ae102 7afe twin cam rebuild

**wallice** · 04-01-2009, 12:45 PM

I'm in the process of rebuilding my girlfriend's RV and i was looking for suggestions to get a bit more response from the motor without spending too much. There is a lot of info on the net that is bit confusing re fitting a 4age head, ecu etc, and given that it's already a twin cam, not sure about the value of the advantage. It has to stay N/A as we have learner and P plate drivers etc. Bottom end will have crank grind and new bearings, rings etc. Bore has original hone marks at 180K klm. I was looking at extractors, cams and not sure what else. I would be interested to hear other's thoughts. regards.

**frostyadonis** · 04-01-2009, 01:47 PM

it"d be cheaper and easier to install a more powerful charged version of a 7afe (if they do exsist that is) or look at improving your motors performance ie. cams, intake, exhaust.
how much extra power do you require or can afford. just because a mod has been done os
it doesnt mean its better or legal for that matter. putting a cylinder head that was designed in 1983 on a 1995/1999 engine is going backwards in my opinion, but having said that, it is a free country i suppose..

**wallice** · 04-01-2009, 04:39 PM

I agree with you about the old 4age head: don't want much extra power, just want to get the motor breathing properly, but don't know what for or where i should be looking...

**Kedderz** · 04-01-2009, 07:16 PM

unless you chuck money at it and build a 7age, its not worth it. just rebuild it and let your missus drive it trouble free for another 180000ks

edit also look at this thread http://www.toymods.net//forums/showthread.php?t=6751

**wallice** · 04-01-2009, 09:53 PM

Yeh, sort of thinking you're right. Have offered her the use of my M3 but she won't drive it, and is sort of happy chugging around in our hiace deisel van. probably the most sensible advice to date...

Thanks

Greg

**Hiro** · 05-01-2009, 11:49 AM

If the motor itself is relatively healthy, then just adding a full exhaust and intake can wake it up a fair bit. I've got probably an extra 10kw at the wheels out of my 7AFE just with exhaust and intake (extractors, mandrel bent 2.25", highflow cat, hotdog and s/s Lukey Ultraflow, custom bent-alloy intake pipe + pod filter in the front guard). You can get some more with mild head-work (port/polish etc), but once you start upping compression or the like it's worthwhile getting a piggyback computer.

There are pictures of my setup in my members ride thread (link in signature) if you want to take a closer look.

**markiitourerv** · 05-01-2009, 08:01 PM

Been looking into the 7afe more & more as a viable swap into my ae86.

Found some good threads on here about modifying the standard head, and some insist
that the fe head has more potential than the ge.

If its a manual, and you can afford engine management cams would net big gains for sure.

Biggest issue with the fe seems to be conrods, but keeping a 7500rpm limit will keep them alive.

As noted by Hiro, probably most of the gain you are looking for will come from a fresh
engine, and freed up exhaust/inlet.

But those cams would be interesting....

**The Witzl** · 05-01-2009, 10:19 PM

... our AE102 7AFE is 180,000kms old and despite a slight leak from the front main seal is perfectly healthy. (im lazy and havent replaced the front main yet, i do have the parts though).

Personally... i would just rebuild the engine and be happy with a nice, fresh 7AFE - which is a really torquey motor in standard form (compared to pretty much all 4AGE engines ive owned).

Sure it might not rev that hard - but this is your girlfriend's car, is she really likely to fang the car or just putter around, and want a nice comfy, quiet car that is good on fuel?

I know my girlfriend will KILL me if i put an exhaust, or anything that made her little comfy AE102 louder than what it is now. After having just driven it from SYD to BRIS and back, i really appreciated just how comfortable the car is in stock form.

Rebuild, and be happy with another 200,000kms worth of reliable driving.

**Hiro** · 05-01-2009, 10:59 PM

Occasional oil issues aside, 180k is nothing for these engines. Mine is looking to tick over 300,000km probably some time next week (all ks driven either by myself or my dad) on a still un-opened engine.