I know this may be opening a can of worms....and has probably been asked plenty of times before....but

I am planning removing my 4AGE engine and replacing it with some other engine that is more readily available. I think i have exhausted the 4AGE source up here in the North and need something more readily available.

The engine should be of car origin and 'mateable' to the type 9 gearbox. It should also be as easy to get up and running as possible.

I was convinced about a 1.8 Zetec but then realised that the original fuel injection system is unpractical for a 7. I really dont want to get involved in throttle bodies and megasquirts, as i have already realised that that conversion is beyond my limited electronics ability.

Unless there is a simple way of using the Zetec that i havent read about yet?

Or any other suggestions very welcome.

Background info: I have just put new seals and gaskets into a phase 3 4AGE and installed it, but during the installation the already shabby wiring became unmanageable and i have decide to contract an electrical guru to handle the wiring of the new installation.

Any recommendations greatfully received.

Thanks

Edit: Maybe someome can convince me that a BEC is the way to go, although it would need to be fairly straightforward from the electronics perspective!!

[Edited on 17/4/06 by albertz]

Depends on how much you want to spend. A Zetec with bodies and an aftermarket ECU is a doddle to get up and running. It really is a case of plugging the clearly labelled loom onto the relevant sensors, feed the ECU with an igniton fed live, and drive off into the sunset...(almost)

Or run it on some carbs? A VX XE with carbs and an distributor out of an 8v is pretty easy too - with huge potential for upgrades later.

Or you could fit one of those moped/strimmer engine thingys...

Does the 4 age engine come from a fwd toyota corolla. If so I may know of one (don't know about condition)

Is the Zetec conversion really as simple as that??

I have just sold a Megasquirt and am in the throws of selling my GSXR 600 throttle bodies....i really didnt want to go back down that road, but if it is a 'plug n play' then maybe my opinion would change, i find there is usually a lot more to these things than meets the eye.

Omega: I think i am going to call it a day with the 4AGE, mainly because the wiring is such a mess, i used the original Toyota loom and modified it to suit the Locost, but a bad experience has soured my apetite for the wiring side of things. I really need to completely remove my loom and start again from scratch with someone that knows what they are doing

Keep the suggestions flowing though.

The Zetec is starting to sound possible again, at least they are plentiful

quote:

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Originally posted by albertz
The Zetec is starting to sound possible again, at least they are plentiful

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Of course at the risk of starting an argument the XE is supreme.

For the ultimate in simplicity I would say x-flow or pinto with the standard carburation & ignition.
If you deviate from standard with any engine then surely you will encounter all the same problems (challenges) as you have with the 4age??
So why not stick with it?

what sort of condition is the toyota engine in (the engine, not the wiring!)

If its good I'd be inclined to stick with it and not throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak! They are good engines! (says an XE man!)

get hold of an "off the shelf" management system for it and fit that. Do-able for circa £500 for one that is easy to wire up and will present no nasty wiring problems I can assure you.

OK heres my suggestion but its nether particularly practical or cheap

20V 4AGE from Fensport, they have them in stock and get them regularly from Japan/Malasia. The engine mount, starter, alternator and bell housing can all be re-used. You get the usual reliablity with a little extra power (153 BHP @ 7800 RPM from my blacktop) and a "free" set of individual throttles bodies. The water plumbing is different but much better IMO (see my pic archive).

OMEX 600 ECU and wiring loom either direct from OMEX or maybe via RAW Engineering as they specialise in kit car conversions.

My kit car has a RAW wiring loom but after a year of upgrades, including the swap from the 16V to 20V engine, has left it rather messy. Like you I don't want to do the wiring myself so I'm getting Mech Repairs in Cheltenham to do the work.

Both OMEX and RAW use Mech Repairs for their rolling road development so they all get on and work together efficiently.

Sorry probably doesn't help you much being in Scotland