Blue Top Block

[Jebus]

In my car im running the Red Top TVIS, which is in pretty good knick but would still like to rebuild a bottom end to have a 100% fresh and reliable motor, and also to learn a bit more about the insides of the 4AGE. My motor has the bigger bottom end with 20mm gudgeons and no oil squirters, and the big port head, and runs the red top loom (different to blue top).

My idea is this, rebuild a blue top block with new pistons etc, then once built swap the blue top block over for my red top, and run with my existing Red Top Head and Loom either using a TRD head gasket or new stock depending on piston dish. My reasons for wanting to use the blue top block are..

Very cheap in comparison to Red Tops, i.e blocks, new pistons etc.
To get that 4AGE Feel and revvyness people say the lighter blue top has over the Later model blocks.

Are there any problems with this idea? Is the blue top considerably weaker? (Im not particularly hard on motors and is primarily street driven, will be perfectly looked after) Not modified, just blue top cams, and adjustable cam gears, and bit more compression.

[crnkin]

hey mark,

From the point of view im sitting at:

Not a bad idea. HOWEVER, simply running a smallport redtop on your existing loom will net approximately the same gains you have suggested from the bluetop.

Yes, the bluetop has different revving characteristics to the redtop tvis, and the redtop smallport, however, in my eyes, the smallport revs better than them both. The extra compression is just that much better, and with the smaller ports, the low down torque is more than noticable through the seam of pants.

My gt sedan has this exact conversion done, and it went phenonminally well. Hopping back into my bluetop corona, it just felt slow, to be quite honest. Redtop was also better on gas!

However, if you want to go turbo one day, its a different story.

Moral of my rant is, from the money spent on rebuiling a bluetop, and geting aftermarket headgasket and what not, your looking at the same if not more money, than finding a reputable person with a redtop for sale and swapping it right over.

number one problem, the rwd manifold, however evil_si can sort you out there easy.

Thats what I thinking anyways, i just got my 4agte on the road and it is sorta a bit much for everyday driving i think, an NA would be the way, if only i had the money for that.

Sweet!

[Jebus]

Not a bad idea. HOWEVER, simply running a smallport redtop on your existing loom will net approximately the same gains you have suggested from the bluetop.

The reason why I would like to build a new bottom end isnt primarily for the power gains, more just because I like things to be new and in perfect condition, so a rebuilt bluetop block will give me a mint condition engine that will never blow smoke and wont cause me any trouble. Where as If I were to swap in another second hand 4AGE, Im back with an engine that has done a couple of hundred thousand kays.

However, if you want to go turbo one day, its a different story.

Not at this stage, and If I was to go turbo, Id be building a new forged motor.

number one problem, the rwd manifold, however evil_si can sort you out there easy.

This being another one of those things that will add up to the cost of the swap, either $150 for a smallport inlet, then $75 for a cut n swap. Or $200 for a T3 Big Port - Small Port adaptor plate. With blue top, I can get the block and build it when funds become available then swap the block when ready, not chaning any of my manifolds or wiring.

Cheers for your ideas, keep em coming....

[crnkin]

hmmm ok if i had know a little more about your main purpose it would have helped, so yeah seems like a good idea.

Bluetops are strong, and if you were to fully rebuild one, it would pretty much last forever. The bluetop is not considerably weaker than any other block, so in essence, mint idea. In practise, i love my power, so id go more all out but hey, im young dumb and fulla .... something

[Stealer Of Souls]

This is pretty much what I'm thinking of doing also...
Except that instead of the old three rib bluetop block why not go for the seven rib silvertop (or blacktop) block. That way you get the oil squirters too. And I don't think the seven rib blocks are too much heavier than the three rib.

Skim the block, but if you're not modding the engine too much maybe stick with a standard head gasket... Don't know the price differences, but it's probably not worth going TRD for a mostly standard engine...