What to do with an ST185.

[matt dunn]

A guy I know has bought an ST185 rally/race car and is planning to do targa in it this year.

The last owner had made major mods and has proved to be majorly unreliable.
After 3 engines he put a non turbo bottom end in it to make it run so he could sell it. Anyway, it run a bearing.
The car has had numerous gearbox problems too.

So we think the deal it to buy a complete s/h ehgine and box and fit it in.
The car already had a link computer.

What I'm after is ome advice on which model 3SGTE and box should we put in it, and what other mods usually made good gains without loosing reliability?

Anyone have a s/h 3SGTE and box for sale?

Matt

[Chickenman]

Ummmmmmmmm...


I've got an engine... but for serious stuff (like Targa) I would suggest getting a genIII out of a st205...

You could get reliability and performance out of a genII fairly easily though...

Decision is...
Spend lots on a newer "bare" engine and hope to replace less... or spend less on an older engine and plan to replace everything anyway...


my ellipses are showing, must be tired

[RedMist]

Sounds as if there are some serious issues with that Link setup or the fuel system.

[Lanius]

Grab all the bits from an ST205 if you can. Better gearbox (so I'm told), better series 3SGTE, plus newer, so less km's etc.

[Dell'Orto]

Buy Chickenman's motor and trailer and use that block as a starting point. Either an ST205 gearbox or perhaps get some custom strengthened gearsets (if thats not out of the budget)
What exactly where the gearbox issues?

[deaf_rattle]

i wouldnt waste my time with an engine that needed a new oil pump unless i was prepared to do a full rebuild.

Specially since its a pick a part engine.

But in my experience you are better off buying something with the intention of giving it a full rebuild.

You could always buy a running 3sgte fom a wreckor, but im not a big fan of buying engines second anymore.

[Dell'Orto]

Hence why I said to use his block as a starting point, hes obviously got a few parts there

Also, what mods have been done? Just so we can get a better idea of why its breaking so often.

[deaf_rattle]

well yes, you could use his block as a starting point, but what if the crank is $&#$%?

depends on how much time and money you have

if you have a decent engine to begin with it will cost less to rebuild.

[Dell'Orto]

Well there is that. By the sounds of its not though, it hasnt had enough running time to do that.
The only guarantee you're not gonna get a shagged motor is to take one from a running car

[Chickenman]

I was just offering the two different paths.

I think you would be looking at less money overall if you purchased a GenII over a genIII.. leaving the fact that I have one for sale out of it.

[Mr Revhead]

has it caught fire again recently?

to fix the g/box problems... ensure bung is tightend


for the targa, seeing as its such a long way (both race distance and from timaru!) id say a rebuild is a must.... crazy not too imo.
an st205 engien would be great! but id imagine them a little hard to find... st185 ones are out there... but probably thrashed....

[thaphatty]

put a 1jz in it!!!!!!!!!

[matt dunn]

put a 1jz in it!!!!!!!!!

Been there done that.

Still looking at options.

Matt

[deaf_rattle]

1uz twin turbo

and it has been done, but be cool and do it again

[matt dunn]

would be,

but were not looking at getting rid of the 3s. It will stay.

Matt

[vvega]

gen 3 box has better sycros but the gen 1 box is still the strongest and has the diff lock good if your gunna rally

gen2 head is good too

meh wrong place to ask for this if you ask me

v

[Wildcard]

gen 3 box has better sycros but the gen 1 box is still the strongest

Oh please, go on and back this up with some evidence

[Ash]

ST185 Synchros suck.

[vvega]

the gen one gear clusters are wider in apperance and mesument to the later boxes
the are also considerably heavier
this is why the 165 syncros die with normal use
later on they went to the dual synco setup and lighter gear rings

how bout this ben
you back up what you say with some evidance
the first gen mr2 uses the same internals as the 185 box the 165 is differnt again
how do i know ive had both apart
these both have slightly smaller internals than a 165 and aw11s/c box witch are internally compatable
the reason for the size differance
id say its got somthing to do with the hard diff lock they have this would put a lot of pressure on the gearsets and as a first off toyota made it to not fail
the 165 facelift and 185 has a viscous coupling that would absorb a fair bit of the linked front/rear axel combating that happens

i made comment that this is the wrong place to ask this sort of question and you provided exactly why
i gave accurate info and you combat it with "internet" provided info(you and i both know your hands on fall short of knowing this personally)

this is exactly why people round here get so $&#$% up with misinformation and crap

ill say it again wrong place to ask for this kind of info
most that will reply have never even pulled a gearbox down let alone had both in there hands to do comparasion with

best of luck matt
vvega

[kingcorolla]

howz abour you mount gen 111 3s running 4wd ger and 4wd axlees. into the st185. reliabltitlty and 13 lb
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