'91 'Rolla project

[Dirtjump9]

Whats up everyone?
I was wondering if I could get a few (a lot) of questions answered about my Corolla. It's a 1991 Corolla DX with the 1.6L 4A-FE engine in it with the auto tranny.
My grandma bought the car new in 1991 and put less than 58,000 miles on it. Then when she died in 2000, my mom inhereted the car. It's now mine and has 63,500 miles on it.
It's a great car and all but really lacking in the power department. I know there is a lot of negative talk about the 4A-FE but that's what it has and I don't have enough cash for a swap (or a new car).
So far I've ordered a CAI with a K&N filter off eBay and that should be here by next week. I've also found some headers - PaceSetter and some other brand in chrome. From what I hear, the PaceSetters suck so I'm thinking about going for the other headers next week when I have time. The thing is, I don't know if they are legal in New York. From what I can understand, it is legal as long as it retains the catalytic converter and muffler. Is this correct?

I have also found a camshaft and an adjustable cam gear that I though about purchasing some time in the future. Would this produce decent horsepower and torque gains?

On the throttle body, there is the throttle cable that controls the throttle (duh) and the cable that runs to the transmission which controls the downshift when accelerating rapidly. If I readjust the tranny cable so it downshifts earlier in the gas pedal's range of motion, would that bring better acceleration?

Another question I have is with being a moron with the transmission. I find it amusing to be at a stop light with nobody around, put it in neutral, get the revs up and drop it into drive. That is the only way the tires will break loose because the engine is so anemic. Will this wind up damaging the tranny or any on the drive components seriously? How serious is this in concern to the health of the tranny?

Okay, one last question (for now). The coolant has been sitting for years without being changed. I found the petcock on the bottom of the radiator but I can't seem to find the plug on the engine which drains the coolant from the block. Can anyone help me?

I really appreciate the help. Thanks

[Chris Corolla S]

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

It's a great car and all but really lacking in the power department.

Yes and Yes

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

I know there is a lot of negative talk about the 4A-FE but that's what it has and I don't have enough cash for a swap (or a new car).

Fair enough. Although the 4a-ge engine is the prefered base for tuning. The 4a-fe is certainly capable of producing some gains with bolt-ons.

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

So far I've ordered a CAI with a K&N filter off eBay and that should be here by next week. I've also found some headers - PaceSetter and some other brand in chrome. From what I hear, the PaceSetters suck so I'm thinking about going for the other headers next week when I have time. The thing is, I don't know if they are legal in New York. From what I can understand, it is legal as long as it retains the catalytic converter and muffler. Is this correct?

These laws vary greatly state-to-state. Go to the state of New York website and search for emissions laws. Maybe a new yorker will chime in here...

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

I have also found a camshaft and an adjustable cam gear that I though about purchasing some time in the future. Would this produce decent horsepower and torque gains?

Cams are a must for an N/A build. Usually the route is to do up the intake/headers/midpipe/exhaust. Port/polish the head, de-shroud the valves, do the cam shaft. The cam-gear will advance timing to take advantage of the bigger cam, Then you need safety supprting mods: Get an MSD ignition or something for strong spark, upgrade the fuel pump and FPR, Run higher octane. With all that, maybe even mill the head a bit for more compression. Get a megasquirt or something ECU to tune it all up...

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

On the throttle body, there is the throttle cable that controls the throttle (duh) and the cable that runs to the transmission which controls the downshift when accelerating rapidly. If I readjust the tranny cable so it downshifts earlier in the gas pedal's range of motion, would that bring better acceleration?

No. So you have an A/T? That thing is slowing you down more than the 4a-fe
You can adjust the throttle cable though. Have a friend floor the acelerator (car off) with you under the hood. Make sure that the throttle is fully open when the gas pedal is pressed all the way down. If it's not, you can tighten the cable (like brake lines on a bicycle)

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

Another question I have is with being a moron with the transmission. I find it amusing to be at a stop light with nobody around, put it in neutral, get the revs up and drop it into drive. That is the only way the tires will break loose because the engine is so anemic. Will this wind up damaging the tranny or any on the drive components seriously? How serious is this in concern to the health of the tranny?

Do Not fucking do that man. That's called a nuetral drop or nuetral bomb. It sends a hard shock through the tranny and yes it will dammage it. We have all done it in our dumb youth, along with the "roll back" where you back up and drop it in drive while still moving and floor it... pure stupidity!

Originally Posted by Dirtjump9

Okay, one last question (for now). The coolant has been sitting for years without being changed. I found the petcock on the bottom of the radiator but I can't seem to find the plug on the engine which drains the coolant from the block. Can anyone help me?
I really appreciate the help. Thanks

Buy a Haynes manual for you car. They are cheap like 15 bucks and will show you how to flush/fill your radiator with pics and everything. Good luck

[Flashmn]

The 4a-fe is certainly capable of producing some gains with bolt-ons.

Yes and I recommend a bolt on made by turbonetics or garrett

[CivicWagon RUS]

OP: you should just drive the car as it is, and when you have the funds, buy a car that was made to go fast(er). Dumping a bunch of money into an auto corolla with less than 100 hp to the wheels is pointless in my opinion. If you really want to, just do a couple of aesthetic modifications to keep yourself from blowing a bunch of money on go-fast parts. (put on a subtle muffler tip, do some body work if it needs any), or just do some basic maintenance (replace fuel filter, brakes pads, oil) for fun.

[Chris Corolla S]

Originally Posted by Flashmn

Yes and I recommend a bolt on made by turbonetics or garrett

Dude
I can't belive you said that. You should be telling him to get ITB's

But to the OP the point is correct, you will make more power easier with forced induction than any other route.

[Chris Corolla S]

Originally Posted by CivicWagon RUS

OP: you should just drive the car as it is, and when you have the funds, buy a car that was made to go fast(er). Dumping a bunch of money into an auto corolla with less than 100 hp to the wheels is pointless in my opinion. If you really want to, just do a couple of aesthetic modifications to keep yourself from blowing a bunch of money on go-fast parts. (put on a subtle muffler tip, do some body work if it needs any), or just do some basic maintenance (replace fuel filter, brakes pads, oil) for fun.

Maybe he should start with a superior platform like a civic wagon?

This post is totally pointless in the context of this guy's thread. He is not really asking if it is worth it to mod the car or not. He has already decided to.
Besides this is Toyota Nation and 80% of the people on here are modding FWD family cars that are terrible paltforms for going fast. If you respond to every post about someone modding a car that's not really worth it, you would be on here all day ,every day posting the same message as above....

[Flashmn]

Besides this is Toyota Nation and 80% of the people on here are modding FWD family cars that are terrible paltforms for going fast.

Corollas arent even bad.. I've seen and driven worse

[Dirtjump9]

I know it's not really worth dumping a lot of money into but it's my first car and I don't have enough money for anything much better so my feeling is that I may as well make it fun to drive for now then I'll sell it in a few years.
I entertained the idea of forced induction but it's too costly. I'm just looking for a few bolt-on and DIY mods to get a little more from it.
I wanted to thank you all for giving me your imput. I'm looking forward to ordering a few more parts and getting a bit more performance from this little car.

[Flashmn]

Force induction isnt that expensive. Just get the sc from a GZE where someone replaced it with a turbo, and get some stuff to increase fueling when you hit boost and drive away.

[REN69]

hey Civicwagon RUS.. tell the guys doing 3SGTE conversions in their FWD Celicas that they're wasting their time.. I bet you they'll prove you otherwise.

[Flashmn]

^you'll get shot for a comment like that

[cexsiman]

i have a 92' corolla with 64,500 miles on it, also an automatic, i havent fooled around too much with it, but i've put it in neutral floored it and threw it into drive, its a really bad thing to do in an automatic, and some people drive in the lower 2 gears and "shift" i dont think thats horrible to do, but i did it once and i went through drive into reverse going like 55, i dont want to even talk about it, lol, there were some thuds that you never want to hear. i took out the stock airbox with a new filter from autozone and connected it with some exhaust tubing, it looks alright and it works great, car sounds a lot better from the inside at like 2500, i'm also looking for a few things to do to make it a little faster.

[Dirtjump9]

Yeah, I'm going to stop with the neutral drops from now on... Well... Maybe a few on a special occasion
I changed the oil and oil filter today. New filter and threw in 3.4 quarts of Mobil synthetic 5W-30 and it seems to run good.
Your homemade intake sounds cool, cexsiman. I'm still waiting for the guy on eBay to recieve my money order for my intake. Hope it helps with the throttle response because thats where the car is really lacking.
I also have a few stupid interior mods I'm thinking about doing. Some LEDs for the vents and under the front seats and dash and a few other things. I am also going to get a real sound system in there. Nothing much though... I know a guy who can give me a decent deal on a system for somewhere in the neighborhood of $600. I don't want to put too much money in this car.

[karugs]

For some reason that car has been well-kept and not driven alot.

Yet here you are doing "neutral drops" on it on occasion. Me thinks you just ought to give it to somebody who'll maintain the car well.

Should you want to keep it and maintain it, that car will last you a while. Ours is already ~220k miles and it's a 92.

[Flashmn]

Neutral drops are ridiculous, if you want to burn rubber, get a manual.