VVTi engine into a non VVTi car (mechanically remove VVTi from an 07 engine?)

[wylee]

I searched and searched and found no definitive answer. Can the VVTi easily be removed to make a 2000+ engine be compatible with 98 & 99 electronics?

I've got no interest in swapping harnesses and sensors, but I like to put an 05-08 engine in a 98 car. What I've found makes it look like it may be as simple as moving the intake cam gear and a few sensors from the 98 engine to the newer engine.

Has anyone done this type of swap?

[Salty_Dog]

Originally Posted by wylee

I searched and searched and found no definitive answer. Can the VVTi easily be removed to make a 2000+ engine be compatible with 98 & 99 electronics?

I've got no interest in swapping harnesses and sensors, but I like to put an 05-08 engine in a 98 car. What I've found makes it look like it may be as simple as moving the intake cam gear and a few sensors from the 98 engine to the newer engine.

Has anyone done this type of swap?

I've never done it either, but from what I've read and heard, you need to replace the ECU as well. Make sure the donor car ECU is the same as the recipient car. That is, if your car is a 5 speed, make the the donor ECU is for a 5 speed. If your car is a 4-sp Auto, make sure the donor ECU is for a 4-sp. Auto, etc.

[wylee]

Originally Posted by Salty_Dog

I've never done it either, but from what I've read and heard, you need to replace the ECU as well. Make sure the donor car ECU is the same as the recipient car. That is, if your car is a 5 speed, make the the donor ECU is for a 5 speed. If your car is a 4-sp Auto, make sure the donor ECU is for a 4-sp. Auto, etc.

I'm not looking to upgrade to my car to VVTi; I'm looking to downgrade a newer engine from VVTi to fixed valve timing so I wouldn't need to change the ECU or wiring.

I'll probably have to see if I can find a cooperative dealer to let me look at the parts breakdown and compare part numbers.

[Bitter]

if you swap the head then probably yes.

[Milky]

Originally Posted by Bitter

if you swap the head then probably yes.

no need to swap the head, just the intake cam and cam gear. you have to leave the rest of the vvti stuff there. oil still flows to the cam, but it has a solid cam gear instead of the vvti one so it doesnt do anything, since the 98-99 dont have the connectors for the vvti. they just end up plugging the hole keeping the oil in the block. the rest of the sensors should swap over easily.

[wylee]

Originally Posted by Milky

no need to swap the head, just the intake cam and cam gear. you have to leave the rest of the vvti stuff there. oil still flows to the cam, but it has a solid cam gear instead of the vvti one so it doesnt do anything, since the 98-99 dont have the connectors for the vvti. they just end up plugging the hole keeping the oil in the block. the rest of the sensors should swap over easily.

So the 98/99 cam sprocket definitely will not bolt onto the 2000+ camshaft?

[Milky]

Originally Posted by wylee

So the 98/99 cam sprocket definitely will not bolt onto the 2000+ camshaft?

it will bolt on to the camshaft, but thats not the problem. the 2000+ uses coil on plug setup, and has a set of 4 flying magnets on the end of the intake cam to trigger the ecu to fire. the 98-99 only has 2 flying magnets. not to mention the vvti holes would spray oil everywhere and you would have low oil pressure.

honestly it would be just easier to swap to vvti, plus you would get a higher redline if you used all the newer corolla stuff. and have more power.

[wylee]

Originally Posted by Milky

it will bolt on to the camshaft, but thats not the problem. the 2000+ uses coil on plug setup, and has a set of 4 flying magnets on the end of the intake cam to trigger the ecu to fire. the 98-99 only has 2 flying magnets. not to mention the vvti holes would spray oil everywhere and you would have low oil pressure.

honestly it would be just easier to swap to vvti, plus you would get a higher redline if you used all the newer corolla stuff. and have more power.

Great info! Thanks for the reply.