I'll have pictures up shortly, I am in the process of the swap right now, got the old 4A-FE engine/trans out. I wanted to share some research I've done, and I cannot believe more people haven't done this swap.
Corolla All-Tracs were mostly AE95 wagons, but for one year only in the US they made a 1989 Corolla All-Trac sedan. I decided to go with a 91 wagon because they are just much easier to find and only weigh about 100lbs more, but still hundreds less than a celica all-trac.
They use the same front suspension as any other corolla of the generation, including the red top Corolla GTS. They share a the same exact suspension in the rear as the AE86 Corolla GTS minus a flipped panhard bar. So the options are numerous, and the sold axle in the rear is plenty strong. Most people don't know but the AE85 rwd corollas actually had a weaker rear axle than the GTS, the AE85 having a 6.3" ring gear and the AE86 GTS having a 6.7" ring gear, which Toyota was nice enough to bless the corolla all-trac with.
A ST205 swap is not hard at all. Since 3 of the 4 engine mounts bolt to the transmission they are a direct swap into the corolla! (because the corolla all-trac also uses an E-series transmission). The corolla all-trac actually uses the same trans as the 1st gen Rav4's, both have center locking differentials. Because of this the corolla all-trac CV axles are the same as a Rav4, but they are not the same as the ST205 trans. ST165-ST185-ST205 transmissions all use the same CV axles so long as they do not have the manual locking diff like the early 165's did. To clarify, only the drivers side is different due to the locking differential. The Corolla/Rav4/early 165 passenger side CV axle will all slide right into the ST205 trans. So 3 out of 4 engine mounts and the passenger side cv axle all bolt on.
But wait what do we do about the drivers side CV axle? Buy a ST185 axle, it will go right into place because the corolla all-trac already comes with the bigger hub splines to fit E-series axles. The difference between the LSD center (st205) and the Locking diff (corolla/rav4/early st165) drivers axles is the axle seal surfaces. I am also going to use a ST185 passenger cv axle, the corolla one fits fine but uses an older/weaker tripod inner joint vs the double cardon of the later model axles, but atleast I have a free spare.
Then you may ask what about the driveshaft to the rear axle? Slides right into the ST205 trans no mods, right length and everything. Shifter cables hook up, speedo gear goes into the trans, etc...
The only custom work is to fit a 88-91 camry alltrac passenger side engine mount to the 3SGTE and then cut off the corolla engine mount, slide it 2" and reweld, easy for any fabricator shop for less than $100. And then the wiring which isn't hard since you can just ship them off these days and have it done for you.
Also the 88-91 Corolla GTS gauge cluster will pop right in giving you a 9k tach and 155mph speedo. Corolla GTS rear LSD will pop right into the solid axle. With a 4 link coil setup can anyone say drag launch lol?
The best thing I've found is that the fuel pump, has an access plate about 2 inches inside the hatch under the carpet lol. Just open the lift gate and theres your fuel pump access, don't even have to remove the rear seat cushion. I'm going to gut this bitch out and have a light drag car that weighs hundreds less than a celica with more cargo space for hauling crap. Does it look like a POS? YES, sleeper anyone?
Corolla All-Tracs were mostly AE95 wagons, but for one year only in the US they made a 1989 Corolla All-Trac sedan. I decided to go with a 91 wagon because they are just much easier to find and only weigh about 100lbs more, but still hundreds less than a celica all-trac.
They use the same front suspension as any other corolla of the generation, including the red top Corolla GTS. They share a the same exact suspension in the rear as the AE86 Corolla GTS minus a flipped panhard bar. So the options are numerous, and the sold axle in the rear is plenty strong. Most people don't know but the AE85 rwd corollas actually had a weaker rear axle than the GTS, the AE85 having a 6.3" ring gear and the AE86 GTS having a 6.7" ring gear, which Toyota was nice enough to bless the corolla all-trac with.
A ST205 swap is not hard at all. Since 3 of the 4 engine mounts bolt to the transmission they are a direct swap into the corolla! (because the corolla all-trac also uses an E-series transmission). The corolla all-trac actually uses the same trans as the 1st gen Rav4's, both have center locking differentials. Because of this the corolla all-trac CV axles are the same as a Rav4, but they are not the same as the ST205 trans. ST165-ST185-ST205 transmissions all use the same CV axles so long as they do not have the manual locking diff like the early 165's did. To clarify, only the drivers side is different due to the locking differential. The Corolla/Rav4/early 165 passenger side CV axle will all slide right into the ST205 trans. So 3 out of 4 engine mounts and the passenger side cv axle all bolt on.
But wait what do we do about the drivers side CV axle? Buy a ST185 axle, it will go right into place because the corolla all-trac already comes with the bigger hub splines to fit E-series axles. The difference between the LSD center (st205) and the Locking diff (corolla/rav4/early st165) drivers axles is the axle seal surfaces. I am also going to use a ST185 passenger cv axle, the corolla one fits fine but uses an older/weaker tripod inner joint vs the double cardon of the later model axles, but atleast I have a free spare.
Then you may ask what about the driveshaft to the rear axle? Slides right into the ST205 trans no mods, right length and everything. Shifter cables hook up, speedo gear goes into the trans, etc...
The only custom work is to fit a 88-91 camry alltrac passenger side engine mount to the 3SGTE and then cut off the corolla engine mount, slide it 2" and reweld, easy for any fabricator shop for less than $100. And then the wiring which isn't hard since you can just ship them off these days and have it done for you.
Also the 88-91 Corolla GTS gauge cluster will pop right in giving you a 9k tach and 155mph speedo. Corolla GTS rear LSD will pop right into the solid axle. With a 4 link coil setup can anyone say drag launch lol?
The best thing I've found is that the fuel pump, has an access plate about 2 inches inside the hatch under the carpet lol. Just open the lift gate and theres your fuel pump access, don't even have to remove the rear seat cushion. I'm going to gut this bitch out and have a light drag car that weighs hundreds less than a celica with more cargo space for hauling crap. Does it look like a POS? YES, sleeper anyone?