New here and new to the Camry/Toyota World!

[MrGeeMan88]

Hello all,

I'm going to be moving in to the Toyota world (soon (I hope...))!

I cannot take anymore of my 1999 Ford Taurus 3-point-slow anymore. All the thing is good for is, well, just falling apart... And then falling apart some more... Oh, it's really good at leaking fluids like the aftermath of a Free, All You Can Eat, Enchilada Night at Taco Bell (you wish), too...

I've been looking into a 1996 Toyota Camry 3.0L (with 152,XXX miles on it) that a small shop is selling not too far from me. He's asking $500.00 for THAT car and has another 1992 Camry with a 3.0L, with 160,XXX (or so) miles on IT, with an engine that is still running strong and doesn't smoke or leak... He's telling me that if I get these cars off of his lot, he'll sell them to me for $500.00 (for both). Shall one put the engine from the '92 in the '96, or shall one not?

Furthermore, I am aware of the fact that the engine from the '92 is not equipped with OBDII and the '96 is. Would making that kind of conversion be worth it for a third generation Camry or no?

The 1996 model is white, with a dark-blue interior, and is in great shape inside and out. No rust anywhere, no rips or stains inside; it was well looked-after and loved. And... It has a sunroof! I guess that's a guilty pleasure of mine... However, it was driven a lot (obviously, with 152,000 on it...), which is why the engine blew (and a blown head-gasket).

I do not know much about the '92 Camry other than the fact that it's black, it has gold emblems, its engine is in great shape, but has more miles, and... It got rear-ended...

Anyway, keep in mind: I haven't much money for a new car. I also have been meaning to find out if the Camry's are good project cars or aren't they worth it to do much of anything with (mod and/or whatnot), but drive?

Honest answers is all I ask for.

I'm getting excited about doing the work myself, as I am a Mechanic; however, I seem to be having a bit of trouble finding reliable parts at reasonable prices for a car of this age... I wanted to do a full engine overhaul for the practice (and for the fun), but would this be a car worth doing this with?

Thank you all very much for your time,
Garrett

[chronoti]

welcome, now here your issues

92-93 3vz
94-01 1mz

so easy answer yes you can pull the 92 engine and drop it in the 96, if you have to pass emissions you wount, because you cant use the 96 ecu, and since you have doner cars it be a real easy swap, just drop the sub frames and move stuff around. now 3vz strong motor good bottom end, not much in mods, well camrys period not much in mods, the 1mz you have the option of a s/c (well you can adapt it to the 3vz as well but it takes a few custom parts) and it's a little easier to get parts as well

but for 500 and you know what your doing GO FOR IT then come back here and part out the scrap car and make your money back heck i'll tell you now i'll be down for the ecu, like $50 for it but still

[MrGeeMan88]

Originally Posted by chronoti

welcome, now here your issues

92-93 3vz
94-01 1mz

so easy answer yes you can pull the 92 engine and drop it in the 96, if you have to pass emissions you wount, because you cant use the 96 ecu, and since you have doner cars it be a real easy swap, just drop the sub frames and move stuff around. now 3vz strong motor good bottom end, not much in mods, well camrys period not much in mods, the 1mz you have the option of a s/c (well you can adapt it to the 3vz as well but it takes a few custom parts) and it's a little easier to get parts as well

but for 500 and you know what your doing GO FOR IT then come back here and part out the scrap car and make your money back heck i'll tell you now i'll be down for the ecu, like $50 for it but still

Thank you, that really was helpful. I didn't realize that about the two different engines. So the 1MZ is a bit better in the more modern and modification world?

[chronoti]

it is a more modern engine but for mods really your about at the same point as the 3vz, the 3vz has a stonger bottom end if you wanted to do boost with out buying too many more parts, also the 3vz is still odbI so you can do more little tricks and get her up to 200hp easy (about 20 more hp) you can look under the faq for the free mod series where you can see what they are. but with the mz you can get the 3mz bottom end and and make a stoker with about the same support and with the mz you still cap about 320 before you have to build the bottom end