"Easy" 4A-GE to 4A-GZE swap...?

[Gerkn]

According to wikipedia regarding AW11 MR2 4A-GZE,
"the 4AGZE... compression ratio was lowered via the use of forged dished pistons. Although fitted with forged pistons they still had the same ports, valve timing and head gasket as the standard 4A-GE engine." and according to wikipedia's MR2 page, "1988 for the US market, Toyota introduced a supercharged engine for the MR2. Based on the same block and head, the 4A-GZE was equipped with a Toyota SC-12 Supercharger."
I have a 1989 Corolla GTS with a red top 4a-ge. Does this mean I can pick up the stock forged pistons, supercharger kit, top mount intercooler, and a properly scooped hood and I'll have a 4a-gze??
I don't know if it would be this easy or if I need a reflash (is the car too old for that stuff)... I'm not looking to do this right away because I don't know everything, but I'm going to UTI and by the time I'm done I should know enough to do something crazy to my car.
If I match the right 4a-ge engine with the right 4a-gze parts, they should be intechangable right????

[REN69]

In a way yes... the GZE's also came with E series transmission similar to the SW20 MR2s which are beefier than the C series in the GEs.

Don't believe everything wikipedia says, I could go on there right now and change anything.

[Gerkn]

I'm just looking to swap parts, not the whole engine. Wikipedia said on the MR2 page that, "The compression ratio, valve timing and ports were modified" then later in the 4a-ge page, "compression ratio was lowered via the use of forged dished pistons... they still had the same ports, valve timing and head gasket as the standard 4A-GE engine."
So I get that the pistons changed the compression ratio and the head gasket is the same, but are the ports or valve timing actually changed? Is that something I could get reprogrammed or do I need a new cam and bigger/smaller ports? Different valves?

[Donald]

Sorry to tell you.........There is no easy swap.
In my opinion, it would be easier to just do a complete engine swap, than to try and rebuild your engine into a GZE. After rebuilding your engine, you still need to do the complicated part of the swap. The wiring, exhaust and intake plumbing.

[wondermelon]

seems like it would be a lot of work to track down all the parts individually... perhaps you would save yourself a headache by just picking up a complete 4a-gze engine with ecu and harness. (though i've heard they are becoming harder to find)

[Gerkn]

I'm not worried about the headache, I just want to know if it's possible. Plumbing is easy, just need the 4agze intake/exhaust manifold and i could get some intercooler piping. I'm not sure what wiring would be involved that I would have to change...?
People supercharge their cars all the time, how is this different from supercharging my 4age? It shouldn't be any more of a headache...? Do I need a new ecu?
and mostly, my main question is if the engines really are the same, just with different pistons which change the compression ration? An '89 AW11 4agze and a '89 red top 4age.

[Blof-fan]

They are getting rare and harder to find.
Luckely I have one laying in my garage waiting to be rebuilt and installed

But no, it is not as easy as you think it is to upgrade youre 4A-GE to a 4A-GZE.

• You would need the complete intake system (There is a bypass system in there for when the SC is deactivated) and the intake header is very different to make room for the SC.
• Head is the same as the 4A-GE, internals (conrods and pistons) are different.
• Iginition system is different (DLI system)
• You would need a different MAP sensor and ECU because the 4A-GE ECU Mapping isn't right for the forced induction.
• And than the rest of the electronics in the car aren't going to work plug and play. For instance, you won't have a tach signal because of the different ignition.
• Different (higher capacity) feul injectors

And than there are probably a lot of things I forgot to mention

All in all, I would say: Try to find a good Complete 4A-GZE. Just parts is probably not going to work

If you really want to supercharge you're engine. Do a custom built up. Do some proper research and pick you're parts.
And yes, you will need a different (stand-alone) ECU witch you will have to program you're self

[4doorGTS]

Its not as easy as your making it sound to yourself esp. if you try and piece it together as there are different generations of gze's and japanese versions and the such. I would search around different forums club4ag, dorikaze, twincam.org, mr2oc.com etc.. and find as much information as you can then decide on your own if your up for it. Much easier to get one from a ae92 or ae101 complete so your not trying to track down a million little things that will nickle and dime you to death later on. I've been planning for my swap for a couple years now and most of that time has been researching all the info I can.

[Gerkn]

Alright, as usual thanks a ton guys! I'm just trying to figure out what to do with it once it's all restored. Sounds like a full swap would be a better option if I can find one. Thanks for actually telling me why.

[Donald]

You might find that a lot can be squeezed out of the 4A-GE, if it is done right.
A big port 4A-GE engine, pistons from a small port, mild cams, adjustable cam gears, I believe those alone could give you nice boost in performance.

http://billzilla.org/4agmods.htm

[89yotarollagts]

it far more worth your time an effort to just buy a ZE with harness an ECU all the hard work is allready done for you, once you find one all u have to do is bolt it up get it wired, swap ECU's an wallah !! i thought i had a stickied thread in here at one point about my swap. but i basically did the same thing..

[89yotarollagts]

4AGZE swap !

Thats my write up for when i did my swap.. glance over it an you can see what all the issues i came across during my swap

[Donald]

Originally Posted by 89yotarollagts

4AGZE swap !

Thats my write up for when i did my swap.. glance over it an you can see what all the issues i came across during my swap

I searched high and low for your thread and couldn't find it. Where is it hiding now?

[4agetercel]

technically i guess he could swap over the USDM GZE electronics & ECU, and intake components and have it run on his 4age, if anything it would be faster because its higher CP ratio, the exhaust side is the same... its not a turbo setup, 6psi from a usdm gze setup wouldnt blow a redtop

but Yes an actual gze would be easier and probubly less expensive since people sell things whole for cheaper than if they part it out

[89yotarollagts]

i searched 4agze an found it