SV21 Camry Issues

**Koffee-Black** · 26-07-2006, 06:03 PM

Hey guys, got this Camry here 1990 model, my ol bought it brand new, and he cant let go of it, but its taken a beating, from when Ive been on my p's etc back in the day. Its got 180k on the clock, but my ol man dont look after it. I drive it more often t han him to the statio everyday, but its just turned to crap. It leaks oil like a mofo, like have to refill daily, and its the carby version, and goes like a dog. I was thinking, is it worth fixing, or should i just source another engine and chuck it in? In terms of cost wise etc.

I was thinking of finding an injected motor, but is it alot of hassle to put in, considering it was originally carby?

**kingmick** · 26-07-2006, 06:43 PM

its a hard choice mate! cars only worth a couple of grand at best.
if he loves the car you could try and find a decent one to change it but, its one of those catch 22 things mate

**Koffee-Black** · 26-07-2006, 07:11 PM

yeah too right ay.

Maybe go all out, and chuck a 3sgte init!

**c2888** · 26-07-2006, 08:06 PM

Find an importer and give em the sob story, you might find yourself an unloved s motor sitting up the back of the warehouse. 4sfe, late 3sfes, import shit that no one wants.
It may take some persuading to get everything to fit and work happy, but i gather it's just a daily hack and running cheap is better than not running.

I should take some pics of the sludged up ones we get in at work. There are some doozies i tell ya.

We did a quick calculation at work and it's cheaper to run your camry into the ground by not servicing it EVER. When it blows up you throw a new/old low k 3sfe/5sfe in it, runs bewdiful

Of course i don't recommend this sort of behaviour, but it does really work out cheaper. You might wanna do the big service at 100,000 kms, just so you can drive without fear of the timing belt snapping and leaving you stranded.

Dan

**Koffee-Black** · 26-07-2006, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by c2888

Find an importer and give em the sob story, you might find yourself an unloved s motor sitting up the back of the warehouse. 4sfe, late 3sfes, import shit that no one wants.
It may take some persuading to get everything to fit and work happy, but i gather it's just a daily hack and running cheap is better than not running.

I should take some pics of the sludged up ones we get in at work. There are some doozies i tell ya.

We did a quick calculation at work and it's cheaper to run your camry into the ground by not servicing it EVER. When it blows up you throw a new/old low k 3sfe/5sfe in it, runs bewdiful

Of course i don't recommend this sort of behaviour, but it does really work out cheaper. You might wanna do the big service at 100,000 kms, just so you can drive without fear of the timing belt snapping and leaving you stranded.

Dan

ahahah. Wouldnt mind seeing what the motors go for!

**Vios-GT_07** · 26-07-2006, 10:25 PM

hm... why not this approach..

a weekend fixing up a crank shaft seal...

next weekend fixing up intake manifold gaskets..

next weekend looking at exhaust manifolds...

etc etc.. (all this after checking a few things like water pump still ok, where the oil is gushing out from, compression test on all cylinders to see if it's worth saving.. ) ..??

it'll only cost you a few bucks a weekend, and probably at the end of 3 months or so u've got an immac running car? hmm.. just a thought

**urantia** · 26-07-2006, 10:56 PM

i betchya with a basic tuneup that thing will purr along fine. Mum's also has the carb 3s-fe (3s-f) no ECU all old style. (carb, centrifugal advance, choke etc)

Doing the timing on them is more tricky then the ECU yota motors, gotta fully warm it up ensure it's ideling in the correct range ( i think it's 800rpm +/- 50 rpm, then disconnected the vacuum adcance and set it to 5 degrees BTDC. (that and un seizing the centrifugal advance transformed my mums camry from snail pace to upto par with other camry's pace)

Anyway its worth going thru the basics and fixing the oil leak and seeing if it's still a shitter or not, you may be surprised to get another 100,000 out of it. I know my mums did after some basic work. (they are resiliant motors even from an abusive history)

**Vios-GT_07** · 27-07-2006, 01:16 AM

well let's see how fubbared it is..

if it's BHG, u're looking at roughly 300 bucks if you do it yourself..

Big end bearing, well it's still doable, but probably a new second hand or recoed motor is better..

if it's just oil leaks and noisy lifters, it's simple and worst thing is u'll have to pull out the g/box to do drive-shaft seals and the rear-main seals, which isn't much of a hassle (if you'd think that 5 hours of solid work is reasonable)..

didn't read the part about it being carb.. the EFI is more efficient but more problematic in long run IMO.. what with all the sensors and electronic mumbo jumbo.. but again it's how much time and money u're willing to spend.. good luck!!

**chris davey** · 27-07-2006, 11:04 AM

MY SV21 has 340000kms on it. 3s-fe though. I think it had a head gasket done about 100000kms ago. I had to get my alternator recode and another power steering rack put in about a month ago.

The other things that need to be looked at fairly regularly is the CV boots.

Mine has oil leaks but not that much. I just top it up

I know it isn’t blowing any smoke so it is all leaks. Could fix it but for the price I paid for the car ($0) any money spent on it is a big investment