Whats My Best Option ?

[GTR-32U]

Ok so my daily Mon - Fri car is a 91 Corolla SX with the standard 100 kw motor. Problem is that the car now has 310,000 kms on it and I am planning a fresh up for it....So I am just after advice on what would be my best option dollar wise. I like this Car as a daily and I dont want to just go out and buy another cheap runabout as anything decent is going to cost money and I dont want to throw away money on a car that I am going to do 500 km's a week in

Option 1 : This is at the moment the option I am most likely to go with, And that is purchasing a last series 20 valve blacktop motor for it....However at $1800 for complete engine ,harness and ECU it really isnt a cheap swap.Most likely the motor will have no less than 100,000 km on it already.But it does hold the advantage in that I need this car to get to work in and I cannot have my car off road for extended periods.So it could be a drive in , drive out weekend conversion

Option 2 : Would be to pull out the existing 100kw smallport and have it fully rebuilt and maybe up compression from 10:1 to a little more say 11:1..Other than that fit lighter conrods and flywheel to greatly improve response and low end power.However getting a motor built does take time and it most likely wont put out the sort of power the 20 valve would.But on the plus side this is going to be a completely fresh engine.

Bear in mind I dont want to spend a fortune on this car as it is my daily runabout.I am not interested in crazy turbo conversions as I am saving my cash for an R32 GTR which Hopefully I may get late next year...But at the same time I am also very slowly restoring this car bit by bit to a newish condition.

So you the technically minded people please offer suggestions

[Dorifta]

if it aint broke dont fix it, my toyota has done 400k and still goin strong

[ARTZ]

+1

but, option 1 otherwise,

if its a straightforward swap and a 100k motor, its good for another 200k if your last motors anything to go by

I think ya car will be dead before that motor will

[GTR-32U]

Yeah I think I will just do the basic service to it and run it a while longer.. Awesome daily

[ARTZ]

Everything gets a bit soft n loose after 2-300, but it kinda makes em more comfy, my daily ute has 380 on it, i drove a new one the other day and couldnt believe how jittery the ride was..

Probably could do with some new shocks

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

dude its a 4age.... just keep flogging it till it dies (which in a daily it probably wont)

[GTR-32U]

Yeah the car seems that it will never die...Thats the part that I am so not used to. I may just start using slightly thicker engine oil and change it every 5000. It got a new water pump and timing belt a few months ago as well as new plugs...So I will just keep on driving it like recommended...Suspension will be my next project for it then.

[QWK32]

the missus had one of these, but the holden version, Nova. had 350k on the clock when we sold it to a friend 2 years ago, its still going now. all we had done to the engine was normal regular servicing, an alternator went on us, i did a timing belt at 300k. the only thing i think was of any concern was the steering was getting a bit sloppy. but as you say, its a good little run around car. id just keep up the servicing and leave it be.

Edited December 28, 2009 by QWK32