR system is different (temp detection vs MAP detection), no distributor on 98, throttle body is different too (if california specs) ... too much hassle IMO.

someone else may give you a better reply, but I wouldn't do that. too many things different between gen3 and gen4 (even spark plugs and wires).

The gen 3&4 are basically the same cars.... The 5sfe basically didnt change except for the obd2 upgrade.

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by fenixus

it won't work. you need 98 5s-fe's harness, matching computer and other stuff. EGR system is different (temp detection vs MAP detection), no distributor on 98, throttle body is different too (if california specs) ... too much hassle IMO.

someone else may give you a better reply, but I wouldn't do that. too many things different between gen3 and gen4 (even spark plugs and wires).

Thanks for the reply.

Stupid me, when I said changing the intake manifold, I mean't putting the 95 intake manifold and throttle body on the 98 head. This would resolve the MAP and EGR differences I hope. Putting the 95 valve cover on the 98 head would fix the PCV valve location difference.

I wasn't sure if the 98 rear cam still has the slot? that accepts the 95 type distributor. Hoping it does as the 98 valve cover still has the hole that the distributor goes through.

Was hoping to leave the 95 ECU and wiring in place with these changes.

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by carsrus

The 98 head is setup to take a distributor. The holes just capped off. However, if you could get get the 98 wire-harness and computer you could probably swap in the coil and associated parts.

I think its doable if you just swap the cam from the 95 to the 98 head.

The gen 3&4 are basically the same cars.... The 5sfe basically didnt change except for the obd2 upgrade.

Thanks for the reply.

Do you think the 98 rear cam still has the slot? that accepts a distributor?

By putting the 95 thottle body and intake manifold on the 98 head, along with the 95 distributor and valve cover, I was crossing my fingers that the 95 wiring and ECU could be left as is.

Not sure about the 98 5SFE but think the timing might be governed by a pickup on the crankshaft timing belt sprocket, instead of the 95 rear cam and disributor setup. Can't remember.

[Rattlin_Steele]

Originally Posted by 500KCamry

I wasn't sure if the 98 rear cam still has the slot? that accepts the 95 type distributor. Hoping it does as the 98 valve cover still has the hole that the distributor goes through.

Here's a pic of intake camshaft on Gen 4 5SFE. Hope it helps.

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by Rattlin_Steele

Here's a pic of intake camshaft on Gen 4 5SFE. Hope it helps.

Hey, thanks for the reply and picture, it looks like I'll be okay marrying the 95 distributor to the 98 cam.

[500KCamry]

Just an update on the 5SFE swap.

Bought the front end of a 98 from the firewall forward, cut off the car for $300.

Got the 98 head and block married to the 95 transaxle, dropped in and started first time - no problems - lucky me. Runs good except shift points are a little high at 4000 rpm for normal and 4800 rpm for PWR - think this is a throttle cable adjustment that still needs doing.

The swap was more extensive than I thought. To put the 98 5SFE into the 95 and 95 wiring harness required putting the 95 intake manifold, 95 fuel rail, 95 exhaust manifold, 95 front motor mount, 95 timing belt covers and backer plate, 95 oil cooler piping, 95 temperature sender cooling piping tree that joins the upper rad hose, 95 distributor, 95 valve cover and 95 transaxle on the 98 block c/w pan and head. All these allowed the new unit to function with the 95 harness and ECU.

The 98 didn't have an oil cooler for some reason - I thought all 5SFE's did.

Parts deleted from the 98 were the cam shaft and crank shaft pick up sensors, the coil assembly, the knock out for the rear cam shaft distributor port, and the clutch as the 98 was married to a five speed manual that wouldn't work with the 95 wiring harness.

Thanks to those who provided info and helped me decide to try this.

[fenixus]

most gen4 5s-fe's do not have oil coolers, mine doesn't have it either (gen4.5 equivalent in solara gen1.5 body)

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by fenixus

most gen4 5s-fe's do not have oil coolers, mine doesn't have it either (gen4.5 equivalent in solara gen1.5 body)

Kind of suprised me that the cooler would be dropped, maybe it was never needed?

[projektvertx]

Originally Posted by 500KCamry

Kind of suprised me that the cooler would be dropped, maybe it was never needed?

Actually it was, that is why the 1MZ-FE V6 in the 94-96 Camry's/ES300's/Avalon's didn't experienced sludge issues as compared to 97+ Toyota's that have the 1MZ-FE.

I'm sure you've heard of the notorious sludging issue Toyota had with their late '90's engine? It was caused be 2 reasons to my understanding:

1. Oil cooler eliminated.
2. Piston heads ran hotter to accomodate for emissions regulations.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by projektvertx

Actually it was, that is why the 1MZ-FE V6 in the 94-96 Camry's/ES300's/Avalon's didn't experienced sludge issues as compared to 97+ Toyota's that have the 1MZ-FE.

I'm sure you've heard of the notorious sludging issue Toyota had with their late '90's engine? It was caused be 2 reasons to my understanding:

1. Oil cooler eliminated.
2. Piston heads ran hotter to accomodate for emissions regulations.

yes, i agree. lack of that oil cooler is main reason for easy sludge problems on most gen4 engines, especially when owners get lazy with oil changes...

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by projektvertx

Actually it was, that is why the 1MZ-FE V6 in the 94-96 Camry's/ES300's/Avalon's didn't experienced sludge issues as compared to 97+ Toyota's that have the 1MZ-FE.

I'm sure you've heard of the notorious sludging issue Toyota had with their late '90's engine? It was caused be 2 reasons to my understanding:

1. Oil cooler eliminated.
2. Piston heads ran hotter to accomodate for emissions regulations.

Well, I learned something today. Thanks.

[Chris Crash]

I wanna see pictures! Congratulations

[500KCamry]

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

I wanna see pictures! Congratulations

Thanks, but I didn't take any pictures of my horror show

Small garage, three engines/transaxles, swapping parts, mass confusion, etc. Not your orderly, clean, laid out, etc. like some of the DIY presentations here.