7MGE Resurrection

Krem · 04-24-2011, 12:03 AM

Hey all, long time no see... longer time no drive :\

My mk3 died last April while on the way home from work when my exhaust leak blowing on my non-flowing heater hose cracked a hole in a flush and fill T and sprayed water over my headers. Since, the car has ran rough and not moved (except for tow to mechanics and back). Car will push maybe 600~800 RPM with the pedal floored, and idles just above stalling at ~300 rpm (will stall after coming down from load on throttle).

So yea, mechanic confirmed my suspicions that the engine needs lots of attention. The mk3 I got had a recently rebuilt auto tranny ~4k miles before I bought it and I don't have a lot of money to do turbo swap yet. So I was thinking of a) 7mge swap, hoping everything (with exception to oil pan) matches up and presents little issue during install.. or b) get a rebuild kit and get to work.

Engine would be a JDM type engine, I'm guessing this requires some additional work with ECU and/or wire harness? but mounts and fittings should line up?

And the stuff I'm looking at for rebuild are the following:
Rebuild Kit
Head Assembly

Now the head assembly may not be necessary, but my engine has 154k miles and I'd like to be sure my valves (and springs mainly) are good. In addition, want peace of mind w/ my cams as the right cam snapped my distributor shaft last year and could actually be a major contributor to my overheating and timing issues the car seems to have (had).

If this was your mk3, and limited budget, which would be most effecient $$$:Time? And as far as rebuild option, is there anything else to get as well?

Thanks, in advance, for the advice..

zby67 · 04-26-2011, 03:53 AM

i would rebuild the engine. and prep it to handle boost when you go NAT thats what i am doing. and yes the head you posted a link to will fit with no problems.

Krem · 05-23-2011, 01:51 AM

Another concern I never bothered to realize is other components as well as fluids in the car.

The car has not been driven in about 14~15 months. Has not been turned over several months and the only movement it's done is on to a tractor bed and back into a parking spot... how reliable should the hardware be on the car? I'm just concerned after all this time, I'll finally get engine rebuilt, turn it over, pop into gear and snap my differential or seize my transmission or something...

I plan to drain, and replace, all the fluids, which I still have present so the hardware doesn't dry out and become brittle in the absence of said fluids. This includes oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, antifreeze/coolant, gas and possibly even windshield wiper fluid just for thoroughness..

Also have to get new headers, high flow cat converter as I plan to ceramic coat the headers and need a new cat as is. Also wanting to get a set of new spark plugs and new fuel injectors...

As I'm beginning to plan the job, I'm coming across more and more components I may have over looked initially and just worried if I don't look at the big picture, I'll find myself eventually facing it having found it the hard way... Any idea if the moving parts that have been sitting, that aren't being replaced, like the tranny and/or differential for a couple examples, should hold up? shouldn't hold up? I'm already figuring it's iffy... just starting to have my worries and doubts the closer I get to actually getting this project going.

El Supracabras · 05-23-2011, 04:17 AM

They are quite reliable. Definitely a good idea to change the fluids. It also would be a good to jack all four wheels off the ground and give everything a spin/shake/wiggle (sounds like a dance) to see if anything is locked or binding. In my experiences with supras I have found the brake calipers frozen as well as rusted/pitted rotors. It would be good measure to check the brake hoses and tires for cracking and test the brake fluid for water too. 15 months is pretty long. Cars hate sitting so you may find various electrical connectors corroding if it was outdoors.

04-24-2011, 12:03 AM	#1
Krem 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 167	7MGE Resurrection Hey all, long time no see... longer time no drive :\ My mk3 died last April while on the way home from work when my exhaust leak blowing on my non-flowing heater hose cracked a hole in a flush and fill T and sprayed water over my headers. Since, the car has ran rough and not moved (except for tow to mechanics and back). Car will push maybe 600~800 RPM with the pedal floored, and idles just above stalling at ~300 rpm (will stall after coming down from load on throttle). So yea, mechanic confirmed my suspicions that the engine needs lots of attention. The mk3 I got had a recently rebuilt auto tranny ~4k miles before I bought it and I don't have a lot of money to do turbo swap yet. So I was thinking of a) 7mge swap, hoping everything (with exception to oil pan) matches up and presents little issue during install.. or b) get a rebuild kit and get to work. Engine would be a JDM type engine, I'm guessing this requires some additional work with ECU and/or wire harness? but mounts and fittings should line up? And the stuff I'm looking at for rebuild are the following: Rebuild Kit Head Assembly Now the head assembly may not be necessary, but my engine has 154k miles and I'd like to be sure my valves (and springs mainly) are good. In addition, want peace of mind w/ my cams as the right cam snapped my distributor shaft last year and could actually be a major contributor to my overheating and timing issues the car seems to have (had). If this was your mk3, and limited budget, which would be most effecient $$$:Time? And as far as rebuild option, is there anything else to get as well? Thanks, in advance, for the advice..

04-26-2011, 03:53 AM	#2
zby67 3" Exhaust Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Moving Posts: 85	i would rebuild the engine. and prep it to handle boost when you go NAT thats what i am doing. and yes the head you posted a link to will fit with no problems. __________________ 1986.5 MA70 7M-GE 1987 MA70 7M-GE

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05-23-2011, 01:51 AM	#3
Krem 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 167	Another concern I never bothered to realize is other components as well as fluids in the car. The car has not been driven in about 14~15 months. Has not been turned over several months and the only movement it's done is on to a tractor bed and back into a parking spot... how reliable should the hardware be on the car? I'm just concerned after all this time, I'll finally get engine rebuilt, turn it over, pop into gear and snap my differential or seize my transmission or something... I plan to drain, and replace, all the fluids, which I still have present so the hardware doesn't dry out and become brittle in the absence of said fluids. This includes oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, antifreeze/coolant, gas and possibly even windshield wiper fluid just for thoroughness.. Also have to get new headers, high flow cat converter as I plan to ceramic coat the headers and need a new cat as is. Also wanting to get a set of new spark plugs and new fuel injectors... As I'm beginning to plan the job, I'm coming across more and more components I may have over looked initially and just worried if I don't look at the big picture, I'll find myself eventually facing it having found it the hard way... Any idea if the moving parts that have been sitting, that aren't being replaced, like the tranny and/or differential for a couple examples, should hold up? shouldn't hold up? I'm already figuring it's iffy... just starting to have my worries and doubts the closer I get to actually getting this project going.

05-23-2011, 04:17 AM	#4
El Supracabras 3" Exhaust Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 240	They are quite reliable. Definitely a good idea to change the fluids. It also would be a good to jack all four wheels off the ground and give everything a spin/shake/wiggle (sounds like a dance) to see if anything is locked or binding. In my experiences with supras I have found the brake calipers frozen as well as rusted/pitted rotors. It would be good measure to check the brake hoses and tires for cracking and test the brake fluid for water too. 15 months is pretty long. Cars hate sitting so you may find various electrical connectors corroding if it was outdoors.