Hi,
I just bought a 1989, black, Celica Alltrac for $250. The car is in good condition except the engine was over-heated due to a leaking water pump and it burns quite a bit of oil. I an thinking the rings are cooked.
Basically, I want to fix the car up and use it as a back-up vehicle to my '92 Laser RS AWD. I would like to do a few simple mods, but keep the car basically stock.
It's funny, I used to be an auto technician at a Toyota dealership back when Alltracs were new. In fact, I kind of remember prepping at least one black one back in 1988 or so. I remember looking over the engine bay and thinking "man, I wouldn't want to work on one of these things". How things change?
I'm hoping one of you guys could help me with a few questions:
I am looking at getting a JDM engine/trans. How hard is it to upgrade to a ST185? I'm not scared of a little wiring and exhaust work, but I would like to keep the stock ECM.
Can the stock water to air intercooler be retained?
Did Toyota do anything strange like change the differential gear ratios for the japanese market (can I use the JDM tranny)?
I have found the old school ST165 JDM engine/trannys are really cheap right now ($950). The ST185s are more expensive, but they have a better head, turbo, etc.
I'd like to stay away from doing an engine rebuild as I have way to many projects going right now.
Any thoughts?
I just bought a 1989, black, Celica Alltrac for $250. The car is in good condition except the engine was over-heated due to a leaking water pump and it burns quite a bit of oil. I an thinking the rings are cooked.
Basically, I want to fix the car up and use it as a back-up vehicle to my '92 Laser RS AWD. I would like to do a few simple mods, but keep the car basically stock.
It's funny, I used to be an auto technician at a Toyota dealership back when Alltracs were new. In fact, I kind of remember prepping at least one black one back in 1988 or so. I remember looking over the engine bay and thinking "man, I wouldn't want to work on one of these things". How things change?
I'm hoping one of you guys could help me with a few questions:
I am looking at getting a JDM engine/trans. How hard is it to upgrade to a ST185? I'm not scared of a little wiring and exhaust work, but I would like to keep the stock ECM.
Can the stock water to air intercooler be retained?
Did Toyota do anything strange like change the differential gear ratios for the japanese market (can I use the JDM tranny)?
I have found the old school ST165 JDM engine/trannys are really cheap right now ($950). The ST185s are more expensive, but they have a better head, turbo, etc.
I'd like to stay away from doing an engine rebuild as I have way to many projects going right now.
Any thoughts?