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Oct. 30, 2008 11:12 a.m. 93celicaGT2 Reader

Yes.... This is Toyota's old 1.8 litre carbed lump.

Does GRM like them? With some work (god you can get ANYTHING for these things, and CHEAP!) will it be enough for me to go WHEEEEEE!!!! in a 1982 Corolla wagon?

Reason i ask is that i'm picking up said wagon this weekend as a DD for the winter, and then a mild-er project than the Celica this coming summer.

Anyone mess with these? Input? What should i do first? I have a feeling i'll be underwhelmed by the stock 75hp, and would like to remedy that.
Oct. 30, 2008 11:30 a.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

3TC's were THE motor, even into the early 4AG period. Look around for Puerto Rican drag racers and see what they did with them. There were some wild hybrids too with that head on the block from that van thing. If you have the money and time, I bet that wagon could need a wheelie bar.
Oct. 30, 2008 11:49 a.m. 93celicaGT2 Reader

Dr. Hess wrote:

3TC's were THE motor, even into the early 4AG period. Look around for Puerto Rican drag racers and see what they did with them. There were some wild hybrids too with that head on the block from that van thing. If you have the money and time, I bet that wagon could need a wheelie bar.

This bodes well....

Maybe a 2009 challenge wagon?

I've already found that good power can be made by bolting on the head from the 2tg.... so this is looking fun, and simple.
Oct. 30, 2008 11:55 a.m. Travis_K Reader

From what i have seen, any modification parts for them are $$$, like think porsche expensive. They do seem to be able to make huge amounts of power with billet internals and a huge turbo in drag cars though.
Oct. 30, 2008 12:06 p.m. 93celicaGT2 Reader

Rods are pistons seem to be cheaper than 3sgte parts, cams are cheap, carb upgrades seem to be cheap, ignition stuff is cheap.

I guess building a 500hp drag motor would be expensive because of headwork and stuff, but the bolt on stuff is stupidly cheap.

I think a lot of those turbo motors are 3tgte motors.... which seems like an interesting swap, too.

Thanks for your input, though! Please don't think i'm just throwing it out the window, because i'm not, all opinions/experiences are welcome, helps me get a good idea of what i'm dealing with.

End result, i'd be looking for 150-160 whp n/a, or 250whp if i go turbo, so i don't think it'll be ALL that bad of an endeavor. But first.... it has to make it through the winter.

Anyone know of a good forum for these?
Oct. 30, 2008 12:15 p.m. Jay HalfDork

http://www.toyota3tc.com/ springs to mind.

J
Oct. 30, 2008 2:49 p.m. corolla2tcte27 None

Also look at this site for parts and advice from Randy at...www. brdracing.com.
Oct. 30, 2008 4:33 p.m. oldopelguy HalfDork

In stock form that motor is one of my top two for reliability, right up there with the Dodge slant-6 and ahead of even the trusty 22R motor. If I was wanting to put a 120hp 4-cylinder in anything, it would be by first choice every time.
Oct. 30, 2008 6:16 p.m. Travis_K Reader

I just remember seeing some really expensive valve train stuff for them, that was my main reason for saying that. They arent worth messing with in california becasue you cant modify anything on them unless they are swapped into something 75 or older so i hadnt paid much more attention than that.
Oct. 30, 2008 8:12 p.m. ReverendDexter Reader

Great motors. There's one guy in the local rallycross circuit with a built one in a TE72 Corolla that's supposedly pushing 170+ hp, and from the roostertails he makes, I believe him.

I had an AE86 SR5, and honestly, I'd rather have a 3T-C than a 4A-GE.
Oct. 30, 2008 8:17 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

my first car was a '80 corolla wagon. i despised that car. I tried for over a year to kill it. I drove it flat out in second gear at the maximum rpm (no tach, I have no idea) for 20 minutes straight. No damage. Then something slowly happened, I started to respect it. Now I wish i could get it back....
Oct. 31, 2008 10:24 a.m. 93celicaGT2 Reader

Well... i'm suitably excited now... Now i just have to hope i don't like it better than my Celica.
Oct. 31, 2008 12:44 p.m. HiTempguy New Reader

I owned a 1980 Toyota Corolla (it was a hatch model) with the 3TC. My god that car was ridiculously AWESOME. We bought it ($200), put some cheapie winter-studded tires on it, did an oil change, then drove 1000+kms to BC, did a HUGE 2 day TSD (in the middle of winter over 600kms!) then drove it back. Never missed a beat loaded with 3 people having the snot beat out of it.

I don't think one of the lodges up there likes us anymore though. Midnight we all stop at this fancy resort for a bathroom break. We had mad doritos going on coming down the entry way. After going to the bathroom, I come out of the front lobby to find the car not there?! All of a sudden, I hear this "vrooom, VROOOOOOOOOM" headlights turn on and Rasmus has the car matted doing donuts around the conical shaped snow pile in the front lobby.
Nov. 1, 2008 11:53 a.m. noisycricket Reader

http://www.rengaskanava.fi/mikakiracing/gallery.php had a~190hp version in a mad Starlet.