4AGE Engines

[zman8537]

Hello, I am new to this site but I am looking to swap out an engine in a 1987 MR2 4AGE with a 1991 4AGE JDM engine and just wanted to make sure that this will work. I went to buy a new timing belt just to be safe before installing the engine and found out that they did not use this engine in 1991 for the MR2's. The engine must have come out of a Corrolla GTS as I figure. Does anyone know if this engine will work? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ron

[ToyotaTechGeek]

it's probably out af an AE92...smallport 4AG-E
it's like 8.9:1 compression.
should work fine in your AW11 and if you use the camshafts out of your 87 4AG-E, you may get a little bit more out of the new one.

[86AW11]

comp is actually 10.4:1. i just did this swap a few months ago. went fine. take your time, it took ~29 hours straight. a damn marathon. no need for the old cams, this engine has a better low end and actually 18HP more than the og 4age. TRD had a kevalr reinforced timing belt for under $30 online. besure you change everything you want on the engine before you install it (ie-clutch, timing belt, manifolds). your og TVIS intake manifold will not work(different flange/size) if you do have the redtop small port hi comp 4age(identified by 7 ribs on exhaust side of the block and ribs on intake mani running parallel to engine) just use the JDM intake or find one from a junker and mod the egr, it works fine.

[ToyotaTechGeek]

it's all opinion. people tell me all of the time that the mods i have done don't work. funny how that isn't the case on raceday...

also, the camshaft thing was an old TRD update. they used to tell me about it in 1990.

kevlar reinforced? what for?

[feral4.mr2]

zman, you might find this site useful reading.
http://www.users.bigpond.com/vidore/...age_engine.htm


it is my understanding that the timing belt is the same on all 4age series engines (whether it be bigport or smallport, 4age or 4agze), so that should be easy to accuire. i see no need for a Kevlar timing belt?
the cam swap geek is talking about from an early pre 87 model 4age bigport would help a little in the top end over the standard cams. some good refernce to cams on here.
http://www.club4ag.com/faq%20and%20t...haft_story.htm


IMO in doing this engine swap if infact you have a later smallport 4age engine, i would use all the ancillaries that came with the engine, ECU, wiring loom, sensors, manifolds etc.

do you have any pics of the engine you have bought?

[86AW11]

belt stretch maybe, i can imagine there is some when hot? hey TTG done any work with injectors? manifold runner shortening?

[feral4.mr2]

after playing with this series of engine for the last 10 years i can say i havnt had any problem with timing belt stretch. i dont even think by memory having to retension a new timing belt, and i know some belts like to stretch a little at first when new (stupid s/c belt). haha

i know you asked the geek, but why would you want to shorten the manifold runners? you might gain some top end from it, but lower down torque would suffer.
what sort of injector work are you asking about?

[ToyotaTechGeek]

Originally Posted by 86AW11

comp is actually 10.4:1.

i've actually seen a lower compression AE92 4AG-E.

ok, in response to your other post:

i have been tweeking and working on the 4AG-E since 1992. i've never seen a belt stretch nor break. unless you're turning 10Krpms like say in a Formula Atlantic car, then you're wasting your time with a kevlar belt. and besides, unless you're a geek like me, chances are you don't actually test the deflection of your timing belt or your drive belts.

now, why would you want to shorten intake runners unless you're doing roundy-round (read: circle track) racing? unless total top end was what you're after (like feral said), why would you bother? and yes, i have done intake manifold work. just not to any BIG degree on the AW11. i have done extensive work with my EL31; i built a manifold for a 32/36 AND DCOE 40 Webers.

as to injectors, well, took some 440's and tried them once and quickly removed them from my MkI SC since the fuel dump was ridiculous...the SC runs rich as it is.

[86AW11]

as far as the intake runner shortening, i wonder if anyone has done any real bench flow tests?? runners are tuneable and can be set up for specific rpm ranges, i know that, but the TVIS butterfly plate is actually lengthening the older manifolds. have noticed that the TVIS 4age seems to pull consistent to the redline, whereas my JDM nonTVIS has a little less on the top. wasnt recommending the kevlar belt just mentioned it. injectors- there seems to be more than a few different used for the 4age, wondering if anyone has messed around with them??

[ToyotaTechGeek]

yes, the runners are 'tuneable', but the engineers @ Toyota and Yamaha designed TVIS in order to optimize the [effectively] longer runners and open them up [in order to create a 'shorter' runner] at higher RPMs and what-not. of course, TVIS was the pre-cursor to things like variable valve timing and stuff...way ahead of the curve...

[ToyotaTechGeek]

the 440's will work for you if you want to fatten-up the fuel curve...or you could use some fuel management or even something as simple as using the old TTE (Team Toyota Europe) potentiometer trick...or you could go with DCOE Weber carbs...ahhhhh sexy!

[toyotaspeed90]

wow lots of misinformation here!!!

smallport is 10.3:1..... not 10.4:1 or 8.9:1.... no 4age's were 10.4:1 from factory... if you were getting figures like that then possibly your motor came with a shaved head.... 8.9:1 was the ae92 and ae101 4agze compression (i have BOTH engines)

if the engine is out of the car... REPLACE THE TIMING BELT.... look at your car and realize how difficult it would be with the engine there... just good maintanence (unless the belt looks to be new.... if it says toyota on it i would replace it regardless).... they are cheap enough

the smallport came with 250's.... the 87 mr2's came with the bluetop or the tantop injectors.... there are debates of what the rating actually is of the bluetops.... many who have had theirs balanced and cleaned have had readouts of 240cc..... i would suggest you have your STOCK injectors cleaned and blueprinted.... the stock ecu and resistor pack won't correctly control the smallports high ohm injectors (there are many who have them working... but i'm skeptical that it's actually running correctly and/or not harming the ecu or injectors)

[toyotaspeed90]

Originally Posted by ToyotaTechGeek

yes, the runners are 'tuneable', but the engineers @ Toyota and Yamaha designed TVIS in order to optimize the [effectively] longer runners and open them up [in order to create a 'shorter' runner] at higher RPMs and what-not. of course, TVIS was the pre-cursor to things like variable valve timing and stuff...way ahead of the curve...

actually mercedes had variable valve timing back in the 60's or 70's..... so not so ahead of the curve..... but they got rid of it initially

of course you could squeeze HP from the intake setup... but it would be best if you just cleaned the manifold & t-vis... then port matched the intake ports on the head and possibly went with a larger TB...... the manifold itself should be fine

[ToyotaTechGeek]

i did say AE92...

i didn't know mercedes history...don't really pay much attention to it, sorry...

i suppose we could also say that there is a story that the 4AG had a loose resemblance to the Cosworth engines also...
i don't know that i would do a larger throttle body unless i had some nice, lumpy cams to go along with it...

[ToyotaTechGeek]

also, if we're on what he should replace, i'd also go with front and main seals, water/oil pumps (if necessary), and drive belts, and fuel filter, and injector "o" rings