Gaining power from '98 Toyota Paseo (5E-FE)

  • Thread starter Thread starter damez
  • 5 comments
  • 32,024 views
damez

damez

Messages
264
Messages
da_mez
Hey everyone,

I've had my Paseo for around half a year after buying it off a mate. While its done a fair amount of mileage (260,000km's / 161,000miles), I was wondering if it would be effective to do anything to its engine (5E-FE), given its mileage.

The car is in excellent condition, internally and externally and I've had it serviced every ~15,000km's. Each of the mechanic's that I've been to say that the car is in excellent condition for its 'age' and is very close to its original condition, in terms of the engine.

So far it has only got an air-filter. Exhaust tip, suspension has been lowered, and added 17" wheels. A bit of a ricer at the moment.

My knowledge and mechanical skills are some what novice, I've got a couple of mates that can help me out, although I thought I'd ask GTPlanet for some advice.

What would you guys propose I do, to gain a bit of power from the car? I've got a AU$1000-1500 budget. People have told me an engine swap (4E-FTE), and some have just said to work on getting power out of its current NA state.

Here's a gratuitous video of the car driving out of the garage:


Thanks in advance :)
 
Well, what's available for the mill, and how much are you willing to spend? I think that's the question.

Sure you can go whole hog, have the block taken out, tested, re-honed, and stuff, get a heavy-duty crank and conrods, and a nasty, lopey cam, but that's expensive.

I know that playing with the spark timing a bit (this requires premium fuel) by retarding or advancing it a couple degrees can unlock some power, but increases chances for knock, or detonation. Light street cam would help, too, but I don't know what they make for that engine.
 
If you want something faster and better, sell this and buy something better to start with.

Of course, if you are set on making the Paseo faster, the 4EFTE Starlet GT Turbo engine is essentially a bolt in swap that will give you 130hp. Buy a half cut for $1000-1200 and swap everything over. That is the best value for money work you could do.
There is no point in putting time and effort into the 5EFE, the gains will be tiny for the amount of money spent compared to the 4EFTE.
 
Selling the Paseo was an option, but since it has done so many k's, I figured the resell value would be horrible. I think 4E-FTE sounds like the proper option. Tax return here I come! Would the chassis be an issue when swapping to the 4E-FTE, regarding the mileage?
 
+1 to the 4E-FTE swap. 👍 I've even seen 5E-FTE's by using the 5E block with all the 4E ancillaries. I'll try and find a pic or two of it.


Here's a pic:
5509250018_large.jpg


And here's a video of one already done, pulling 10's on the 1/4.

 
Its a sub 2000 pound car, but even then, you'll struggle to make it too quick. The 5E-FE is a pile of slow (I had a 94 Tercel for years, same platform and all that) and while the 4E-FTE is neato, you'd just be better off selling it and picking of an AE92 GT-S Corolla with 4A-GE power... a lot more market and potential. Max power you'll see out of the 4E-FTE is 200hp before you start replacing internals, etc. Then you still have to address the brakes (assume it has rear drums, don't remember an option for discs) and things will start to break and blah blah blah.

Or don't sell it and keep it is a daily, as that 5E-FE will out live all life on this planet, and pick up a project car. Also, smaller wheels (14 or 15 inch) will likely make the car faster, since it has no power the rotational mass will be noticeable.
 

Latest Posts

Back