Rav4 needs a new donk

[RA28tragic]

Hi all. I just bought my daughter a 1997 RAV4. Nice little car, but I think the donk has just died. Very sad. What is the most common conversion to a latter model donk???

[tomvale13]

Did you buy it from a car yard? how long ago?

I havent heard of people converting a rav 4 yet, although I've seen many with an image that implies so.

Sucks bout your motor.

[LeeRoy]

I thought there was one on here that had a 3sgte conversion done. I believe ravgt4 or something along those lines was his username.

[RA28tragic]

Thanx guys. I bought it from Pickles Auto Auctions on line. It is very tidy car and I drove it home to Rocky no problems. Very sweet little thing. Just took it into town to pick up some new front struts and it wouldn't pull the skin off a custurd. Could be anything but I'm not going to spend a cent on the old motor if I can upgrade. Only problem is my daughter isn't allowed to drive a turbo under Qld's new rules. So looking at an injected someting. Thanx

[wa5]

she may not be allowed to drive a modified car either (IE engine swap.... extractors..... cams ...or anything else that ups the power) .

[wa5]

she may not be allowed to drive a modified car either (IE engine swap.... extractors..... cams ...or anything else that ups the power) .

she definately wont be able to double the power.........

ooops

[TooF]

injected something ???
umm the stock motor is injected

why do you want to change to something different why no just a replacement of the stocko ?

of perhaps a bit more of an investigation of why the stock on packed in.

[RA28tragic]

just want to consider all options.

[Vios-GT_07]

i think the new Rav4 uses a 2AZ.. which is really hard to find as the engine is fairly newish.. wouldn't be easy to fit i'd imagine..

or why not a 1MZ? V6 is good

most common conversion i noticed on a few ravs are the 3S-GTE route.. some even incorporating the 4WD system..

[c2888]

I had a hand in a st205 group A motor into a rav4, it's quite bizzare to watch and hear on the road. Nose up, bum down, turbo wooshey noises It was mostly a bolt in affair nothing too difficult. Getting the heat exchanger in behind the bumper required the bumper to be pushed out a little, nothing a few zip ties couldn't fix

The original 3SFE should go reasonably well if in good condition. You might have trouble tracking down a GOOD 4wd version to replace your current engine. They have a bit carved out of the back of the block and sump to make space for the 4wdness if I remember correctly.

I've seen a 3SGE gen3 with such transfer accomodating space behind it, out of a 4wd corona or curren?

[The Witzl]

i think C2888 just made it clear that a replacement 3S-FE is probably your best bet... unless you can track down the rare 4wd version 3S-GE.... or you want to go crazy, but considering this is for your daughter i would stick with the 3sfe.

[horse]

Beams 3s-ge from caldina has said area mentioned by C2888

[NeoNasty]

I thought it was a 5SFE?.. 2.2 liter?

Beams 3SGE sounds good though!

With some stiffer suspension I wonder if it would be a bit of fun around the hills.

[GT1978]

I thought it was a 5SFE?.. 2.2 liter?

Beams 3SGE sounds good though!

With some stiffer suspension I wonder if it would be a bit of fun around the hills.

Nah, the missus has a '98 Rav 4. These early ones had the 2lt 3SFE. So a Beams 3SGE would be a definate tick if you could find one.

Glen

[LeaThaL]

i agree with GT1978, any 3s-ge would be a good swap as for the little extra power and a beams would make it a perfect car for road and beach if your daughter happens to do so and it would be basicly a bolt in affair apart from wiring

[RA28tragic]

Thanx guys. So what doner would I be looking for??

[horse]

ST215 Caldina.

[jfallen]

just want to consider all options.

well it's an option

on a more realistic note, the 1MZ-FE has been done, bit of work but would be very rewarding. However cost prohibative.

red top beams would be a laugh, but again potentially cost prohibative.

is it worth cutting your losses and buyng another one which you can compression test before you buy. As like the Celica GT4's mechanics know they're a prick to work on and will charge like a wounded bull.

Cheers
Jordan

[o_man_ra23]

Unfortunately Phil, due to your daughter's P-plater-ness, it is more than likely that even a conversion to a 3S-GE of sorts would attract too much unwarranted attention from our blue uniformed inhabitants, and may void insurances otherwise available.

Realistically, if I were to have one, a Beams or a 3S-GTE would be the go. But I can legally drive it and can also get insurance, so that scenario is not possible in this case.

Find out if it is a 2Ltr or 2.2Ltr (info in this thread suggests 2Ltr), and import a low k replacement donk from jappolia. They will give you warranty and compression test results, and it won't void your daughter's legal ability to drive it, or insure it. Will also be an easy plug and play swap out. Wait till she is off the Prohibitive licence, then go a Beams. Till then, the stock 3S-FE in good condition is still a fairly slick donk. Heck, if you aren't planning the swap out till later in the year, I could probably get a weekend away from the missus and come down to give you a hand (beer and fishing will need to be provided for compensation of course ), but that would have to be after we do Adam's motor.

[wa5]

I believe that early rav motors are quite an expensive proposition.... at least that is what a mate told me.... If it is correct, rebuild what you have.