Buying 2nd or 3rd gen

[GreenPunkBlood]

Hey all, I am considering buying a 2nd or 3rd gen camry with a blown engne for a 3S-GTE swap. What should I look for as to common body/interior/tranny prblems?

[toyrolla]

If you find yourself a Gen2 or Gen3 V6 manual model. You will be better off. This way, you have the V6 axles and the tranny that will mate to the 3S-GTE. You will have to figure out the wiring harness work.

[GreenPunkBlood]

yeah, i have been reading about that, but in my area there are like 4 2nd and 3red gen's with a blown 4cyl. so i was thinking about going to a u-pull-it and getting the axles and tranny, and then re-build the tranny.

[Talisman]

uy the 2nd gen and make the swap easier on yourself. It's not a direct bolt in for the 3rd gen.

[89SV21]

2nd gen + 3SGTE= ulitmate sleeper, especially if you upgrade the turbo. Imagine the look on the faces of those muscle car drivers as you smoke their penis envy machines.

[nort0188]

Originally posted by 89SV21
Imagine the look on the faces of those muscle car drivers as you smoke their penis...

Maybe you should reword that one next time...

But yea, Gen2 with 3SGTE will be sweet.

[GreenPunkBlood]

anywyas, are there any common problems with this car that i should look out for when buying one?

[02RSX90camry]

rust

[GreenPunkBlood]

i live in fl, so rust isnt common. is that it though, dayum. when i got my old MK3 supra (rip) there was a whole list of thinks to look for......

[02RSX90camry]

i was just kidding around, up here every gen2 i c has rust. i've only seen 2 without rust, and one is my cousin's 91.


i haven't had the car (running) long enough to find any major problems

[jackfrost1031]

yeah, rust over the wheel wells is common problem.

I can't think of anything with mine either.

[Talisman]

Actually rust is about it. Other things on the car wear out just for it being old but there are no real common problems(other than rust).

[Kensuke]

Originally posted by GreenPunkBlood
anywyas, are there any common problems with this car that i should look out for when buying one?

Rust is #1.

There was a recall on the '91 models because the stock radio would short out and catch fire. Chuck it in the trash and get another head unit.

A hear a lot of complaints about trunk leaks (again, depends on where you live).

The dome light contacts are crap (corrode very easily).

Automatic trannies (A140L and A140E) are so-so. Some people don't mind them. Other's say that suck or call them "slush boxes".

Electrical wiring is kinda sorta wonky, but a lot of that is probably age and corroded ground contacts.

There are a few common issues with the 3S-FE such as a crappy Bosch starter motor where the pinion gear would slip and tear up the flywheel (another recall). Also, the seals on the dizzy and valve cover will break down and leak oil. The CA models have two cats and two oxygen sensors, which can be a PITA. Also, the primary cat clogs/melts after a while and is bank to replace (better off gutting it). The 3S-FE isn't very well harmonically balanced either.

If you're swapping the engine, that last paragraph is less important to you.

Otherwise, they're pretty solid cars if the previous owner took reasonably good care of it (the PO of mine abused it, so I had/have to do a lot of work).

- John

[troy]

Oh god, a 2nd gen cam with an 3s-gte swap and an upgraded turbo (ct26 -> t3/t4?) would be sooo godly.

If you go through with this, i wanna see pics!