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erixon's 3S-GTE Corolla Worklog

10K views 30 replies 9 participants last post by  erixon  
#1 · (Edited)
Hey guys, I thought I would just start a thread for all things relevant for my car, as I've been posting different threads every few days, I figured this would just keep everything more organized.

So, as far as the work that has been done, here is what has been finished so far since I picked the car up at the end of February:

-New clutch slave cylinder
-New clutch master cylinder
-Motor mounts redone
-New battery terminals
-New LH parking/running light bar
-Fixed bumper (replaced clips)
-Installed Alpine MP3 Head unit

Things that still need to be done:

Drivers side CV Axle - The axles that are in there right now are Alltrac axles, seems to fit okay on the passenger side, but the drivers side is too long, when driving, the axle clunks a bit when driving straight, probably from binding up, when cornering it is fine. My solution is to replace the inner axle/driveshaft with an MR2 turbo axle, as the SW20 axles are 375mm long, as opposed to the ST186/ST165/Camry V6 axles, which are 394mm long. If there is still an issue, I am able to switch the stub axle from a Camry V6, which would give me another 30mm. For anyone considering doing this swap, as far as driveshafts go, there is a lot of different options out there and you can certainly find something that works for the AE92.

New battery - The old one is just not doing to for me, sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesnt. When it doesnt, which is most of the time, it turn the key, and the starter doesn't even click. I went over all my connections, they are strong/tight, but the battery only sits at 12.59V. I checked the battery two days in a row, and there is almost no difference in voltage, so I do not believe there is a constant draw, if there is, not one strong enough to kill the battery.

Speedometer - It must have came disconnected sometime, I know they didnt start using electronic speedo's until '93 with these motors, so it is a mechanical speedo, I am just not sure at the moment where it hooks up.

New wheels - Gotta get these old winter steelies off, might be picking up some wheels this weekend!

Then just the little things, stuff that you guys might have to give me a hand with. There are lots of connectors under the hood that aren't hooked up, that maybe some of you know what purpose they serve. I'll be taking pictures shortly, I have just been so busy lately I havent got a chance. Also, it seems the running light in the drivers side does not exist, like it got chopped off or something, am I able to just run new wires from the other light over? It's the bulb in the front of the light, not the one on the side if that makes sense.

I'll probably be putting the axle in tomorrow, I'll put in a post tomorrow to let everyone know how it went, and I know a lot of you have been waiting for pics, they will come up shortly, just a lot going on right now, not enough hours in a day.

Thanks guys
 
#5 ·
Speedo will hook up to the tranny. You're right about the 93+ using electronic speedos but they bolt to the same location on the tranny so either tranny will work with either speedo type.

In the picture below, the speedometer hookup is the thing on top between the axle and mount.

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#8 ·
So I found out that the axles aren't alltrac axles, like the guy who did the swap said. They are far too skinny to be Alltrac axles. They are however pretty long. I got a pic, I havent done any spline counting yet though, I think I am coming down with something. Here is the comparison of an SW20 turbo axle and the one that was in there.
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#10 ·
Okay, so I figured out how to swap the axle outers, I just need a camry V6 axle now, there is one at pick and pull I am going to pick up. The speedo doesnt work because its rusted really badly on the cable. There is two parts to the cable, I need a piece that runs from the transmission to the firewall, I don't know if its an Alltrac part yet or not. More to come soon, I will take pics when we get the car jacked up again. Also, I can pick these rims up for very cheap, let me knwo what you think on how they would look on a GTS, they are 195/50/R15, black with a polished lip.

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#14 · (Edited)
Also, it seems the running light in the drivers side does not exist, like it got chopped off or something, am I able to just run new wires from the other light over? It's the bulb in the front of the light, not the one on the side if that makes sense.
The light bulb sits in a plastic holder that twist-locks into the marker light housing. The wires for it are the plastic thing with the copper look glued to the housing that runs over from the amber side marker. I wish I had a picture to show you. You might be missing the holder if there's just a hole where the light should be.
 
#15 ·
So, the inner spline count is not what I thought it was, I don't know what transmission is in this car but the mr2 turbo axle would not work on the inner spline, its too big. The mr2 turbo axle is was bigger at 31.25mm, while the transmission fits an axle that is 26mm. The spline count on the axle that fits in teh tranny is 20, does anyone know what toyota cars have this inner spline count?
 
#16 ·
I would really appreciate any info anyone can give me on this. I think the transmission might be from a celica, they have the same spline count, but regardless, I need something that will work in here, and I am lost as to where I should go from here. I think that the Camry 4 Cyl. has the same inner spline count as whats on the tranny thats in the car (I think), and I know the camry has the same outer spline count. I think this may work, I am just not sure if I can find something short enough. I think it may have been a celica axle that was the car to begin with, as the last owner kept talking about a celica. It's a guessing game as always. The axle that I thought would work when I first started this axle journey (I think it was from a Corolla sedan) seemed to be the right length, as I recall, it was from the edge of the cup where the spider sits (excluding the inner spline that enters the transmission) to the end of the outer axle (if that makes sense), 20.5" give or take would be perfect. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
#17 ·
Checking to see if a gen 2 MR2 n/a axle will do the trick, but what I would really like to find, is a corolla axle with a bolt-on style "inner cup" or stub axle. If I can find one with the same bolt pattern as what I have, that should work, basically the whole shaft minus that bolt-on inner stub. I have the part off the axle now, I didn't have a camera handy, because I am at work, so I drew a picture in paint quick, just to put a visual to it.... it is 2.75" in between the sets of bolts, if anyone has this style of axle for a corolla kicking around, please let me know. I would like to check the bolt pattern to see if they are the same.

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#19 ·
Okay, well I cant get like any info from anyone here, I have been calling around to toyota dealers, posting on every forum I can, everything with no luck. I would like to find out what length/spline count/diameter the sw20 n/a axles are, but I can't find any info, except vague stuff from like napa online, which may not even be right.
 
#20 ·
I got enough info on mr2oc, but still a little leary on how the axles will fit, so I am getting them custom sized. I figure it could work to put an mr2 axle in there, but I have just been struggling with this for so long I mine as well just get the custom one done, then I don't have to worry anymore. I am going to get it done this week, then I am off to the east coast for 10 days on vacation, when I come back I will pick it up and put it in.
 
#21 ·
I finally got the speedo cable off, took off some stuff to paint. I also cleaned up some of the wiring around the alternator. I got a few pics, put everything back together, I tried getting the new speedo cable on, but its a daunting task trying to wedge your hands in and find the notch on the center pin of the cable. I tried to start it out of curiousity, but it won't start now, AGAIN. Before it was a clutch pedal adjustment, started A-OK, now, when I try and start the thing, it get power to everything, then when I go the turn the motor over, I just get a faint humming noise coming out. I was too tired out to look over every connection, but it still puzzles me as to what the issue is. Maybe someone here will know or have an idea, but beyond that I guess I will have to look at it this weekend. Seems weird, and is frustrating. Anywho, I took some pics today, only a few, but just so everyone can see.

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#25 ·
No, everything is hooked up, I think there might just be a bit of corrosion in there, I am going to try hitting it with a hammer a few times tomorrow to loosen it up, also, from what I have read these motors are notorious for starter issues in the old wiring, with too much resistance. I am going to wire in a relay mod if the hammer doesnt work.
 
#26 · (Edited)
This morning I put on the speedo, I couldnt get the thing to go in at all, I found the notch for the center pin, but the cable wouldnt push far enough down, its so tight in there I managed to get a bar in there on the edge of the cable, I tapped it a few times with a hammer, and I guess I must have tapped it onto the thread because now I cant get it on anymore, or off...haha, we'll see how it goes when I get an axle in there, if the speedo works or not. Other than that, I was looking at some more wiring, a lot of weird stuff in there, like makeshift connections with grounds attached together with weird screws and stuff, so I cut a bunch of it and soldiers a lot of it together, made some wire extensions so I could run the wires under some engine components rather than have random wires over the top of the engine bay, then tied everything up. I have sosme before and after pics.
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I did the starter relay mod, thats what the relay on the firewall is, with the red fuseholder, gave my starter a couple taps with a hammer, and it started right up, left it run for about 15 mins, it purs beautifully, just the axle now!!! Should have it back early next week.
 
#29 ·
I went back last night and pushed as hard as I could on the axle, checked this morning and there wasn't a puddle at all, this morning I went for a drive and checked sortly after and there was one tiny little drip spot, looked like one or two drips down, maybe it just wasnt in all the way, seems weird...haha... I guess I will just monitor it.