1989 Toyota Corolla FX-GT

[GT101]

carolla???

[Barark]

Please don't hurt or flame me, but...... Want is the difference between all the 4age colours?
Is there a link out there that explains all this?
sofar i have found:
Red
Black
Silver (is this normail or is silver different again)

So far as i can tell mine is normal, or could be silver, im not sure at all...

[Leon]

There's three engines with variations on them, all 4AGE's.

The rocker cover colour can confuse things.

The way I look at it is fairly simple.

Big Port (TVIS) 16 valve. This is the oldest one, and pretty common. Good top end power, not great bottom end.

Small Port 16 valve. Later model engine, good power throughout the range compared to the big port.

20 valve
- silvertop. Strong but not that powerful
- blacktop. Fragile rods, but excellent power.

There are variations within each of the 16 valve engines, but as somebody who runs factory engines anyway, I haven't ever got greatly worried about them.

If I was going 4AGE again, I'd get a blacktop 20 valve, and have silvertop rods fitted to it to target the most common blacktop weakness which is snapping rods.

[Barark]

Once the rod is snapped can it be replaced or is that it all over?

[~SlideWays~]

Once the rod is snapped can it be replaced or is that it all over?

If a rod snaps it will take the piston and valves with it as well as likely to punch a hole in the engine block. So most likely through away.

[Barark]

so at the very least the blacktop 20v need stronger pistons

[B_giB]

so at the very least the blacktop 20v need stronger pistons

No, Rods

[Leon]

Yah, silvertop rods make a blacktop more reliable.

Note: not *every* blacktop snaps rods, lots of them happily do 200,000km of constant thrashing, but failure happens often enough that it is something I'd do to a blacktop that I was going to race. I'd look at it as being cheap insurance. If it was going to be just a road car, then I'd take my chances with leaving the engine as is.

[Barark]

should i get a mechanic to do the swap? it doesnt look so hard...

[sergei]

should i get a mechanic to do the swap? it doesnt look so hard...

Not so hard? I mean dropping in a black-top into it is straight bolt-on. What are you going to do about wiring, is another question.
Especially your mechanic being of questionable experience.

[Barark]

I found a mechanic in your area actually, he works at Spargs auto tune in glenfield, he used to work in South Africa for Toyota and did some work on the race carolla's over there. He seemed to know what i was talking about and thought replacing the rods in a Blacktop was the best idea.

However it is still alot of money to throw at a mechanic i would rather do it myself so i can become familiar with the engine. I'm sure you know what i mean, its my baby

[rollaholic]

might be a handy person to know, if you attempt it yourself and run into trouble (no offence but sounds like you are reasonably inexperienced) then would be good to have someone to turn to for help on the tricky bits.

[Truenotch]

Leave your 16V 4age in there... If it's a 1989 then it could already have a smallport 16V engine - the best of the 16v's. Although it is most likely a "redtop bigport".

All the specs and information you will need can be found in the reference section of www.club4ag.com . This site has helped my through all of my developments and the info is good.



Don't bother changing or re-building the engine yet. The most important areas to start with are brakes, suspension and tyres.... and track time. Without track time and driver training your modifications will have little benefit.


Your "to do" list should be something like this:

Fit decent brake pads & straight rotors - pads such as Bendix Ultimate are good value for money for street cars.

Decent tyres - a set of decent road tyres on 15" wheels will be a good start.

Shocks - New shocks make a huge difference. See if you can find a KYB "sport" shock or a TRD insert, otherwise Excel G's are fine for starters.

Springs - A good set of springs will make a difference. TRD springs would be best

Bushes - Suspension Bushes make a big difference to how the car handles. Yours will probably be worn after a lot of KM's on the road. Try to get nolathane bushes or similar.


If you take the time to get the handling sorted and get experience behind the wheel it will pay off in the long term. Engine developments should be saved until you are comfortable with the car and the race track.

[Barark]

Wow that is a fantastic post thank you!

I have signed up for a track day with, PLAYDAY, at taupo in may, it does driver training in the morning and track rules and racing in the afternoon, it is socail but you can still get your car on the limits, i hope to work on all the things you listed by then.

Is there anyone in auckland who can help me with these bits and pieces?

[Truenotch]

Playday are a good group to get started with. They have also done events at Hampton Downs and Manfeild - Kepp and eye on their website.


Shop around and try to make friends with a suspension/tyre shop. There are people on these forums who can recommend a good place.


For TRD suspension parts contact Mark - parts@manawatu.toyota.co.nz or see viewtopic.php?t=66290 .

[Leon]

Pukekohe Car Club do quite a bit of low key motorsport (I think). Maybe get hold of their contact details off www.motorsport.org.nz contacts page.

[Truenotch]

http://www.pukekohecarclub.co.nz/

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

PS its COROLLA

[Barark]

i know this but im just laughing because im pretty sure my rego card says "Carolla"

[Barark]

Here we are...




Found a sexy supermodel lying around and flipped her on the bonnet...



And my nice little 4A-GE...