4age.. easy to work with?

[Chickenman]

I'm thinking about rebuilding a 4age as a project to keep me sane. I only want to build it to original specs as it's more for learning than racing.

My questions...

If my goal is to own a ae86.. which 4age? (Bluetop or redtop? not going anywhere near the other two incarnations)

I'm not in any rush but how much should I pay for one?

If I'm totally dismantling and starting from scratch I could buy a $&#$% one I guess?

Basically I love cars but after my bad 3sgte experience I need to learn more about them at a basic mechanical level. I made a lot of progress with my 323 but as I didn't have the equipment to get the engine out and pull out the crank (or the confidence) I sold it and lost money again on something that had a relatively simple solution.

I have basic tools and access to a torque wrench (if I ask really nicely) what else would I need?

Estimated build time... 10 years

[Dell'Orto]

To rebuild an engine? You'd need lots of space for a start, and a few specialist tools like valve and piston ring compressors. Not terribly expensive, and it makes your tool collection look good

[Mr Revhead]

go for a small port redtop.
anywhere from $400 to 900
depending on condition. you could even buy it for less if you take ya time and buy it in parts. if you can swing the good deals

[gordon77]

yeah id buy a small port redtop with alot of kms (but still running) and slowly replace things from the bottom up. it can get very expensive and you need alot of time. an engine stand makes it a shit load more easy

[aesc]

I know of a guy who is willing to sell a bigport 4age (unsure what colour) more or less complete for like $50, in Chch too

[AE82 FXGT]

I know of a guy who is willing to sell a bigport 4age (unsure what colour) more or less complete for like $50, in Chch too

^big port = bluetop

[Mr Revhead]

or early redtop.....

[XS1V]

^big port = bluetop

Ahh no it doesnt if its bigport and has a three rib block it equals bluetop. If it has the seven rib block and the bigports its an early redtop

[AE85coupe]

bigport = good for turbo

smallport = good for NA

20v = good for nothing

(waits for abuse)

[Mr Revhead]

ah the internet, a wealth of misinformation

[Alex B]

My 4A-F cost just over 1k for a full rebuild, this was including things like getting valves done,rebores done, crank balanced etc, godamn toyota gasket sets are expensive This was just for parts labour was free.

[KinLoud]

A willingness to learn... an extremely good start.
My recommendation:
Buy:
- engine stand
- cheap, complete 4age of any type. Going or not.
- valve compressor
- piston ring compressor
- some good basic tools
- haynes car maintenance manual for a car with 4age (best bet AW11 manual)
- lots of small boxes from pak n save (for bolts, piston, rod, bearing sets (#1 piston, rod, bearing and cap in same box etc.))

Under supervision - take it apart and put it back together a couple of times.
Learn how it goes together. Start with taking the head off and put it back on first, learn how (not) to round off important bolts, learn how to take the camshafts off and put them back on.
Then have a go at the bottom end, take off a bearing cap, slide out the bearing look at the crank, learn how to check bearing clearances with plastigage. Put the bearing back in. Then take the crank out... etc.
Work your way up. Don't take it all apart straight away.
Then start work on the engine you want to rebuild - Have fun.

I can copy all the engine pages from my AW11 manual and other manuals if you want copies.

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

[Chickenman]

Cheers guys, I think I'll look around for an engine stand first.

We are moving soon to a place with a bit more room and a garage will check back when I have got bits and pieces.

Thanks esp. Kinloud, a good list of what is needed.

I've already assisted in a bearing change on a mazda engine (Alycia's uncle is a legend mechanic... got a v8 supra!) and used to be my dads disassembly bitch back in the day so hopefully I wont break myself.