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The engines I'm using for my 7A-GZE conversion are my 1996 Corolla's 7A-FE and an AFM-based 4A-GZE from a 1990 Japanese Toyota Levin (AE92). I bought this engine without sensors, harness, ECU, or accessories. Some of you may be wondering why this conversion is taking forever. Well, suffice it to say that I have other priorities currently...but I hope to get back in the game soon. When I do, I don't know if I'll stick with the 4A-GZE I have. If I end up running a programmable ECU, it doesn't matter much if the engine is MAP or AFM...but I'm thinking about importing a complete late MAP-based 4A-GZE, probably from an AE111 (higher stock power rating). Maybe I'll use a 20v head instead...I just don't know at this point. The 300hp turbo idea is quite appealing also! (I talk about it below.) Well, all these ideas will converge one way or another. =) Most likely I'll just put together a 16v 7A-GZE and see where I should go from there...it's a learning process after all.
I will write more as the story unfolds. For now, here are some pics of the 4A-GZE I have:
- Still at Toysport
- Fresh off the truck
- Head and supercharger
- Head and supercharger (another angle)
- Head
- Supercharger
- Piston and connecting rod
- Top view of piston
- Crankshaft in block
The conversion will be done with the assistance of:
In the meantime, Dirk Apel has compiled some information originating on the Toyota Modifications mailing list about the 7A-GE conversion... corolla@corollaperformance.com (in the UK) has also undertaken a 7A-GZE conversion and is done (and quite content). The following are some posts from him regarding his conversion. Following his posts is some info on dealing with fueling/ECU issues. Here are also some things you should take note of. If you're gonna go with forced induction, use forged pistons. The 4A-GZE intercooler may be a bit restrictive...look into getting a larger intercooler.
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998
Subject: Project 7A-GZE<snip>
So anyway as some may know, last year I chucked together an 1800cc conversion from a 7A bottom and 4A-GE 16V head. Well this has been sitting around in the back of the garage for 6 months, and I had always thought about what a GZE version might produce. So I got the garage mob to strip both engines and start to rebuild all the best bits and mod where cost-effective. So at the moment the list is as follows:
- 1800cc 7A bottom end, lightened and balanced crank and rods
- Bores honed
- GZE forged pistons onto 7A rods
- Oil sump pan with oil return pipe for oil cooler from original 4A-GE engine
- GZE SC12 supercharger with largest crank pulley fitted
- Timing wheel fitted to crank pulley for MBE ECU timing
- GZE 16V wide port head flowed and ported, mainly exhaust ports widened a little
- Valves cut and angled
- Lightened 7A flywheel with up rated 212mm clutch plate and GZE cover plate
- 6-speed box from 4E-FE Corolla G6 heavily modified to fit 4A/7A block
- Up rated engine mounts, custom tubular steel exhaust manifold and 2.25" stainless steel sports exhaust (don't need to fit a cat)
You might ask why I don't just add a turbo and get major BHP figures. Well, I hope to get 200bhp from this lot at 10psi boost without the complication of the SC/turbo installation. Plus most of the parts are still standard and should last as well as be easy to replace.
<snip>Date: Wednesday, September 23, 1998
Subject: Re: Project 7A-GZEI will use my custom ECU as it did cost 1000 pounds (1500 US dollars) sterling including the wiring loom but it will do anything you want including 8+ injectors, traction control, nitrous + turbo + supercharger, data logging and tuning in real time on a laptop. As I have mentioned before, my ECU uses a timing wheel on the crank, engine RPM and throttle position to create a fuel/ignition map. Boost is not measured as it's directly proportional to crank speed anyway and neither is airflow at the inlet side which does make it quite easy to map. Though for this project I will probably measure air temperature to improve response in all outside atmospheric conditions and improve idling when sitting in traffic in hot conditions. With the long duration cams plus higher boost and longer stroke bottom end, I doubt the the Toyota ECU would get anywhere near with fueling and timing.
Date: Thursday, February 04, 1999
Subject: 7A-GZE CONVERSION: Standard fuel pump is a limit on power<snip>
Last year before the 1800cc conversion, cams and with standard manifold I had 175bhp @ 12.5psi (7000 RPM). At the end of last year after the conversion and needing to run in, I had 182bhp @ 8.5psi (7000 RPM). In the last couple of weeks, we have moved the cams, but they were pretty much spot on at around the standard 110 degree settings. So for a forced induction car minimal overlap is better. We decided the manifold was probably restricting ultimate power, so the guys at the garage designed a manifold using the standard manifold design for torque but with bigger bores and longer primaries for power. Sure enough they gained 10bhp and still kept the low end torque. So now I have 191bhp @ 9psi (7400 RPM). More revs does give more power, but I prefer to stay around 7000 RPM. My only problem now is that the GZE injectors seemed to have reached their maximum capacity and are almost switched on all the time. Previously I had been told the standard fuel pump would max out at 200bhp. New additional info below:Well the new pump was fitted (had to take the fuel tank off, unlike later Corollas) which flows 220 litres/hr instead of 120 litres/hr standard. This proved totally successful as they had to take fuel out from all over the map and the injector duration was much better. Also, it cured a misfire at the top end which only appeared after several runs on the dyno as the pressure dropped due to the standard pump failing to keep up. Incidentally, autospeed.com has a list of 100 injectors including most of the Toyota models which lists the GZE injectors at 73bhp each max. Though there is still some fine tuning to do, and we're running rich at the top for safety, my figures are now hovering around 200bhp @ 10psi (7600 RPM). In metric that's 149kW and 230Nm. The reason I say hovering is because the engine is very susceptible to heat, especially with the intercooler on top of the engine. On the rolling road with poor air flow, we always see 1psi (good for another 10bhp?) less than back on the road. Peak torque is around 170 lb-ft, but what's more important is that at 1500 RPM theres 110 lb-ft, and from 2300 RPM - 7000 RPM, there's over 140 lb-ft of torque to play with.
Date: Friday, June 11, 1999
Subject: bit more info on my 7A-GZEMany of you may have been following my previous posts on my exploits building a 7A-GZE. Well, I'll fill you in on some of my latest mods...
Stuff that changed this time include a new half height horizontal flowing radiator with a high performance core and twin half height fans to aid cooling (also required a Ford header/expansion tank as well). My excuse for this mod is that my 10-year-old Toyota radiator was knackered, and I never replace anything without improving as well. I ditched the NipponDenso top mounted intercooler for a Ford Cosworth intercooler in the front grille, hence the half height radiator to get short, straight boost pipes to the front grille. This intercooler easily flows over 200hp without causing much restriction. I changed the rear section of my exhaust to help power, but now I've only got a single 3 inch exit pipe instead of the twin stainless 3 inch exits I had before, but at least it improved power, especially at the wheels. Also, I changed my supercharger for a later model with the smaller pulley which didn't improve top end power by much but has helped to get 15hp more at the wheels at the bottom which will definitely feel better to drive when I finally get it back on the road. While doing all this, we tried several other small mods like different intake designs and final mapping and moving the cams again.
Anyway, from all this playing, we have come to the conclusion that without adding a turbo to blow air through the throttle butterfly, this will be the last mod needed to gain the full potential. Basically, a car on quad throttle bodies breathes through 4 x 45mm holes compared to 1 x 47mm on the GZE (the SC can only help so much in sucking air through it). As an example, by paring down the butterfly spindle to gain that little bit more gap at wide open throttle, we gained 5hp. So I'm looking to machine the throttle body out to, say, 55mm.
I guess you want some figures, well how about 210hp @ 7500 RPM, and my car consistently gives 200+ readings whereas before, after a few runs the heat soak in the engine and intercooler would slowly decrease the power output.
Dealing with fueling and the ECU is a significant part in this conversion. The following information draws from advice provided by Gary M.
Stock ECUs are very carefully programmed for the stock engine. In putting together a 7A-GE, you have a number of decisions to make regarding the ECU. The 7A-FE's stock MAP ECU could make more power due to the lack of intake restriction, but the Volumetric Efficiency difference between the two motors will make it run like crap unless the ECU is reprogrammed to work with the better flowing head. With a MAP based system, when you change the VE of the motor, the ECU will not add the right amount of fuel. A fuel pressure riser (to add more fuel), like the one Stillen sells, along with a standard adjustable regulator in place of the stock one (to move the fuel curve) may get you close, but the VE curves will never match, so you will have rich areas and possibly lean ones too. A bit rich for part of the rev range is not too bad as long as it is not so bad that it kills the cat and O2 sensor. If you start going with bigger cams though, it may get tough. The 4A-G(Z)E AFM ECU, on the other hand, will respond to greater airflow with more fuel. It will only need some adjustments to the AFM to get the fuel curve near perfect, but you'll have to live with the restriction of the meter to make it work. If you're willing to accept the cost, a programmable ECU would be the best way to go. With it, you can set the fuel/ignition map as you deem appropriate, and it will allow for further mods at any time. The 7A-FE injectors should flow enough for a 7A-GE, but as you shoot for more power, you'll need larger injectors.
Ray Hall of Ray Hall Turbocharging took a somewhat different route, the end result being very impressive. In brief, he put together a 300hp 20v 7A-GTE!
If you want, you can skip the head conversion and just turbo the 7A-FE (resulting in a 7A-FTE), like Roy of PSI Racing did. The F head is actually quite good for turbocharging. The smaller valve angle could make boost come on at a lower rpm and will make more power for a given amount of air/fuel mixture burned. It can't be pushed as hard as a G head, but for a modest boost street engine, the F heads might actually be better suited for turbocharging.
The following is a picture of Roy's nice turbo setup. Check out the intercooler in front. =) At last check, Roy was running 15psi of boost and doing the 1/4-mile in 14.4 @ 98mph before he cracked a piston. The damage is not stopping him...he's rebuilding and improving with his sights set on the 12 second mark. You can find out more about Roy's setup by emailing him or by going to the writeup at Corolla Style.
Look forward to more info...
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