Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/1/24 12:14 p.m.

        Hey I am fairly new to the engine swapping community, I was hoping someone would have information on the engine swapping of a 1978 Datsun minitruck and a 1996 Toyota Glanza? (This cars engine was built from multiple cars but it is currently in a Tercel), any information helps.

 

Thanks

Asher

TurboFource
TurboFource Dork
10/1/24 9:17 p.m.

Had to look up Glanza ... is it the turbo motor? Will it bolt up to a normal transmission so you can put it in a rear wheel drive truck?

Jehannum
Jehannum New Reader
10/1/24 10:05 p.m.

It'd be easier with more available documentation to put a RWD KA24DE into a 620 than a FWD Toyota 4.

Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/3/24 12:20 p.m.

In reply to TurboFource :

Yeah it's the turbo

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
10/5/24 9:53 a.m.

Just to be clear, are you trying to swap the Toyota motor into the Datsun? Not planning separate swaps for both such as a KA24 in the Datsun and a 2ZZ in the Toyota?

This looks like a difficult swap: There was no factory application that used the E series engine in a RWD chassis, and I don't think it shares a bell housing with anything that did. So you're looking at a transmission adapter and finding a way to deal with a distributor that would be jammed against the firewall. You would probably be the first to attempt this swap as well.

What is the goal for this swap? If it's because you have the truck and the engine and expect this to be cheap, you may want to reconsider.

Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/23/24 1:38 p.m.

Sorry about the inactivity, and thanks for your advice. What would be a truck that you would suggest and would be fairly easy and reasonably cheap. And yes I am planning on dropping the Toyotas engine in a truck. Or is there a specific brand I should look for?

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
10/24/24 12:29 p.m.

So you specifically want to put a Toyota E series motor into a pickup truck? Just about anything other than a FWD or rear engined pickup is going to have the same potential issues. Is making an El Camino out of a Tercel an option? 

If you aren't in the US, or are willing to import something under the 25 year exemption,you might be able to find a truck that makes slightly more sense. Maybe a Chevy Joy from Latin America or some sort of Japanese micro truck.

Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/24/24 2:50 p.m.

I am not against an el Camino 

 

update: I got information from the guy I bought it from and he said this about the engine,

"Motor- 1996 Toyota glanza gt- 4EFTE

When searching for any parts use the nomenclature 4E-FTE, or Toyota glanza ep91

 

Ep91 is the chassis code for the correct year and model of the glanza.

Stock Tercel chassis code is EL42

 

Some parts can be sourced by searching for 91 Toyota paseo 1.3 liter as well

 

For transmission related parts I.E. clutch flywheel or axle seals or such 

Everything but the clutch and flywheel and throw out bearing are Tercel. The flywheel and clutch and throw out bearing need to be for the 4E-FTE. 

 

For all other parts just use 1992 Toyota tercel"

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
10/24/24 7:01 p.m.

Let's back up a bit here. What is your goal for swapping a 4E into a pickup? If it's because you got a good deal on the engine and want a pickup, I would strongly recommend reconsidering. This is an engine with no off the shelf options for a conventional rear wheel drive layout and a torque curve poorly suited to doing truck things.

Now, if you have a different goal, such as building this for something like Bonneville's pickup truck classes, what you will do is going to be based around the rule book.

To paraphrase Ian Malcom: Don't be so preoccupied with whether you could that you don't ask whether you should. This project is not going to be easy and I am not sure the result you would get matches what you want to do. So let's start by asking what exactly you want to accomplish with this swap.

Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/24/24 7:54 p.m.

Thank you for helping me understand that a pickup would not be the best option


The engine in the car I currently have has great mileage to the gallon, has a bunch of stuff added to it sucking the battery dry because of a mystery reason we are still figuring out, and has a bunch of wires I have no clue if they are useful or not.

It's a great car don't get me wrong, and I know it sounds shallow but I would like to get something cooler while keeping the miles to the gallon and rewiring everything on it onto the other one so I can know what is what, and find any issues that it has before they pop up.

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
10/25/24 9:02 a.m.

In that case, the easiest thing to put this engine in would be a '90s era Tercel or Paseo. Other FWD transverse engine Toyota products could also work - beware of older Tercels that used a FWD trans axle with a north - south layout.

Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/25/24 12:22 p.m.

I know this seems redundant and ridiculous but what about any muscle cars? Older ones that is?

Stampie
Stampie MegaDork
10/25/24 1:13 p.m.

In reply to Firstborn :

I don't think you're understanding what Matt is trying to tell you.  It's not a problem if it's a pickup or a muscle car or whatever.  It's a problem that your donor engine isn't easily converted to RWD.  You would have to fabricate not only engine mounts but also your own adapter plate for the transmission you plan to use.  Engine mounts are not that hard.  It's just a matter of welding them up and then attaching them.  Making an adapter plate is much more difficult because of the precision of it.  Easiest way would be to find bell housing blueprints of your donor engine and your donor trans.  Then designing your own adapter plate using CAD.  At that point you could cut it yourself using a mill or if you don't have one then sending the drawings off to have it made.  By the time you do all that you are probably thousands into the project.

Firstborn
Firstborn New Reader
10/25/24 1:35 p.m.

Oh all right, thanks. I am new to the car world and am thankful for your help.

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
10/25/24 4:35 p.m.

If you don't plan on doing a huge amount of fabrication, stick with the Tercel or Paseo; they were the only other cars sold in the US with an E series engine. Some '90s Corollas had this motor as well, but only in overseas markets, so you'd have a lot of work tracking one down.

Although if you want to import a whole non running car, there's the weird gull wing Toyota Sera, which also used an E series engine.

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