[KinkTheMook]

Hello so currently I am thinking about purchasing a blown engine LE in hopes to A. Swap in a new engine or B. Take what I need/want from the LE into a DX (because it is already glammed up). If it is option B I can pull most of it from junked LE's vs buying a new/used car. Semi curious if this applies to Geo Prism electronics being able to be ported to DX.

To explain the, DX is missing key some features that are mainly for convenience but I was wondering if it would be cheaper to just manually swap in the TAC, Overdrive shifter, Cruise, electric door controls/mirrors and if they are all generally plugged and play kinda deal like how on newer cars generally the features are just not plugged in. I don't mess with engines to much so it would take me longer to convert if it comes to some are plug and play and maybe a few splicing since I am more comfortable with electronics. That being said If it's a dumb question or I should do an engine swap let me know.

As far as I have been able to search up the Tac/Dashboard is a direct swap and will work no issues.

Honestly this would just be a fun thing I do with my GF to get her a little invested in the car to further her interest in cars. Thanks yall!

 

[Corrolla clone]

Hello so currently I am thinking about purchasing a blown engine LE in hopes to A. Swap in a new engine or B. Take what I need/want from the LE into a DX (because it is already glammed up). If it is option B I can pull most of it from junked LE's vs buying a new/used car. Semi curious if this applies to Geo Prism electronics being able to be ported to DX.

To explain the, DX is missing key some features that are mainly for convenience but I was wondering if it would be cheaper to just manually swap in the TAC, Overdrive shifter, Cruise, electric door controls/mirrors and if they are all generally plugged and play kinda deal like how on newer cars generally the features are just not plugged in. I don't mess with engines to much so it would take me longer to convert if it comes to some are plug and play and maybe a few splicing since I am more comfortable with electronics. That being said If it's a dumb question or I should do an engine swap let me know.

As far as I have been able to search up the Tac/Dashboard is a direct swap and will work no issues.

Honestly this would just be a fun thing I do with my GF to get her a little invested in the car to further her interest in cars. Thanks yall!

I'm not sure if the harnesses for the power locks or mirrors were installed at the time the car was built at the factory, but they are a plug and play once you install them. I say that, because the cheaper or not loaded versions are like that for a reason, it didn't get installed. I believe the Geo Prizm models are similar to the Corolla models as far as the electronics go, other than the dash layout and the radio (Geo's got the Delco radio, versus a Toyota radio), but both used the same speaker set ups.
At this point, you could go either way as far as swapping the engine, or converting/installing the items from the LE into the DX. I'm not sure which is quicker, as it would depend on how good you are at reading wiring diagrams, and what sort of tools you have. Swapping the engines is a very involved process too, but might be easier. You'd need a FSM (Factory Service Manual), so you can study the different items of what you want to do, then decide which are things you can do, and which are not. You can rent an engine puller (cherry picker) from the Zone or a rent all place, so you wouldn't have to actually buy it (although a few rentals and it would pay for itself), or you could borrow one from a friend. If you have a garage, you could use some of the cross support beams in it to pull from, or even use a child's swing set. I've done all of those over the years, so I have an idea of what I'm talking about (not blowing smoke up your butt). However, if you live in an apartment complex, you might need to have a friend that will let you work at their house, as most apartment places don't allow working on cars.
Personally I'd fix whichever one has the least amount of rust/body damage, but then I live in the salt belt, where rust is a nasty 4 letter word. And cars and trucks of almost any age get it. I know I've replaced a lot of rusty metal in my own Geo Prizm over the 10 years I've had it.
I hope this helps, and gives you some more info to think about.

 

[KinkTheMook]

Thank you for your insight. I'll take a look at the diagrams for the geo/corolla and see what would be a plug and play and what would need modification. Things like the overdrive 4th gear if I cant get that in its fine but if it were a plug and play thing I would risk it just to see where I can go. I'll also go ahead and check the pinouts for the dash and the doors and see what I need for that. I still need to do research on everything the LE includes and see what would be worth it since I really like the ae92 platform and I'm kind of modernizing it with things like GPS backup cameras and the last thing to do is get as much OEM LE stuff inside so I don't have to do too many rewires and hopefully get cruise control to work so I can continue to do roadtrips and just let it cruise with the most amount of mpg

 

[Corrolla clone]

Thank you for your insight. I'll take a look at the diagrams for the geo/corolla and see what would be a plug and play and what would need modification. Things like the overdrive 4th gear if I cant get that in its fine but if it were a plug and play thing I would risk it just to see where I can go. I'll also go ahead and check the pinouts for the dash and the doors and see what I need for that. I still need to do research on everything the LE includes and see what would be worth it since I really like the ae92 platform and I'm kind of modernizing it with things like GPS backup cameras and the last thing to do is get as much OEM LE stuff inside so I don't have to do too many rewires and hopefully get cruise control to work so I can continue to do roadtrips and just let it cruise with the most amount of mpg

No problem. Just trying to help you make up your mind is all.
This might be where the FSM would help, as it'll show you where the power plugs for the lock harness connects into and such. I think the plug "ports" are in place under the dash, but don't know exactly where they are located. Keep in mind that 4th gear is actually in the trans, and it's almost as much work doing an engine swap as it is to swap the trans (maybe more), as it's not just the shifter that needs to be changed.

 

[novanutcase]

The LE Options should transfer directly to a DLX. I pulled apart an LE and took pictures of all the attach points for the power windows and locks and compared them to the DLX I own. They all match up.

What you will have to do is pull the entire harness from the LE and pull it through the door and firewall. Connections should all be there.

John

 

[Corrolla clone]

The LE Options should transfer directly to a DLX. I pulled apart an LE and took pictures of all the attach points for the power windows and locks and compared them to the DLX I own. They all match up.

What you will have to do is pull the entire harness from the LE and pull it through the door and firewall. Connections should all be there.

John

Thanks. That was kind of what I was trying to tell the OP.