engine swap - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

redtcel · 11-24-2006, 01:07 AM

I have a 92 terc 3ee with +300k on it. After reviewing some threads, I think that a swap for a 5e-fe is the best solution. I have a few questions though; what kind of problems am I going to see with this swap? Are the mounts the same? Linkages? Transaxles? Do I have to get a 5e ecu with the wiring? Will there be problems if I get a 5spd tx? Lastly, are there any recommended dealers in the Great White North? Thanks for you patience.

StealthSeo · 11-24-2006, 09:53 AM

should be a direct bolt but i dont know how the 3ee to 5efe is in a tercel

rsmonster · 11-27-2006, 02:34 PM

Your discussion intrigued me, because I am planning to swap a 1993 Paseo, 1.5 liter, 16 valve 5E-FE engine that has manual transmission into a 1991 Tercel that had a 1.5 liter, 12 valve 3E-E with an automatic transmission. My daughter has the 1991 Tercel and she let it run without oil until it ruined the engine. I was pretty sure the swap would work, but I feel better about the whole thing after reading your thread. What problems do you think I will encounter during the swap? Do you have any advice?

Okay, now I need some advice. The engine swap went well, but we have a wiring issue with the distributor. The distributor on the Paseo motor that is now in the 1991 Tercel has a two wire plug and a four wire plug on the side of the distributor cap. The 1991 Tercel only has 2 two wire plugs coming out of the wiring harness. The one two wire plug appears to be the same, but I don't know what to do with the two wire plug to the four wire plug in. I thought maybe I could swap distributors, but the are not the same. Under the distributor cap they are close to being the same. They have the exact same electronics module with the same part number. The only difference is the one for the Paseo motor has a piece inside to which the four wire plug has wires connected.

I could take pictures and try to post them or e-mail them if someone has an idea how to fix this problem. Please let me know. Thanks!

StealthSeo · 11-27-2006, 05:55 PM

i believe you have to intergrade the paseo harness into your tercel harness

thefish · 11-28-2006, 02:05 AM

to answer your question about the distributor:

Originally posted by GT_REVVA
"there are 4 wires on one plug of the 5EFE dizzy. i think they're red, white, black and green. the corresponding plug on the 3EE dizzy has 2 wires, one red and one white. cut the plug off the 3EE diizy and attach the corresponding wires...ie red > red and white > white and disregard the other 2. this will make the 5EFE dizzy compatible with your ECU harness."

When I did my 3ee to 5efe swap, I used this thread for reference, and found the info to be MOSTLY correct, with a few things left out/unclear/wrong which I will clarify here.

1) You can use your stock 3ee wiring harness, sensors, throttle body, injectors (but NOT the fuel rail), and emissions/vacuum layout.

2) Some jdm 5efe engines (and all 5efhes) come with an exhaust manifold that doesn't bolt up to a 3ee's downpipe. Any 1st gen 5efe manifold from a USDM paseo will bolt up in it's place and fit perfectly.

3) The 3ee 3spd transmission is mechanical, and thus doesn't need ECU input. This means that 3ee manual and 3ee automatic ECUs are the same, and don't need to be worried about when doing an auto to 5spd swap. The 4spd trannys on paseos are, however, ECU controlled, so make sure you match ecu's correctly.

4) If you have power steering on your car and want to keep it when you put in the 5efe, you will need to make sure you have the 2 mounting brackets for the 5efe power steering pump. The heads are different between the 2 engines, and the brackets are a little different. You'll see what I mean if you do it.

5) If you choose to use 5efe electronics and a 5efe throttle body, you will need to switch to a 5efe vacuum setup, as there are several vacuum and fuel pressure regulation details that are different. I haven't done this yet myself, so I can't tell you exactly what you need to do/change, but be warned, some plugs are different.

Hope this clears some stuff up. If you need something clarified, don't hesitate to ask or send me a PM.

redtcel · 11-28-2006, 07:53 PM

Looks like I can get my hands on a 4E-FE ,1st gen by the sounds of it with a 5spd tx. Wish me luck.

StealthSeo · 11-29-2006, 02:17 AM

good luck

RogueSeo · 12-05-2006, 01:08 PM

if you want more power, i got a 4efte for sale.

redtcel · 12-11-2006, 02:24 PM

Well the engine swap went well, 3ee to 4e-fe. I had to the mod the distributor plug wiring to fit and the air intake from the aircleaner to the throttle body as well as some vac hoses. My problem is that after it was all together it doesn't shift into 5th gear? I received the engine with the block and tranny split, but I didn't pay attention to the internals except that it was missing it's clutch plate. Anything I should look for to id a 4 and a 5spd tx? Thanks

thefish · 12-13-2006, 10:47 PM

so are you saying you bought a 4efte 5 speed with your engine, but you can't find 5th on it? Do all the other gears work well/shift normally? Did you put new clutch components in?

redtcel · 12-14-2006, 02:54 AM

I received the engine and tranny split with no clutch assy. Rather than install the old clutch from the 3ee which was worn to the rivets, I replaced the plate and spring new, put it back together only to find out that I couldn't shift into 5th. Anyway when I spoke to the guy who sold it he said there was a mix up and that I should get the 5 spd tx this week. So I guess I'll see?

Paseo15psi · 12-14-2006, 06:15 AM

The 4efe is as gutless as the 3e except it is DOHC, but it is a 1.3 liter non turbo. Bad move guy. Slap a turbo on there guick or get a 5efe/5efhe.

redtcel · 12-14-2006, 11:52 PM

Maybe so, but it's better than the blue smokin 3ee that was in there. I'll probably get a 5e-fe down the road but the car had to get back on the road to pass Air Care now.