Depowering my Seven....

[Wynand]

As some may be aware I fitted a 3SGTE engine to my ride which goes like greased lightening. The problem I experienced was the fact that the engine is very temperamental and liked to be on the "boil" but that created BIG problems in the city I live. We have no traffic lights in our city and basically have a decent double lane traffic circle on every main corner - about something in the 40's on the last count if I remembered correctly. That said, if I kept the revs below boost, the car is dead and when its on boost a beast and very difficult to control in circles and sometimes the boost will kick in with a bang and all hell would break loose.
This is what happened to me three weeks ago which could have resulted in a fatal if things went a bit more askew and i there and then decided that this engine was an accident waiting to happens. Probably a fine engine for open roads and stretches I would agree but not for my use.

I unceremoniously ripped out the 3SGTE and put it up on ice and thought of going the 20 valve 4AGE blacktop way which is the preferred engine in SA but what I dislike about the 20 valve is the fact it makes full power only at around 8000rpm and its measly torque at around 7000rpm which to me is pointless meaning the car has to be driven hard to get it moving as a test ride in my buddies car proved. Not suiting my driving style and for the last 20 years Im driving diesel powered cars and is addicted on torque, which makes a car very drivable especially when you are like me retired and pensioned and takes live easily.

Then I remembered that one of my friends totaled his truck (110,000km on clock) and the engine was taken lying under a canvas outside and having spent some time in the bakkie (truck) in the past know the engine very well and he let me have it and supplied it complete with engine wiring harness still fitted and the OEM computer box that fuels cylinders sequentially and not batch fueling.
The engine is a bullet proof low tech 2.2l pushrod Toyota 4Y motor (hydraulic lifters) with fuel injection and electronic coil pack ignition. It only makes 85kw at 4200rpm but high torque of 195nm at only 2300rpm. I thought that since I got this basically free, why not try it and see what happens, and was I surprised with the result.
My car is now bigger than the sum of its parts....

The engine transformed my car in the best possible way for me in the way it goes about. It pulls like a steam train in any gear at any engine speed - I can easily pull a large twin axle caravan so to speak - and still hauls ass in a big way. I can accelerate cleanly from 1500rpm in top gear with great urgency that will still leave other cars in my wake from the same speed even if they gear down to 3rd or second. This has to be experienced to be believed. Going around a corner in 4th gear at about 1000rpm no problem, just prod the loud pedal and she accelerates away like no tomorrow.

As said, my car still hauls ass and done a few timed sprints with GPS for true speed runs and constantly do 0 - 100kph sprints in low to mid 5 seconds range which still is going fast in any language.
But it is the torque low down that transform this car in a beautiful relaxed daily with the bang when needed. The sound from my 63mm exhaust pipe with Cowley type free flow silencer is out of this world with a deep rumble many mistake for a V8 that changes to an angry bark when pushed. The 3SGTE never even sound at glorious like this.
I have this engine in my car now for about 3 weeks and done an average of 300km per week and averages about 10 - 12km to a liter of fuel depending on my mood and driving manners.

The car is now a "balanced" unit and I can explore the phenomenal handling and road holding of my car to my limits without fear of engine overpowering the fun.
In short, I discovered that there is such a thing as to much power for a Seven, an less power sometimes is better.

Any regrets? Yes, only one, I should have done this transplant sooner.

But, the biggest compliment I could have got is the fact that my wife now nags me to go for late afternoon drives with her for an ice ream or just to potter around and she uses the car regularly to do solo rides to the shop and town.
With the 3SGTE the refuses point blank to stepped into the car after just one ride with me....

Here are a few pics of the old 3SGTE and the now 4Y engine installations.