Is there a place/person that sells rebuilt AW11 engines (and hopefully transmissions)? I think mine is on it's last legs and I don't have the skills to rebuild the engine myself. I know that there were 20v conversions done, but again that would be far beyond my capability.
Ideally, I'd like to purchase the new drivetrain and just have it "bolted" into my car. Is this even possible or am I delusional?
Thanks for any assistance you can render.
Are you paying for all this to be done? If so, I'd have a shop source the engine for you so they're on the line to either warranty it themselves or deal with the supplier.
If you're doing the work yourself, go to mr2oc.com for some help. Hell, go there anyway. If you're on a tight budget you can get used engines for a few hundred dollars, sometimes significantly less.
I'd weigh your options before pulling the trigger on a rebuilt $$$ 4AGE when you can probably get a 20v for less. The hardest thing about the 20v swap is the wiring harness and you can hire a guy on the forum (MR220V) to do it for you for around $300 IIRC.
Dr Hess did the 20v conversion too...iirc he had a website with a write up on it.
There are places that rebuild engines. I actually did this several years ago on my SW20. Bought it on ebay. At the time I didn't have access to a place to build an engine or time to mess with it. I've put about 50k miles on it and it's been fine. The water pump they used failed after about 20k miles, but otherwise, it's been fine.
Having said that, I agree with Matt. Think this through. I could have done a 3SGTE conversion for less money. Only reason I did what I did is because it's my E Stock car so an engine swap was out. And it was a pain in the butt working with them to get an engine that I thought would be legal. Even with that, I wouldn't want to try to defend it in a protest - not that it will be a problem. '91 MR2 with T Tops not likely to be winning anything Nationally any time soon.
Thanks for the reply!
Yeah, I don't have the tools or skills, so I'd hire someone to do the engine swap. I'd love to do the 20v, as I understand it, the 20v is a "bolt-in" swap isn't it, as in I wouldn't have to fabricate any engine mounts or anything?
Correct - the 20v is a 4AGE after all, just a later version. No fabbing up engine mounts - bolts up just fine. The problem though is finding a shop that is willing to do a "weird" swap they've probably never heard of and getting a decent price at the same time. Not impossible, just be careful shopping around and read up on the swap so you know what you're talking about. Which is pretty much par for the course with any swap.
A rebuild is a lot easier than a swap, and cheaper either way (less than buying a rebuilt engine or swapping to an engine that will need a rebuild in just a few years), and you have a decent powertrain already...
what no one is telling you is MOST of the 20V out there still need overhauling 
and...... the blacktops especially have a sludge problem(admitted... this is what I've heard... but from reliable sources) so you have a swap... but then the swap more often then not... also needs a rebuild.
Since nothing has failed you yet... I'd source a used engine and transmission. a complete stock rebuild on the engine will run you about $1500 (parts and labor)
If there is a Vo-Tec in your town you might be able to have all the work down for less than 1/2 of what a shop would charge you
I'm on my 14th MR2, the most recent an SW20 that I put a v6 in. I swapped a 3rd gen from a half cut. I built a Mk1.5 (AW11 with a 3sgte.). When I got my first one, I had only the basic tools and mechanical fundamentals. Now I have a comprehensive tool kit and a lot of experience.
If you can't do this kind of work yourself, you are in for a tough time. These cars are 25 years old now, and the hits keep coming. Don't pay the man when you can buy the tools and a backup car for less money.
If you have to pay someone, find a specialist. Shops hate MR2s.
I still think a swap is an affordable and reliable way to go, if you buy it from the right place.
For that matter, what's wrong with yours? It might be something simple.
You'll need to log in to post.
