What engine for my Carina? (AA60)

[Roman]

Okay, so I've been doing a bit of thinking about what engine to put in my carina.
(Which is a 1983 AA60 Hatch, with 3AU BTW)
Original plans were to use my spare beams 3SGE engine, but lately I've been thinking that maybe something a bit different would be more fun.
I've already got a stupidly well handling NA car, I've been thinking perhaps its time for a stupidly poor handling turbo car.

Anyway, any suggestions, with pros/cons?

I'm looking for something fairly easy to fit, and not costing the world, but am open to sensible suggestions.

My thoughts so far:

3TGTE:
pros: Easy easy to fit, cheap to buy
cons: you cant get parts for them any more apparently, like cam belt tensioners etc. And they're all pretty old these days.

3SGTE:
pros: Decent power, easy power upgrade path
cons: they dont come in a RWD configuration, so are a PITA to fit.

4AGTE:
pros: Easy as to fit a 4AGE engine, not much harder to fit a turbo.
cons: Quite a bit of farting around, expensive if I want to start with a GZE block.

CA18DET
pros: RWD configuration, cheap as, reasonable power
cons: It's a nissan motor in a Toyota, I'd rather stick with Toyota if I could!
Driveshaft modifcations/custom mounts etc required too.

Hmmmm, any other suggestions?
Is there anything cheap, that will more or less bolt straight in for the meantime, that is a bit better than a 3AU? Like a 2TG or something? Preferably something that I could get with a bellhousing and engine mounts to suit the T40 and cross member already in the car.

[WDE_BDY]

Just bolt a 4A-GE into it, using bits from the 3A and a cut'n'shut manifold. But for cost of certing it etc you might as well go straight for what you really want and just put up with the 3A for now.

Callum

[Roman]

What 3A bits can you use for a 4AGE?

like, are the exhaust manifolds the same dimensions or something?
Same engine mounts?

Also, are there problems with running a FWD 4AGE in a RWD configuration, are they leaned over in the FWDs like the 3S's?

It's going to take a while to get all of the bits together to fit a decent engine in (Like W57, bellhousing, mounts, etc etc, not to mention suspension etc that needs to come first) so if I could fit another engine in that could fly under the WOF radar in the meantime, it would be nice, hehe.

I've got my MR2 to putt around in regardless, so I suppose it doesnt matter all that much.

[CrUZida]

Drop a 1UZ or a 1GGTE in there.
Shouldn't lose too much handing with the above.

Or if you are feeling really crazy, 2JZGTE.

[Norbie]

IMO a 4A-GTE would be the way to go, just because you already have an A series engine. You'll have to decide for yourself if this will deliver enough performance for your needs, but if it doesn't I'd suggest the 1G-GTE.

[Roman]

Yeah, I suppose a big factor is that I've already got the 3SGE sitting in my garage, and I'd like to see it up and running.
It's incredibly easy to fit to the carina. (with the right mounts/bellhousing/etc, it bolts straight in more or less! )

Arggh, I'm torn between the idea of selling it, or actually getting it going and putting it in the carina.

[WDE_BDY]

There is an SA60 Carina Surf Wagon sitting in a wreckers near me with the crossmember and mounts still in it, you may be able to find something closer to you though. Missing bellhousing and box though.

Callum

[CrUZida]

Have a search, you'll find out just how incompatible 2S stuff is with the 3S

[Roman]

There's a guy here that runs an AA63 Carina with almost everything bolted in from various cars, factory mounts/crossmember etc without modification.

I've talked to him, and he said everything is fairly straight foward.

The biggest problem is that the 2S engine's crank sticks out further than 3S, so you've got to machine down the bellhousing 5-10mm, or come up with some othe solution.

[Norbie]

It's incredibly easy to fit to the carina. (with the right mounts/bellhousing/etc, it bolts straight in more or less! )

LOL

With the right mounts/bellhousing/etc, anything will bolt up easily! A RWD 3S-GE conversion is far from easy though - plenty of people have been down that road and learned the hard way.

[Starfire]

Go the 4AG(Z/T)E.

It will all pretty much just bolt in and be a good match for the size and weight of the car. There are no problems converting the FWD 4AGE to RWD - the oil system was initially designed for RWD anyway and the 3A water pump and most of the piping will bolt on giving properly located water outlets.

[Roman]

LOL

With the right mounts/bellhousing/etc, anything will bolt up easily! A RWD 3S-GE conversion is far from easy though - plenty of people have been down that road and learned the hard way.

haha, yeah I mean with factory bits from various cars though.

gen 4 has coil over plug ignition, so no dizzy to worry about, and I;m planning to bolt on altezza sump and intake manifold.

The wiring for the FWD engines is a lot simpler than the Altezza ones!

[Mr Revhead]

theres HEAPS of vehicles here with the right bellhousings etc
dave, GO 3SGE!!!

[Roman]

Yeah, I just got my MR2 running right again tonight....

Damn that thing goes!

I'm a bit more enthusiastic about the 3S idea now.

Cant wait to get the MR2 back on the dyno to see how it goes.

If it was making 113kw @ only 5400rpm or so running how it was, it should go pretty damn well now that it's a bit better sorted!