XPost: alt.autos.toyota   
   From: Trueno@e86.GTS   
      
   On Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:34:47 -0700, Paul Furman wrote:   
      
   > Hachiroku ハチロク wrote:   
   >> Paul Furman wrote:   
   >>> clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote:   
   >>>>> Paul Furman wrote:   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Any idea if it would be a   
   >>>>> more modern engine like they'd put in a 2008 Toyota pickup or this is   
   >>>>> going to come from a shelf with 20 years of dust on it? I'm guessing the   
   >>>>> connections to fit the engine under the seat are all different but have   
   >>>>> heard these vans described as basically the same as a small pickup with   
   >>>>> a funky body (and obviously a little different length drive train, etc).   
   >>>>   
   >>>> The Van LE uses a special "lay down" engine - nothing else fits.   
   >>>   
   >>> Ah, good to know. It still seems it might be possible to fit a 2008   
   >>> model HiAce engine imported from overseas but even if it could be   
   >>> connected there are emissions modifications which probably couldn't   
   >>> reasonably be brought up to US/CA standards.   
   >>   
   >> If you can find a JDM engine that uses the same sensors you may be able to   
   >> pull it off.   
   >   
   > I probably am not up for having miracles done, just curious. When you   
   > referred to matching ECU, I'm guessing that's computer stuff? It is EFI.   
   > What is JDM? I posted on craigslist for a shade tree mechanic as the   
   > hourly for a full shop is going to be impractical. Thanks!   
      
   ECU=Electronic Control Unit. On older cars like this they were fairly   
   simple, and as long as the engine has the right sensors and uses the same   
   harness, it's pretty much plug 'n play. We had no problem getting the '91   
   truck motor to work in my '85 Celica. The sensors were all the same and we   
   just plugged everything in...er, wait. there was one difference and that's   
   how the knock sensor plugged in. We cut the connector off the truck and   
   spliced it into the harness and it worked (note: we didn't cut the old   
   plug, just in case!!! We stripped some wire back and did it that way.)   
      
   JDM=Japanese Domestic Market. Sometimes the Japanese (because of relaxed   
   environmental laws, etc) get goodies we don't get here. The JDM engine for   
   my Supra is a few more HP, but you also have to rework the harness to get   
   it to run. I had a Nissan 240SX with a 2.4L, SOHC, three valve per   
   cylinder 'truck' motor; the some engine in the Nissan truck but the truck   
   had throttle body injection and the car had Multi-point. The Japanese   
   motor was a full twin-cam design with a different valve timing and put out   
   about 35 more HP. The car flew as it was! But again, there is a lot of   
   rework to putting this engine into a US spec model.   
      
   Also note: I read a lot and talk to a lot of people. THe only engine swap   
   "I" ever did was the Celica, and that was a lot of looking on and adding   
   the odd hand here and there. The guy who put it in does racing engines and   
   some work on the side. Mostly I did the heavy-looking-on...   
      
      
   BTW, I did some poking around on the web getting info on the engine for   
   your van. There are a couple of owner's groups out there, and you may get   
   more precise answers from some of them.   
      
   Good Luck!! (Like I said, I like those vans and wish they still made them.   
   I almost got an AWD a few years ago for ~$600, but looking it over I   
   talked it up too much and the guy's still driving it... :(   
      
      
      
   >   
   >> BTW, what's a "lay down" engine? I've only seen a few of these vans up   
   >> close and personal (I almost bought one in '85 instead of my Corolla   
   >> GTS) so I don't know a whole lot about them.   
      
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